What is a composite volcano?

A composite volcano forms tall, conical shaped mountains in subduction zones. There are 452 of these volcanoes around the Pacific Ring of Fire. read more

Composite Volcano. Introduction A composite volcano is also known as a stratovolcano. These volcanoes form tall, conical shaped mountains. Most of the Earth's active volcanoes have formed a ring around the Pacific Ocean. There are 452 stratovolcanoes in the Pacific Ring of Fire. The volcanoes are located in a volcanic arc on the continental side of subduction zones. read more

A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava, tephra, pumice and ash. read more

Composite volcanoes (also called stratovolcanoes) are much more explosive than shield volcanoes, the other important type of volcano. The large and generally cone-shaped volcanoes form along plate boundaries called subduction zones where one of the Earth's plates moves below another. read more