Definition of Composite Volcanoes

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Definition of Composite Volcanoes
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Composite Volcanoes - Photos
Mt. Taranaki, NZ
Mt. Tongariro, NZ
Mt. Ruapehu, NZ
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General Characteristics - Composite Cones
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Volcanic Deposits
From Academic Press, Composite Volcanoes
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Radial Distribution of Products
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Composite Volcano Lithofacies
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Stage   Geomorphic signature1 Fresh, young
cones, often dark, pristine lava flows and
summit crater visible, sharp profile not
glaciated2 Small gullies on flanks, lavas
visible and crater may exist, but degraded
cone still sharp, dark apron gone moraines
present3 Individual lava flows barely visible,
no crater, well-established gullies, construction
al surfaces dwindling planezes initiated4 No
lava flows visible, deeply incised gullies, large
planezes, little original cone surface left
considerable relief major U-shaped glacial
valleys in glaciated regions5 Barely
recognizable, low relief radial symmetry the
only clue to volcanic origin
Erosional Stages of Volcanoes
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Factors Controlling Volcano Growth
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Volcano Morphology

• Many of the controls on this shape can be
  understood by considering the geometry of a cone.
  The volume v of a simple cone is given by
• v 1/3p r2h
• where r is the radius of the base and h is the
  height of the cone. For a typical steady-state
  volcano with the concave-upward profile, a more
  complex exponential form is needed
• r BeMh
• where B and M are constants found by integration.