GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Stratovolcano. Stratovolcanoes have relatively steep sides and are more cone-shaped than shield volcanoes . They are formed from viscous, sticky lava that does not flow easily. The lava therefore builds up around the vent forming a volcano with steep sides.

Detailed explanation-2: -Composite volcanoes are tall, symetrically shaped, with steep sides, sometimes rising 10, 000 feet high. They are built of alternating layers of lava flows, volcanic ash, and cinders.

Detailed explanation-3: -Composite volcanoes are built up by successive eruptions of domes, lava flows and pyroclastic flows, but also can experience large blasts that destroy large areas of their summits, such as the May 1980 explosion and landslide at Mount St. Helens. Landslides may occur during eruptions or at other times.

Detailed explanation-4: -The alternating layers (strata) of ash and lava are not continuous, blanketlike deposits; rather, they are overlapping lobes or tongues of ash and lava. For this reason many geologists refer to stratovolcanoes as composite volcanoes.

Detailed explanation-5: -Mount Fuji in Japan and Mount Shasta in California are examples of composite volcanoes.