GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -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-2: -The lava from a composite volcano is less fluid, and the thick mixture of minerals it contains are highly explosive. The results are very dangerous, and often deadly.

Detailed explanation-3: -The volcanoes expel a variety of stiff pasty lavas that form thick lava flows. Another name for a composite volcano is stratovolcano. These lava flows alternate with explosive eruptions of tephra. The explosive eruptions also produce pyroclastic flows that travel down the sides of the volcano at hurricane speeds.

Detailed explanation-4: -Composite Volcano: A composite volcano has high levels of dissolved gas and silica and erupts explosively.

Detailed explanation-5: -As was demonstrated by the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, composite volcanoes can explode violently. Stratovolcano shapes are more variable than these classic examples, primarily because of wide variations in eruptive style and composition.