GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -A lava plateau forms when large amounts of fluid lava flow over an extensive area (Figure 4). When the lava solidifies, it creates a large, flat surface of igneous rock.

Detailed explanation-2: -Lava plateaus are formed by highly fluid basaltic lava during numerous successive eruptions through numerous vents without violent explosions (quiet eruptions). These eruptions are quiet because of low viscosity of lava, so that it is very fluid and contains a small amount of trapped gases.

Detailed explanation-3: -Figure 8.24: A shield volcano is built by layers of more fluid lava that spreads out over broad areas. Shield volcanoes are more common at spreading centers or volcanic hot spots in the middle of tectonic plates (Figure 8.24).

Detailed explanation-4: -Most shield volcanoes are formed from fluid, basaltic lava flows. Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are shield volcanoes. They are the world’s largest active volcanoes, rising over 9 km above the sea floor around the island of Hawai’i.

Detailed explanation-5: -Lava plateaus are landforms created by volcanic activity. When shield volcanoes erupt, magma flows from the Earth’s mantle through fissures in the crust. These flows, which are primarily made up of basalt, harden into layers or ‘flows, ’ which build up over time to create the lava plateau.