NATURES EXPLOSION: THE VOLCANO

Issue 1

Natures
Explosion:
The Volcano

December 2014

INSIDE A VOLCANO

IN THIS ISSUE

Volcano Structure
by Rebakka Milles

A volcano is like a
mountain. It often looks
like a cone. A volcano has
an opening or vent to the
earth. From that vent
magma and gas erupt.
Magma is a hot liquid
from below the earths
crust. Volcanoes are built
from that magma that
spills over the opening.
How does that hot liquid
come out of the volcano?
Gases within the volcano
force the magma
upwards. When the

magma reaches the

earths surface it is called
lava. When lava cools it
forms rock. That rock is
what builds the hill or
mountain structure of a
volcano.

Volcano Structure

Whats happening on the Earths

surface
Page 2

Main Ideas Summary

Types of Volcanoes

Volcanoes look like

Mountains
Magma erupts from a
volcano
Lava forms rock and
that rock structures the
volcano

Page 1

Page 2-3

Whats happening inside the Earth

Page 3-4

NATURES EXPLOSION: THE VOLCANO | Issue 1

On the Earths
Surface
by Rebakka Milles

Volcanic eruptions are

not all alike. Some
eruptions are gentle,
with lava slowly coming
out from a vent. Other
eruptions are violent,
with lava and other
materials being tossed
hundreds of miles into
the air. Differences in
volcanic eruptions result
in different volcanic
mountain shapes. There
are shield volcanoes,

cinder cones, and

composite volcanoes.
You can see examples of
each of these shapes in
the photographs below.

TYPES OF VOLCANOES
Shield Volcanoes
Cinder Cone Volcanoes
Composite Volcanoes

Comparing Volcanic Mountains

Pictured here is the
Mauna Kea Volcano in
Hawaii. It is a Shield
Volcano. Shield
volcanoes usually form
large and broad
volcanoes. Often look
like a warriors shield.

Cool Facts about Volcanoes

There are volcanoes found
on the ocean floor and
even under icecaps, such
as those found in Iceland.
While we certainly have
some big volcanoes here
on Earth, the biggest
known volcano in our solar
system is actually on
Mars. Its name is Olympus
Mons

NATURES EXPLOSION: THE VOLCANO | Issue 1

CINDER CONE VOLCANOES

Pictured here is the

Parcutin Cinder Cone
Volcano located in
Mexico. Cinder cone
volcanoes are the
smallest and most
common volcanoes. In
many cases, cinder cones
form on the sides of a
larger volcano.

Composite Volcanoes

Pictured here is the

Composite Volcano Mt.
St. Helens in Oregon.
Composite Volcanoes or
stratovolcanoes are
characterized by a steep
profile and periodic
explosive eruptions.

Inside the Earth

by Rebakka Milles

Early evidence about the

inside of the earth came
from volcanic eruptions.
Scientists recently have
been learning more
about the earth using
technology. Scientists
now know that the rocks
on the earths surface are
only a tiny piece of what
makes up the planet.
Think of the earth as an
egg. The thickness of the
eggshell would represent
the thickness of all the
rocks at the surface.
Beneath an eggshell
there is egg white and
yolk.

What is beneath the

rocks at the surface of
the earth? Research
shows that the earth has
three layers: a crust, a
mantle, and a core. The
core is made up of both a
solid and a liquid layer.
These layers are called
the outer
and inner
core. The
magma
that erupts from
volcanoes often comes
from the mantle. Magma
rising from the mantle
can collect in
underground chambers
in the earths crust,

NATURES EXPLOSION: THE VOLCANO | Issue 1

building up pressure
before exploding toward
the surface. The mantle is

very thick. The mantle is

as thick as traveling from
New York City to Denver,

Colorado!

Reading Summary
Volcanoes are mountains. They are
built taller and taller, with time, as
they erupt. Volcanoes create
different rocks. The eruption of
magma and cooling of lava create
rocks. The earth has 3 different
layers the crust, mantle, and core.
The magma that is pushed up by
gases and erupts through a volcano
comes from the mantle.

Thought Questions
How do volcanoes form?
What are the four primary types of volcanoes? Name and describe each type in detail.
Sketch the shape of each type.