Volcanicity :

It concerns all those phenomena involving the formation and movements of the molten material from the
interior of the earth to the surface and solidification in the form of crystalline or semi-crystaline rocks.
In other words it embraces all the activities and processes by which te gaseous,liquideous and solid
substances of internal origin origin are ejected on the surface.
The volcanism is identified as one of the forms of mountain building because of the extrusion of magma in
the form of lava builds imparing mountain ranges which is seen all around the ring of fire.

The 3 main processes involved in volcanism are:1) Generation of magma- It is the endogenic mechanism which includes the creation of
hot and liquid magma below the crustal surfaces.
2) Intrusion of magma
The expansion and upward ascent of magmas and their
intrusion,cooling and solidification in various forms within the crust in the form of
intrusive igneous rock formations.
3) Extrusion of magma
Is the mechanism which include the process of
appearance of lava onto the surface of the earth ie. , volcano.
The extrusion maybe :a) Simple and quite with a fissure type of volcanic eruption.
b) Maybe violent,explosive, i.e., the central type of volcanic eruption.

So, from the above discussion, we find that volcano is a part of the volcanism.
Fig. 1
Vocano classification :
They are broadly classified on the basis of
1) Mode of eruption.
2) The periodicity of eruption.

1) Classfication of volcanoes on the basis of Mode of eruption:

On this basis, 2 types of eruptions are identified, they are
a) Central or explosive type of eruption.

In this type the extrusion of lava occur through a central pipe by blowing off the
crustal surface due to the accumulation of the violent and explosive gases due to the
block in the vent. In this type huge quantities of volcanic materials like
lava,ashes,volcanic dust,gases,fragmental materials etc are ejected into the sky.
These are destructive and disasterous.Based on the intensity of eruption and the
kinds of materials ejected, they are further divided into 5 sub-types:i)

Hawaiian type
This type of eruption is associated with mild explosives and less dust
particles. This is due to the lava is less viscous in nature(The sound hot
blowing balls of lava which are thrown up,when caught by the strong
winds,they glide in air like red and glowing hairs .This long glassy threads of
molten lava are called as pelees hair.Pelee is Hawaiian godess of fire.
Eg. Kilavea volcano, mounaloa volcano in Hawaiian islands.

ii)

Strambolian type
These are associated with moderate explosions with large amount of dust
particles. Because of the viscous lava. This is also associated with the
formation of dark smoky clouds.

iii)

Volcanian type
These are associated with great force and eruption are intensified
consecutively leading to the formations of the extensive basins called crater.

iv)

Pelean type
Is associated with the greater intensities of the eruptions with roaring noices.
This disasters eruption is named as Nuce Ardentee which means glowing
hot gases and lavas. The velocity of lava will be about 100kmph ( Named
after the palae volcano of martoniques island in carrabean sea). The lavas
are most viscous and pasty.

v)

Vesuvian type
Are associated with violent explosions releasing large quantities of dust and
gases because of highly viscous lava. The extremely violent explosion thrown
out enormous volume of gases up into the skies for greater heights forming
cauliflower shaped smoked structure above the volcano.

b) Fischer type of eruption or silent erution type.

This type of volcanoes occur along the longs fractures or faults or fischers where
slow upwelling of magma causes the lava to flow and spread over ground
surface. The speed of the lava depends on the volume,slope of the surface, the
temp condition and the nature of the lava, which give rise to the plateaus.
Eg. Deccan plateau deccan lava eruption India, Snake plateau USA.
2) Classfication of volcanoes on the basis of periodicity of eruption:
Based on the time time interval between the two eruptions, 3 types of volcanoes are
identified:1) Active volcanoes
These are the volcanoes which are constantly ejecting either lava,gases,ashes or
fragmental materials. It is estimated that above more than 500 active volcanoes are
present in the world.
Eg.- Stramboli and Etna (Sicily island), Vesuvian (Italy),Mounaloa Hawaii, Mayon
and Pinatavo Phillippines.
2) Dormant volcanoes
These are the volcanoes which became silent or hibernates after eruption and have
no indication of future eruptions. These volcanoes are very dangerous causing
enormous damage to human health and wealth.
Eg. Fujinama Japan, Halia Kola- Hawaii, Krakatoa Indonesia.
3) Extinct volcanoes
These are the volcanoes having no rcorded history of eruption in the past 200-400
years and there are no indications of future eruption and they are completely dead
volcanoes. The craters are filled up with water and lakes are formed in it. But many a
times there is no distinction between dormant and an extinct volcano.
Eg.- Kilimanjaro Tanzania.