About 500 active volcanoes are known on Earth, not counting those that lie beneath the sea.

Volcanoes are not randomly distributed over the Earth's surface. Most are concentrated on the edges of continents, along island chains, or beneath the sea forming long mountain ranges. More than half of the world's active volcanoes above sea level encircle the Pacific Ocean to form the circum-Pacific "Ring of Fire".

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Volcanic eruptions occur only in certain places and do not occur randomly. That's because the Earth's outermost shell -- the lithosphere -- is broken into a series of slabs known as lithospheric or tectonic plates. There are 16 major plates.

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How are they formed?

Volcanoes are generally found where tectonic plates are pulled apart or come together. Because of the faults and tension in Earths crust magma is able to pressure its way out to the surface forming a volcano.

The structure and behavior of volcanoes depends on a number of factors. Some volcanoes have rugged peaks formed by lava domes rather than a summit crater, whereas others present landscape features such as massive plateaus. Vents that issue volcanic material (lava, which is what magma is called once it has escaped to the surface, and ash) and gases (mainly steam and gases) can be located anywhere on the landform.
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1. VENT - the vent is the opening from which lava flows. - Dust, ash, and rock particles can also be thrown out of the vent!

What are the parts of a Volcano?

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2. Crater

-the top of the volcano. - It is a funnel shaped pit. -It is formed when the material explodes out of the vent!
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3. Volcanic cone - is the pile of lava, dust, ashes, and rock around the vent. - It can be found in different shapes!
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Types of Volcanoes
There are 3 types of Volcanoes:

Shield Cinder Cone Composite

They are classified by how they form.
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Shield Volcano
Is wide and somewhat flat. It forms from a quiet eruption. Lava flows out quietly and for great distances.
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 Basaltic lava builds up in flat layers with few pyroclastic material (particles ejected by escaping gases) Gently sloping sides

Ex: Hawaiian Islands (Mauna Loa)

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Low-Angle View of Mauna Loa

Source: Photograph courtesy of USGS Photo Library, Denver, CO.

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Satellite View of Hawaii

Source: Photograph courtesy of USGS Photo Library, Denver, CO.

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Cinder Cone Volcano

Built from ejected lava fragments Has tall, very steep sides. Has explosive eruptions. This eruption produces a lot of cinder and ash.
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 Granitic lava thrown high into the air Lava cools into different sizes of volcanic material called tephra Steep-sided, loose slopes
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Paricutn Volcano Erupting

Source: Photograph courtesy of USGS Photo Library, Denver, CO.

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Paricutn Showing Form of Cinder Cones

Source: Photograph by K. Segerstrom, courtesy of USGS Photo Library, Denver, CO.

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Composite Volcano
(Strato volcano)

Consists of alternating layers of lava flows and pyroclastic materials. Form from explosive eruptions. Produce a lot of lava and ash. Is small, with steep sides.
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A mix of the other two types Quiet or violent Basaltic or granitic Steep or gentle slopes Layered or tephra

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Dome Formation, Mount St. Helens

Source: Photograph courtesy of USGS Photo Library, Denver, CO.

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Composite Volcano in the Aleutian Islands

Source: Photograph by R.E. Wilcox, USGS Photo Library, Denver, CO.

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Calderas
-volcanoes having unusually large caters -formed if the summits of volcanoes collapse into the partially implied magma chamber
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Shield volcano
Lake Toba caldera

Stratovolcano
Volcanic fissure

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o Volcanoes are continually lowered by erosion and mass wasting. o After erosion, the more resistant rock that occupies the pipe may remain even if most parts are gone ------ volcanic neck

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Volcanic Neck
A volcanic neck is the remnant of an ancient volcano
If a volcano stops erupting, it stops growing If eruptions cease, the volcano will be subjected to weathering and erosion and will ultimately be worn down The volcanic neck represents the innermost portion of an eroding volcano
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 Igneous intrusions are formed when molten magma deep in the earth forces its way up through cooler rock. If the cooled magma cuts across layers of preexisting rock, it is known as a dike (or dyke).
Dikes can form in rings or in long vertical ridges. Cone sheets are thin dikes that form in the shape of an inverted cone. If the magma settles parallel to preexisting rock, it is known as a sill. Often, erosion will wear away preexisting rock, exposing an escarpment, or a dome-shaped laccolith.

Theory of Plate Tectonics - includes the idea that the lithosphere consists of as many 20-rigid plates Formation of Bicol chain of seven volcanoes
- Mt. Labo in Camarines Norte, Ms. Isarog and Iriga in Camarines Sur, Mts. Malinao and Masaraga in Albay, and Mts. Bacon and Juban in Sorsogon --- as well as the presence of geothermal fields in Tiwi, Albay, and Manito-Bacon, Sorsogon.

The earths crust is divided into 20 rigid plates 50 to 160 km thick. These plates move slowly and slide over a hot semi-plastic layer of magma called the astenosphere.
When the plunging edge of the Philippine plate hits the hot clastic astenosphere, it melts. At the same time, the hot magma rises, heats and reacts with the lithosphere. Then it passes through the vertical cracks or crevices at the bottom of the eastern portion of China plate.

The subduction zone is just below the southwestern tip of the Bicol peninsula. The upwelling magma or liquid rock goes up with tremendous pressure towards the surface of Bicolandia through several fissures, initiating the formation of a chain of volcanoes. As a result of this, the conduits of Mayon and Bulusan are still lightly plugged, such that pressurized lavas can be found in their craters, causing volcanic eruptions from time to time.

Plate tectonics: Asthenosphere is where melting occurs

Source: http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/gal04/GEOL388/lectures/02.html