Volcanoes are grouped into four types: cinder cones, composite volcanoes, shield volcanoes and lava volcanoes. Cinder cones are circular or oval cones made up of small fragments of lava from a single ...

Most volcanoes form at the boundaries of Earth's tectonic plates, which are huge slabs of crust and upper mantle that fit together like puzzle pieces. Think of these plates as massive rafts floating ...

The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research. Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, began sending up ...

The recent volcanic eruptions in Hawaii and Guatemala are a reminder that not all volcanoes are created equal: Some types pose a far greater hazard to life than others. In the most recent eruption of ...

Studies reveal that beneath seemingly tranquil mountains, magma boils in shallow layers, reducing volcanic warning time.

Volcanic eruptions frequently interfere with human affairs; impacts range from minor nuisances to major disasters. Some 50 to 65 different volcanoes typically are active in any given year, and among ...