Worksheet 04

PURWANCHAL VIDYAMANDIR
Session: 2021 - 2022

Class: IX
Subject: Geography
Study Material: 4
VOLCANOES
The volcanic eruptions are sudden movements associated with internal forces of the Earth. A volcano is a vent
in the Earth's crust from which fiery hot magma erupts from the earth's interior.
Causes of Volcanic Eruptions:
● Heat and pressure inside the earth- Temperature and pressure both increase from the surface towards the
centre of the Earth. It melts the rocks and builds up great pressure. The pressure forces the heat to find
an escape route through fissures and cracks in the rocks.
● Plate Tectonics- most volcanic eruptions take place near plate margins.
● Magma chamber- the molten material, while still under the earth's crust, melts weak rocks and creates
huge chamber for itself.
Products of a Volcano:
A volcano erupts a number of products like steam, gases, molten rock, dust, ashes and other liquid and solid
matter.
● Magma and Lava: The molten rock material inside the earth is known as magma. When it reaches the
surface of the earth, it is known as lava.
● Solid matter: The solid fragments are rock pieces known as pyroclasts. The finest particles are called
dust.
Structure of a Volcano:
The lava flows out through an opening in the Earth's crust called vent. The opening is usually like a circular
pipe. There may be only one opening at the summit. However, subsidiary vents are formed during repeated
eruptions.
The erupted fluid material being hot collects around the vent and begins to cool gradually and solidifies. The
accumulation of material around the vent gives to the volcano it's typical cone-like shape known as volcanic
cone.
Types of Volcanoes:
On the basis of frequency of their eruption, volcanoes are classified into three main types- active, dormant and
extinct volcanoes.
● Active Volcanoes: These are the volcanoes which are presently in the active state and have erupted in
the recent past. Eg: Mt.Stromboli, Mt. Etna, etc.
● Dormant Volcanoes: These volcanoes have not erupted in recent historical periods. They are regarded as
'sleeping volcanoes' and may become active at any time. Eg: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Vesuvius, etc.
● Extinct Volcanoes: These are the types which have not erupted in the present geological period and are
not likely to become active again. Eg: Mt. Kenya, Mt. Aconcagua, etc.
On the basis of types of eruption, volcanoes may be divided into three major types- composite, conical and
shield volcano.
● In composite volcanoes, the main vent grows too high and a parasite or branch cone develops on the
slopes of the volcano. Most of the large volcanoes are composite cones.
● In conical volcanoes, magma and other materials get erupted through a narrow conduit or pipe and get
accumulated around the point of eruption.
● In shield volcanoes, eruption takes place along a long narrow fissure in the crust. Large quantities of
magma are erupted and these spread over a large area.
Constructive Effects of Volcano:
The lava erupted from the interior of the Earth cool down to form different landforms. Landforms found in
volcanic regions are classified into two major types- extrusive and intrusive landforms.
Extrusive Landforms:
● Volcanic cone or mountain
● Volcanic shield or plateau
● Volcanic plain
● Caldera Lake
● Hot springs
● Geysers
Volcanic cone or mountain- Volcanic cones are called cinder cones when the material erupted consists of
cinder and other solid particles. Composite cones are formed due to an explosive eruption followed by the
eruption of lava.
Some volcanoes erupt lava quietly without any explosion. They build up lava cones. In this case the form of
cone depends on nature of lava
Volcanic shield or plateau- Basic lava flow from fissure eruption, solidifies and usually forms broad summit
with gentle slopes around it. Eg: Deccan plateau, Colombian plateau, etc.
Volcanic plain- These plains are vast and smooth formed by extensive volcanic flooding from volcanic centres.
Eg: The Western Victorian plains in Australia.
Caldera lake- During repeated eruptions the summit of a volcano may be blown up. In its place a large
depression called caldera is formed. This depression eventually gets filled with water and forms a lake. Eg:
Crater Lake in USA.
Hot springs- The movement of magma in the interior of the Earth heats up underground water particularly
around magma chambers. Eg: Sulphur hot springs at Manikaran in Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh.
Geysers- A geyser is a fountain of hot water and steam that escapes when underground water comes into
contact with hot volcanic rocks. Eg: Old Faithful in Yellowstone national park in USA.
ASSIGNMENT
1.Define the following:
a. Caldera
b. Active Volcano
c. Geyser
d. Hot Spring
2.Give Reasons for the following:
a. Acid lava forms volcanic cone and basic lava forms volcanic shield.
b. Cinder cones have steep slope.
3.Distinguish between the following:
a. Magma and Lava

b. Acid Lava and Basic Lava
c. Dormant Volcano and Extinct Volcano
d. Volcanic cone and Volcanic plateau
4.Answer in brief:
a. What are volcanoes? State the different types of volcanic eruptions on the basis of frequency.
b. What is the magma chamber of a volcano? How are composite cones formed?
5.Diagram:
Draw and label: Structure of a Volcano

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PURWANCHAL VIDYAMANDIR

Session: 2021 - 2022

Causes of Volcanic Eruptions:

1.Define the following:

2.Give Reasons for the following:

3.Distinguish between the following:

a. Magma and Lava

Draw and label: Structure of a Volcano

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