5.8 Volcanic Landforms and Hazards

Abstract

Volcanic centers are complex, dynamic, and continuously evolving landforms. As a consequence, volcanic landforms are highly diverse and controlled by the tectonic setting, magma type and volume, surface environment, and their age. Active volcanoes occur in most tectonic settings. Most of Earth's active volcanoes, however, are subduction-zone related and occur around the margins of the Pacific. Volcanic hazards are both direct and indirect, involving pyroclastic materials, lava flows, poisonous gases, landslides, debris flows, floods, and climate change. Mitigating volcanic hazards and disaster management require understanding of the geologic context and processes, monitoring of volcanic centers, and disaster preparedness.