Volcanic geomorphological classification of the cinder cones of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)

Abstract

This paper proposes a method to establish a morphological classification of Tenerife's cinder cones on the basis of a dual analysis of qualitative (existence, geometry and disposition of craters) and quantitative morphometric parameters (major and minor diameters and cone elongation, major and minor diameters and crater elongation). The result obtained is a morphological classification of the cinder cones of Tenerife, which can be sub-divided into four types: ring-shaped-cones, horseshoe-shaped-volcanoes, multiple volcanoes and volcanoes without crater. In Tenerife there is a clear dominance of horseshoe-shaped volcanoes (69.0%) over ring-shaped cones (13.1%), volcanoes without craters (11.4%) and multiple volcanoes (6.4%). The classification presented in this paper is characterized by its simplicity which makes it possible to include all morphological types of volcanoes found in Tenerife. This fact also renders our classification a useful tool to apply in other, both insular and continental volcanic areas to eventually analyze and systematize the study of eruptive edifices with similar traits.