Volcanoes are caused by sudden movements occurring in the Earth’s interior. Classification of volcanoes based on the frequency of eruptions is discussed below
Classification of volcanoes based on the frequency of eruptions
Active Volcanoes
- Active volcanoes are those which have erupted in the recent past and are likely to erupt in the future.
- There are about 550 known active volcanoes.
- Some active volcanoes are Mt Etna in Italy and Mauna Loa in Hawaii.
Dormant Volcanoes
- Volcanoes which have not erupted in the recent past but can become active at any time are known as dormant volcanoes.
- Dormant volcanoes are also known as ‘sleeping volcanoes’.
- Some dormant volcanoes are Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa and Mt Vesuvius in Italy.
Extinct Volcano
- Volcanoes which have not erupted in the present geological period and are not likely to erupt in the future are known as extinct volcanoes.
- Mt Aconcagua in South Africa and Mt Kenya in Africa are considered extinct volcanoes.
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