shield volcano

shield volcano (plural shield volcanoes or shield volcanos)

1. (volcanology) A large volcano, with shallow-sloping sides and a flattened dome, formed of successive eruptions of free-flowing lava from fissure vents.

   Synonym: lava dome

   Coordinate term: stratovolcano

   • 1989, R. W. Johnson, editor, Intraplate Volcanism, Cambridge University Press, page 61:

     Large shield volcanoes of the Hawaiian type (Macdonald, 1972) are more complex, longer lived, polygenetic centres whose life spans may be measurable in terms of hundreds of thousands of years to a millions years.

   • 2015, Edward Keller, Duane DeVecchio, Natural Hazards, Pearson Education, 4th Edition, page 136,

     Shield volcanoes are constructed from basaltic lavas and in profile appear as broad arcs with gentle slopes (Figure 5.10).

   • 2019, Peter Macinnis, Australian Backyard Earth Scientist, National Library Australia (NLA Publishing), page 41,

     Shield volcanoes can be tens of kilometres from side to side, though the shield volcano called Rangitoto, just off Auckland, is a lot smaller. Each island of Hawaii was once an active shield volcano.