shield volcano

Noun

shield volcano (plural shield volcanoes or shield volcanos)

1. A large volcano, with shallow-sloping sides and a flattened dome, formed of successive eruptions of free-flowing lava from fissure vents.
   • 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.1989, R. W. Johnson, editor, Intraplate Volcanism, Cambridge University Press, page 61
   • Shield volcanoes are constructed from basaltic lavas and in profile appear as broad arcs with gentle slopes (Figure 5.10).2015, Edward Keller, Duane DeVecchio, Natural Hazards, Pearson Education, 4th Edition, page 136

   Synonyms:

   lava dome