Volcanoes

Volcanoes are scattered across the planet. About 1,500 active volcanoes can be found across the world, though countless others are on the ocean floor. Most volcanoes, whether on land or underwater, are located where tectonic plates meet. In fact, the ring of fire, a path that traces the boundaries between several tectonic plates around the Pacific Ocean, contains about 75 percent of the planet's volcanoes. There are several types of volcanoes, primarily classified by shape and size. Major types include stratovolcanoes, which often appear as tall steep mountains, shield volcanoes, which are flatter and dome-shaped, calderas, which are large depressions in the ground, and mid-ocean ridges, which are underwater chains of volcanic mountains. No matter their shape or size, all volcanoes emit gas and molten rock. The Journey of these emissions begins deep underground in the Earth's core. The core, which can burn as hot as the surface of the Sun, transfers its heat to the surrounding Rocky mantle. In doing so the heat melts some of the rock, this molten rock, or magma, is lighter than the surrounding solid rock layer, so it rises through the mantle. The magma then escapes through vents in the Earth's crust, causing volcanic eruptions.