Estratovolcánicos

Estratovolcánicos, also known as composite volcanoes, are conical volcanoes built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. They are characterized by their steep profiles and periodic, often explosive eruptions. These volcanoes are typically found along convergent plate boundaries, where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another, a process known as subduction. The melting of the subducting plate generates magma that rises to the surface.

The formation of an estratovolcánico is a complex process involving repeated eruptions of viscous, silica-rich lava. This magma tends to trap gases, leading to pressure buildup and explosive eruptions. The ejected material, including ash and pyroclastic flows, solidifies and accumulates around the vent, gradually building the volcano's characteristic cone shape. The alternating layers of lava flows and fragmented volcanic debris give them their stratified appearance.

Estratovolcánicos are responsible for some of the most famous and destructive volcanic eruptions in history. Their eruptions can produce a wide range of hazards, including ash clouds that can disrupt air travel, pyroclastic flows that travel at high speeds and incinerate everything in their path, and lahars, which are volcanic mudflows. Famous examples include Mount Fuji in Japan, Mount Rainier in the United States, and Mount Vesuvius in Italy.