sztratovulkánok

Stratovulkánok, also known as composite volcanoes, are large, conical volcanoes characterized by their steep profiles and explosive eruptions. They are built up by many layers, or strata, of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. The name "stratovolcano" comes from the stratified layers that form its structure.

These volcanoes are typically found along convergent plate boundaries, where one tectonic plate slides beneath another, a process called subduction. As the subducting plate descends into the Earth's mantle, it melts, creating magma that rises to the surface. This magma is often viscous, meaning it is thick and resistant to flow. The high viscosity, combined with dissolved gases, leads to explosive eruptions.

During an eruption, stratovolcanoes can expel ash clouds that reach high into the atmosphere, posing significant hazards to aviation. They can also produce pyroclastic flows, fast-moving currents of hot gas and volcanic matter that can devastate surrounding areas. Lava flows from stratovolcanoes are typically thick and slow-moving, but they can still cause significant damage.

Notable examples of stratovolcanoes include Mount Fuji in Japan, Mount Rainier in the United States, and Mount Vesuvius in Italy. Their formation and eruptive behavior make them some of the most dynamic and potentially dangerous geological features on Earth.