vulcani

Vulcani are geological formations produced by magma that ascends from the Earth's mantle to the surface, typically through vents, fissures, or calderas. They occur primarily at tectonic plate boundaries—such as subduction zones, divergent boundaries, and continental rifts—and, less frequently, above hot spots. Surface activity results from magma accumulation in magma chambers and its subsequent ascent, which can create a variety of eruption styles and products.

Volcanoes are commonly classified by shape and eruption type. Stratovolcanoes, or composite volcanoes, are tall, cone-shaped structures built from alternating layers of lava flows, ash, and pumice, and are often associated with viscous andesitic to rhyolitic magmas and explosive eruptions. Shield volcanoes have broad, gently sloping profiles formed by low-viscosity basaltic lava and typically produce effusive lava flows. Cinder cones arise from tephra ejections that accumulate around vents, and lava domes form when viscous lava plugs. Calderas are large depressions created by the collapse of magma chambers after major eruptions.

Hazards associated with vulcani include lava flows, ash plumes, pyroclastic flows, lahars, volcanic gases, and landslides. Eruptions can affect nearby populations and infrastructure and, at higher elevations or near air routes, pose significant aviation hazards. Monitoring strategies rely on seismology, ground deformation measurements (GPS and InSAR), gas analysis, and remote sensing to forecast eruptions and mitigate impacts.

In Italian, vulcani is the plural of vulcano, meaning volcano. The term reflects a long history of human observation of volcanic activity around the world.