Type of Volcano: Shield

How Often It Erupts / Last Eruption: Mauna Loa is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. It erupted most recently in November 2022.

Hazards: Lava flows, ash clouds, earthquakes, volcanic gases.

Eruption Type: Effusive (lava flows steadily)

Viscosity of Magma: Low viscosity (basaltic lava)

Dissolved Gas Content: Low to moderate (mainly water vapor and CO₂)

List of Physical Features: Large, gently sloping sides, wide shield-like profile, lava tubes, calderas.

Evidence of Last Volcanic Eruption: Lava flows (seen in images from 2022 eruption), ash fall, volcanic tremors.

Type of Volcano: Stratovolcano (composite volcano)

How Often It Erupts / Last Eruption: Most recent eruption was in 2008–2009, but the famous eruption was in 1980.

Hazards: Pyroclastic flows, lahars, ashfall, volcanic gases, landslides.

Eruption Type: Explosive

Viscosity of Magma: Moderate to high viscosity (andesitic to dacitic magma)

Dissolved Gas Content: High (particularly water vapor and sulfur dioxide)

List of Physical Features: Steep sides, crater, lava dome, pyroclastic deposits.

Evidence of Last Volcanic Eruption: Crater formed in the 1980 eruption, ongoing activity with fumarolic gas emissions, and lava dome growth.

Type of Volcano: Shield

How Often It Erupts / Last Eruption: Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It erupted from 1983 to 2018 and had another eruption in 2020–2021.

Hazards: Lava flows, volcanic gases, earthquakes, ashfall.

Eruption Type: Effusive

Viscosity of Magma: Low viscosity (basaltic lava)

Dissolved Gas Content: Low to moderate (mainly water vapor and CO₂)

List of Physical Features: Extensive lava fields, calderas, active lava lakes.

Evidence of Last Volcanic Eruption: Lava flows, volcanic gas emissions, photographs of ongoing eruptions in 2020.

Type of Volcano: Stratovolcano (composite volcano)

How Often It Erupts / Last Eruption: Last eruption occurred in 1707, during the Edo period (Hōei eruption).

Hazards: Pyroclastic flows, ashfall, lahars, volcanic gases, earthquakes.

Eruption Type: Explosive (though it has had effusive eruptions in the past)

Viscosity of Magma: Moderate to high viscosity (andesitic magma)

Dissolved Gas Content: High (especially sulfur dioxide and water vapor)

List of Physical Features: Symmetrical cone, crater, lava flows, ash deposits.

Evidence of Last Volcanic Eruption: Ash deposits from the 1707 eruption, crater structure visible on the summit.

Type of Volcano: Cinder Cone

How Often It Erupts / Last Eruption: Parícutin erupted from 1943 to 1952 and has not erupted since then.

Hazards: Lava flows, ashfall, pyroclastic material, volcanic gases.

Eruption Type: Strombolian (mild explosive)

Viscosity of Magma: Moderate viscosity (basaltic and andesitic lava)

Dissolved Gas Content: Moderate (mainly CO₂ and water vapor)

List of Physical Features: Steep-sided cone, lava flows, tephra deposits.

Evidence of Last Volcanic Eruption: Lava fields, cinder cone formation, volcanic ash deposits.

Type of Volcano: Caldera (Supervolcano)

How Often It Erupts / Last Eruption: The most recent eruption occurred around 74,000 years ago (Toba Supereruption).

Hazards: Global cooling (volcanic winter), massive ashfall, pyroclastic flows, lahars.

Eruption Type: Explosive (ultra-Plinian)

Viscosity of Magma: High viscosity (rhyolitic magma)

Dissolved Gas Content: High (sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and water vapor)

List of Physical Features: Large caldera (1,000 km²), Lake Toba (a large lake formed by the eruption), volcanic islands within the lake, geothermal activity.

Evidence of Last Volcanic Eruption: Toba Caldera, Lake Toba itself, large volcanic ash deposits found around the world, remnants of pyroclastic flows.

Type of Volcano: Cinder Cone (part of a larger stratovolcano system)

How Often It Erupts / Last Eruption: Lassen Peak last erupted between 1914 and 1917.

Hazards: Lava flows, pyroclastic flows, ashfall, volcanic gases.

Eruption Type: Explosive and effusive (lava dome and cinder cone growth)

Viscosity of Magma: Moderate to high viscosity (andesitic lava)

Dissolved Gas Content: High (sulfur dioxide and water vapor)

List of Physical Features: Lava domes, cinder cones, steep-sided mountains, fumaroles.

Evidence of Last Volcanic Eruption: New cinder cone growth, lava flows, and ash deposits from the early 1900s eruptions.

Type of Volcano: Cinder Cone

How Often It Erupts / Last Eruption: Capulin Volcano erupted about 60,000 years ago.

Hazards: Lava flows, ashfall, pyroclastic material.

Eruption Type: Explosive (Strombolian)

Viscosity of Magma: Moderate viscosity (basaltic lava)

Dissolved Gas Content: Moderate (CO₂, water vapor)

List of Physical Features: Steep-sided cone, lava flows, cinder and tephra deposits.

Evidence of Last Volcanic Eruption: The well-preserved cinder cone structure, surrounding lava fields, and tephra deposits.