What is the most common type of volcano on Earth?

The most common type of volcano on Earth is the composite volcano. Composite volcanoes, also known as stratovolcanoes, are characterized by their steep profiles and layered structure, formed from alternating eruptions of lava flows, ash, and volcanic rocks. This layering occurs because these volcanoes typically experience explosive eruptions that eject ash and other pyroclastic materials alongside more viscous lava that flows out during quieter eruptions.

An exemplary feature of composite volcanoes is their ability to produce a variety of eruption styles and materials, which contributes to their prevalence in volcanic regions around the world. They are often found at convergent plate boundaries, where an oceanic plate subducts beneath a continental plate, leading to significant volcanic activity. Famous examples of composite volcanoes include Mount St. Helens in the United States and Mount Fuji in Japan, which further illustrates their unique presence and impact in the geological landscape.

In contrast, shield volcanoes, while also common, tend to produce less explosive eruptions and are broad with gentle slopes, primarily formed by fluid lava flows. Cinder cone volcanoes are generally small and built from small fragments of volcanic rock, making them less common overall. Lava domes are formed from the slow extrusion of viscous lava and