What is a composite volcano?
A stratovolcano is another word used for a composite volcano is a conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, composite volcanoes characterized by a steep profile and periodic explosive eruptions and quiet eruptions, although there are some with collapsed craters called calderas. The lava that flows typically cools and hardens before spreading far due to high viscosity. The magma forming this lava is often felsic, having high-to-intermediate levels of silica, with lesser amounts of less-viscousmafic magma. Extensive felsic lava flows are uncommon, but have travelled as far as 15 km.