Source– This post on Olympus Mons is based on the article “Olympus Mons: The largest volcano in the solar system” published in “PIB” on 14th June 2024.
Why in the News?
Recently, Scientists have discovered frost on Mars’ tallest volcano, Olympus Mons, revealing an active water cycle on the Red Planet.
About Olympus Mons
1. Olympus Mons is a shield volcano situated in Mars’ western hemisphere.
2. It is the highest point on Mars and the largest known volcano in the solar system, standing at 16 miles (24 kilometers) high, which is about three times taller than Mt. Everest.
3. Olympus Mons is 340 miles (550 kilometers) wide, covering an area larger than the entire chain of Hawaiian Islands.
4. Olympus Mons is approximately 3.5 billion years old, indicating it formed early in Mars’ history. It has a very flat structure with slopes ranging from only 2 to 5 degrees.
6. The summit has a large depression called a caldera, spanning 50 miles (80 kilometers) wide. The summit caldera consists of several overlapping pits created by different eruptive phases. It has multiple pits.
About Shield Volcanoes
1. Shield volcanoes are the largest volcanoes on Earth.
2. They have broad, gentle slopes rather than soaring, conical peaks like composite volcanoes.
3. They are almost exclusively composed of basalt which is a type of lava that is very fluid when erupted.
4. Shield volcanoes are built by repeated eruptions over vast periods of time.
5. Eruptions are usually low-explosivity, characterized by lava fountaining that forms cinder cones and spatter cones at the vent. Eruptions can become explosive if water gets into the vent.
6. Examples: The Hawaiian shield volcanoes are the most well-known examples of this type of volcano.
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