A polygenetic volcanic field is a group of polygenetic volcanoes, each of which erupts repeatedly, in contrast with

monogenetic volcanoes Monogenetic may refer to: * Monogenetic in biology, of or pertaining to monogenesis (Mendelian inheritance) * Monogenetic volcanic field in geology, a cluster of volcanoes that only erupted once * Monogenetic theory of pidgins in linguistics, a th ...

, each of which erupts only once. Polygenetic volcanic fields generally occur where there is a high-level

magma chamber A magma chamber is a large pool of liquid rock beneath the surface of the Earth. The molten rock, or magma, in such a chamber is less dense than the surrounding country rock, which produces buoyant forces on the magma that tend to drive it upw ...

. These

volcanic field A volcanic field is an area of Earth's crust that is prone to localized volcanic activity. The type and number of volcanoes required to be called a "field" is not well-defined. Volcanic fields usually consist of clusters of up to 100 volcanoes ...

s may show lithological discontinuities due to major changes in magma chemistry, volcanotectonic events, or long erosional intervals, and may last over 10 million years. Unlike monogenetic volcanoes, polygenetic volcanoes reach massive sizes, such as

Mauna Loa Mauna Loa ( or ; Hawaiian: ; en, Long Mountain) is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The largest subaerial volcano (as opposed to subaqueous volcanoes) in both mass and ...

, which is the world's largest active volcano. Polygenetic volcanoes include

stratovolcano A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile with a summit crater and per ...

es,

complex volcano A complex volcano, also called a compound volcano or a volcanic complex, is a mixed landform consisting of related volcanic centers and their associated lava flows and pyroclastic rock. They may form due to changes in eruptive habit or in t ...

es,

somma volcano A somma volcano (also known as a sommian) is a volcano, volcanic caldera that has been partially filled by a new central volcanic cone, cone. The name comes from Mount Somma, a stratovolcano in southern Italy with a summit caldera in which the ...

es,

shield volcano A shield volcano is a type of volcano named for its low profile, resembling a warrior's shield lying on the ground. It is formed by the eruption of highly fluid (low viscosity) lava, which travels farther and forms thinner flows than the more v ...

es and

caldera A caldera ( ) is a large cauldron-like hollow that forms shortly after the emptying of a magma chamber in a volcano eruption. When large volumes of magma are erupted over a short time, structural support for the rock above the magma chamber is ...

References

Volcanology {{Volcanology-stub