Complex volcano

A complex volcano, also called a compound volcano, is a volcano with more than one characteristic. They form because changes of their eruptive characteristics or the place of multiple vents in an area. Stratovolcanoes can form complex volcanoes, because they may overlap one more from explosive eruptions, lava flows, pyroclastic flows and by frequent eruptions, to make manifold summits and vents. Stratovolcanoes could also form a big caldera that gets filled in by numerous small cinder cones, lava domes and craters may also expand on the caldera's rim.

Complex volcanoes are varied landforms. In most cases, they happen because of changes also in eruptive habit or in position of the principal vent area. A stratovolcano may form a huge explosion crater that later becomes filled by a lava dome, or several new cones and craters may develop on a caldera's rim. One stratovolcano cone may overlap one more and have multiple summits.