What type of volcanic activity is commonly formed from subduction?

Stratovolcanoes are typically formed in subduction zones where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another. This process leads to the melting of the subducted plate as it descends into the hot mantle, generating magma. The magma rises to the surface, creating volcanic eruptions that are often explosive due to the high viscosity of the magma and the presence of dissolved gases.

Stratovolcanoes are characterized by their steep, conical shapes and layered structure, composed of alternating layers of lava flows, volcanic ash, and other volcanic debris. This layering results from the alternating phases of explosive eruptions and quieter lava flows, common in subduction zone environments.

In contrast, shield volcanoes, which are formed from low-viscosity lava that flows easily across great distances, are not primarily associated with subduction zones. Fissure eruptions create broad, flat landscapes formed from basaltic lava flows and are typically found at divergent boundaries or hotspots, while calderas are large depressions formed when a volcano erupts and collapses, often following explosive volcanic activity, but are not exclusively linked to the process of subduction. Thus, stratovolcanoes represent the typical volcanic activity associated with subduction zones.