Why Are Lahars Common on Composite Volcanoes?

Composite volcanoes are normally associated with subduction, and while their magma tends to be intermediate on average, it can range all the way from felsic to mafic. ... Lahars, volcano-related mudflows, can be large enough to destroy entire towns.

Do composite volcanoes have lahars?

Composite volcanoes also produce lahars. A lahar is a mix of water with volcanic debris. Lahars are basically volcanic landslides down the steep slope, traveling so quickly that they are difficult to escape.

How are volcanoes and lahars related?

Lahars transform the landscapes around Cascade Volcanoes.

Lahar is an Indonesian word describing a mudflow or debris flow that originates on the slopes of a volcano. Small debris flows are common in the Cascades, where they form during periods of heavy rainfall, rapid snow melt, and by shallow landsliding.