Composite and shield volcanoes are found along plate boundaries. They have distinctive characteristics and can have both positive and negative effects on people and the landscape.
Mt Merapi (meaning Mountain of Fire) is an active stratovolcano (or composite volcano) located in South East Asia, on the island of Java, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia, having erupted regularly since 1548.
Merapi is located in one of the most densely populated parts of Java with over 11,000 people living on the slopes of the mountain. Most of these people are poor farmers who depend on the richness of the soil for their living.
In March 2010 there were the first signs that the volcano would erupt. Tiltmeters showed that the volcanic dome had begun to bulge. In September there was increased earthquake activity and white plumes of smoke were seen rising above the volcano's crater. On Monday 25th October 2010, Merapi erupted and continued to erupt until 30th November.
The volcano and its eruptions were caused by the Indo-Australian Plate being subducted beneath the Eurasian Plate. The volcano is located on a destructive plate margin, at a subduction zone, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.