What are the characteristics of a shield volcano eruption?

Shield volcanoes produce eruptions with lava that pours over the top of the summit and features low-density magma. There is a low quantity of ash during the eruption.

Some shield volcanoes produce fissure eruptions with large volumes of lava, which have multiple eruptions sites along the summit of the volcano. Other shield volcanoes have summit eruptions, which produce volcanic activity at the peak of the volcano in a basin. Summit eruptions do not always spill down the side of the volcano. Fissure eruptions are common among Hawaiian shield volcanoes, while Icelandic shield volcanoes typically have summit eruptions. Stratovolcanoes have explosive eruptions with large amounts of ash and rock.