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When magma reaches the surface of the earth, it is called lava. Since it its a liquid, it flows downhill in response to gravity as a lava flows. Different magma types behave differently as lava flows, depending on their temperature, viscosity, and gas content. Lava flows are produced on the surface, and these run like liquids down slope, along the lowest areas they can find. 2  If the magma emerges along a fracture, it results in a fissure eruption, often called a curtain of fire. 3  Lava flows produced by eruptions under water are called pillow lavas.
The Hawaiian shield volcanoes (Kilauea and Mauna Loa) are the most notable examples of shield volcanoes. Lava Dome: Unlike shield volcanoes, the lava in dome volcanoes is very thick and viscous often because it is rich in silica and/or andesite. As a result it does not travel far.During eruptions, thick lava piles up on top of the crater, cools down and hardens.hield volcanoes have very fluid lava composed almost entirely of basalt. The lava which arrives at the surface is hot and little changed since the time it was generated. Shield volcanoes are the largest volcanoes on Earth.