Question: what factor best determines what type of volcano will form in a given area?
Answer: When magma erupts at the surface it can form different types of volcanoes depending on the viscosity, or stickiness, of the magma, the amount of gas in the magma, and the way in which the magma reached the surface. Different types of volcanoes include stratovolcanoes, shield, fissure vents, spatter cones and calderas.