From “Vent” to “Volcanic Field” and “Volcanic Province”: Pivotal terms in volcanology that require formal definitions

De “fuente eruptiva” a “campo volcánico” y “provincia volcánica”: Términos fundamentales en volcanología que requieren definiciones formales

Edgardo Cañón-Tapia1,*

1 Departamento de Geología, División de Ciencias de la Tierra, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE). Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana 3918, Zona Playitas, 22860. Ensenada, Baja California, México.

* Corresponding author: (E. Cañón-Tapia) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

How to cite this article:

Cañón-Tapia, E. (2026). From ‘Vent’ to ‘Volcanic Field’ and ‘Volcanic Province’: Pivotal terms in volcanology that require formal definitions. Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana, 78(1), A140126. https://doi.org/10.18268/BSGM2026v78n1A140126 

Manuscript received: September 5, 2025. Corrected manuscript received: December 4, 2025. Manuscript accepted: January 13, 2026.

ABSTRACT

Precise definitions of concepts facilitate systematization of knowledge, its logical analysis and favor understanding of complex processes. Several pivotal terms in volcanology, such as “vent”, “volcano”, “volcano field” and “volcanic province”, among others, however, remain ill-defined. This work addresses various ambiguities associated with these and other related terms. Although evidently those terms are geologic in nature, it may be convenient to take into consideration some non-geologic criteria to reach less ambiguous, and quantifiable definitions. The evidence presented in this work shows that there is a continuum of structures at various spatial scales and that ambiguities between terms can be removed for the most part, by adopting a set of operational definitions that incorporate non-strictly geological, yet quantifiable criteria. Thus, “Vents” and “Volcanoes” can be distinguished from each other using as a reference three quantifiable measurements (the diameters of two objects and a distance between their centers). Also, they can be distinguished by their belonging to either a “vent field” or a “volcano field”, which can be distinguished by reference to a threshold density of ~ 2.5 x10-7 structures /m2, with vent fields having the largest density values. Other terms discussed in the text are “Region”, “Province”, “Group”, “Cluster” and “Complex”. Suggested definitions are “Region”: a group of nearby provinces, arcs or groups of volcanoes; “Province” denotes a magmatic affinity observed over a large territorial extension (yet smaller than a region). “Group” and “Cluster” denote spatial proximity and their definition depends on a distance used as reference. If the group or cluster also displays magmatic or genetic affinity, then it can be addressed as a volcano complex.

Keywords: volcanology, definitions in science, volcanic field, volcanic province.