The largest volcano on Earth is 10 km high and 120 km across. The largest volcano on Mars is 25 km high and 624 km across. Which best describes why the volcanoes on Mars are so much larger than those on Earth?

Question

A.
The Earth has more mass, which makes magma from eruptions more spread out.

B.
Most of Earth's surface is covered in water, which prevents a volcano from erupting.

C.
Mars does not have moving tectonic plates, which allows lava to keep flowing in the same place.

D.
Mars' atmosphere is composed of mostly carbon dioxide, which encourages bigger volcanoes to form.

Answer 1

The best explanation for why the volcanoes on Mars are so much larger than those on Earth is:

C. Mars does not have moving tectonic plates, which allows lava to keep flowing in the same place.

On Earth, the movement of tectonic plates can lead to the dispersal of volcanic activity over different locations and can cause the volcanic structures to be smaller, as eruptions occur at different points over time. In contrast, the lack of tectonic plate movement on Mars allows for prolonged volcanic activity in a single location, enabling the formation of much larger volcanoes.