Shield volcanoes, such as Ambrym and Ambae, are characterised by a broad, flat and convex shape with a summit calderas. The vents are mostly localized at the summit and on the rift zones. Eruption frequency is variable, decade to century. The eruptions consist of fluid lava flows, weak fountaining explosions, summit explosions and ash fall.

Caldera volcanoes, such as Ambrym, Ambae, Gaua and Yasur are characterized by a central or summit location with the predictable eruption location and often have a small volcanoes cone and lakes inside them. The caldera forming are from very large eruptions. Eruptions are rare. Eruption frequency is from 1000's years.

Cone volcanoes, such as Lopevi, Gaua, Ambrym and Yasur are characterized by a central or summit vent with the predictable eruption location, steep-sided cone shape and multiple vents can build small volcano complexes over extended area. Eruption frequency is between 10's - 100's years. Eruptions are explosive often powerful and consist of lava domes, lava flows, mud flows, floods and infrequent major collapses.

Scoria cones and Maars (mostly along rifts) are characterized by nunerous small volcanoes over extended area with random eruption location such as present in Vanuatu along the rifts of  Ambrym and Ambae. There are variety of eruption style, dry creates cones and wet creates maars. Eruption frequency 100's to 1000's years.