994:
26:
86:
such, there is a discontinuity in the definition of the VEI between indices 1 and 2. The lower border of the volume of ejecta jumps by a factor of one hundred, from 10,000 to 1,000,000 m (350,000 to 35,310,000 cu ft), while the factor is ten between all higher indices. In the following table, the frequency of each VEI indicates the approximate frequency of new eruptions of that VEI or higher.
906:) have been identified, of which 30 occurred in the past 36 million years. Considering the estimated frequency is on the order of once in 50,000 years, there are likely many such eruptions in the last 132 Mya that are not yet known. Based on incomplete statistics, other authors assume that at least 60 VEI-8 eruptions have been identified. The most recent is
85:
With indices running from 0 to 8, the VEI associated with an eruption is dependent on how much volcanic material is thrown out, to what height, and how long the eruption lasts. The scale is logarithmic from VEI-2 and up; an increase of 1 index indicates an eruption that is 10 times as powerful. As
60:
Volume of products, eruption cloud height, and qualitative observations (using terms ranging from "gentle" to "mega-colossal") are used to determine the explosivity value. The scale is open-ended with the largest eruptions in history given a magnitude of 8. A value of 0 is given for non-explosive
77:(240 cubic miles) of tephra and have a cloud column height of over 20 km (66,000 ft). The scale is logarithmic, with each interval on the scale representing a tenfold increase in observed ejecta criteria, with the exception of between VEI-0, VEI-1 and VEI-2.
977:
erupted. Another weakness of the VEI is that it does not take into account the power output of an eruption, which makes the VEI extremely difficult to determine with prehistoric or unobserved eruptions.
937:(the last 11,700 years) which account for about 75% of the total known eruptions during the Holocene. Of these 7,742 eruptions, about 49% have a VEI of 2 or lower, and 90% have a VEI of 3 or lower.
1589:
997:
1005:
1001:
1002:
998:
1019:
1017:
1016:
1015:
203:
1010:
625:
1008:
1004:
1401:
1018:
999:
1457:
1020:
1011:
1024:
1006:
1000:
925:
in the last 11,700 years. There are also 58 Plinian eruptions, and 13 caldera-forming eruptions, of large, but unknown magnitudes. By 2010, the
617:
1067:
1009:
1007:
1003:
1146:
175:
1077:
1513:
1072:
1062:
1196:
1125:
323:
1276:
Mason, Ben G.; Pyle, David M.; Oppenheimer, Clive (2004). "The size and frequency of the largest explosive eruptions on Earth".
1609:
1376:
1242:
339:
1482:
1023:
1022:
1021:
1013:
511:
527:
577:
433:
981:
Although VEI is quite suitable for classifying the explosive magnitude of eruptions, the index is not as significant as
1599:
1584:
1089:
1014:
899:
1012:
601:
315:
1614:
1594:
1083:
922:
503:
621:
425:
1541:
1451:
1154:
710:
593:
50:
694:
495:
1604:
1368:
1056:
808:
519:
262:
250:
1032:
760:
487:
347:
1506:
846:
670:
167:
1111: – Set of sixteen volcanoes noted for their eruptive history and proximity to densely populated areas
1645:
42:
417:
195:
191:
187:
969:(gas bubbling) of the volcanic products in question is not taken into account. In contrast, the DRE (
686:
20:
1147:"The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI): An Estimate of Explosive Magnitude for Historical Volcanism"
926:
816:
718:
633:
543:
441:
355:
270:
690:
613:
1499:
1473:
1278:
1204:
930:
854:
768:
335:
1640:
1551:
882:
870:
254:
66:
46:
1394:"Volcanic Aerosols: The significance of volcanic eruption strength and frequency for climate"
1179:
970:
800:
933:
had cataloged the assignment of a VEI for 7,742 volcanic eruptions that occurred during the
1635:
1480:
List of Large
Holocene Eruptions (VEI > 4) from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program
1410:
1337:
1287:
1208:
1163:
535:
214:
609:
8:
1566:
1040:
866:
748:
678:
1414:
1341:
1291:
1167:
507:
1576:
1426:
1303:
1120:
1044:
281:
1393:
702:
421:
409:
366:
1479:
1372:
1307:
1238:
1048:
1028:
966:
858:
756:
137:
1430:
1349:
1536:
1447:
1418:
1345:
1295:
1171:
1108:
911:
890:
862:
796:
784:
597:
452:
258:
886:
585:
1556:
1486:
1114:
874:
792:
499:
393:
331:
1322:
1561:
982:
706:
589:
573:
405:
397:
246:
179:
1468:
1299:
1039:
ejected, colour-coded by time of eruption as in the legend. Pink lines denote
491:
1629:
954:
804:
780:
666:
644:
401:
319:
1175:
907:
605:
1462:
1105: – Volcano that has erupted 1000 cubic km of lava in a single eruption
1102:
946:
772:
764:
674:
523:
515:
483:
429:
413:
343:
242:
61:
eruptions, defined as less than 10,000 m (350,000 cu ft) of
54:
752:
479:
311:
163:
958:
914:, more than 27,000 years ago, which means that there have not been any
850:
776:
581:
307:
238:
159:
1422:
903:
878:
788:
698:
303:
183:
171:
16:
Predictive
Qualitative scale for explosiveness of volcanic eruptions
934:
915:
682:
1469:
The size and frequency of the largest explosive eruptions on Earth
1522:
1491:
962:
389:
327:
985:
emissions in quantifying their atmospheric and climatic impact.
1590:
Large volume volcanic eruptions in the Basin and Range
Province
531:
62:
25:
974:
1233:
Dosseto, A. (2011). Turner, S. P.; Van-Orman, J. A. (eds.).
950:
475:
41:) is a relative measure/prediction of the explosiveness of
1235:
Timescales of
Magmatic Processes: From Core to Atmosphere
1392:
Miles, M. G.; Grainger, R. G.; Highwood, E. J. (2004).
973:) is sometimes calculated to give the actual amount of
902:
of VEI-8 magnitude within the last 132 million years (
1402:
Quarterly
Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society
1391:
1362:
1275:
1031:. The apparent volume of each bubble is linearly
1627:
1145:Newhall, Christopher G.; Self, Stephen (1982).
996:
1458:How to measure the size of a volcanic eruption
1363:Siebert, L.; Simkin, T.; Kimberly, P. (2010).
1205:Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
1117: – Indicator of spread of volcanic ejecta
1068:List of volcanic eruptions in the 21st century
1507:
988:
1271:
1269:
1144:
19:"VEI" redirects here. For the company, see
1514:
1500:
1251:
1323:"The largest volcanic eruptions on Earth"
1228:
1226:
1078:List of large Holocene volcanic eruptions
1266:
1073:List of volcanic eruptions by death toll
992:
24:
1257:
1232:
1126:List of natural disasters by death toll
1628:
1223:
1495:
1320:
1063:List of volcanic eruptions 1500–1999
1385:
1260:Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunamis
13:
1521:
1197:"Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)"
1090:List of largest volcanic eruptions
14:
1657:
1441:
80:
29:VEI and ejecta volume correlation
1092:(VEI-7–8, mostly within 500 Mya)
1084:List of large volcanic eruptions
1542:Prediction of volcanic activity
1350:10.1016/j.earscirev.2010.07.001
1155:Journal of Geophysical Research
51:United States Geological Survey
1369:University of California Press
1356:
1314:
1189:
1138:
1057:Timeline of volcanism on Earth
1027:Clickable imagemap of notable
940:
65:ejected; and 8 representing a
1:
1610:Quaternary volcanic eruptions
1131:
1059:(mostly VEI-6, within 2 kya)
7:
1096:
918:eruptions with a VEI of 8.
10:
1662:
1600:Largest volcanic eruptions
1585:Extraterrestrial volcanoes
1547:Volcanic explosivity index
1471:, a 2004 article from the
1258:Rothery, David A. (2010),
1086:(VEI-5–8, within 450+ Mya)
989:Lists of notable eruptions
365:Strombolian / Vulcanian /
35:volcanic explosivity index
18:
1575:
1529:
1300:10.1007/s00445-004-0355-9
921:There have been at least
845:
822:
815:
747:
724:
717:
665:
639:
632:
622:Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai
572:
549:
542:
474:
447:
440:
388:
361:
354:
302:
276:
269:
237:
209:
202:
158:
133:
130:
125:
94:
91:
21:Visual Entertainment Inc.
1615:Volcanic eruption deaths
1595:Large volcanic eruptions
1201:Global Volcanism Program
1047:and yellow spots denote
927:Global Volcanism Program
1474:Bulletin of Volcanology
1279:Bulletin of Volcanology
1176:10.1029/JC087iC02p01231
961:are all treated alike.
931:Smithsonian Institution
823:> 1,000 km
336:Whakaari / White Island
1552:Volcanic Seven Summits
1365:Volcanoes of the World
1052:
255:Dieng Volcanic Complex
67:supervolcanic eruption
47:Christopher G. Newhall
30:
1330:Earth-Science Reviews
1185:on December 13, 2013.
1041:convergent boundaries
1026:
971:dense-rock equivalent
923:10 eruptions of VEI-7
725:> 100 km
448:> 0.1 km
28:
1321:Bryan, S.E. (2010).
1211:on November 10, 2011
1045:divergent boundaries
1043:, blue lines denote
640:> 10 km
257:(1964, 1979, 2017),
45:. It was devised by
1567:Volcano observatory
1415:2004QJRMS.130.2361M
1342:2010ESRv..102..207B
1292:2004BVol...66..735M
1237:. Wiley-Blackwell.
1168:1982JGR....87.1231N
550:> 1 km
1646:1982 introductions
1485:2012-01-17 at the
1448:VEI glossary entry
1409:(602): 2361–2376.
1371:. pp. 28–38.
1121:Lists of volcanoes
1053:
1029:volcanic eruptions
900:About 40 eruptions
847:Flat Landing Brook
43:volcanic eruptions
31:
1623:
1622:
1378:978-0-520-26877-7
1244:978-1-4443-3260-5
1162:(C2): 1231–1238.
897:
896:
835:> 50,000 years
1653:
1537:Decade Volcanoes
1516:
1509:
1502:
1493:
1492:
1435:
1434:
1423:10.1256/qj.03.60
1398:
1389:
1383:
1382:
1367:(3rd ed.).
1360:
1354:
1353:
1336:(3–4): 207–229.
1327:
1318:
1312:
1311:
1273:
1264:
1263:
1262:, Teach Yourself
1255:
1249:
1248:
1230:
1221:
1220:
1218:
1216:
1207:. Archived from
1193:
1187:
1186:
1184:
1178:. Archived from
1151:
1142:
1109:Decade Volcanoes
1037:volume of tephra
995:
912:Oruanui eruption
819:
721:
636:
553:Peléan / Plinian
546:
508:Eyjafjallajökull
444:
358:
273:
224:
206:
89:
88:
76:
74:
1661:
1660:
1656:
1655:
1654:
1652:
1651:
1650:
1626:
1625:
1624:
1619:
1571:
1557:Volcanic winter
1525:
1520:
1487:Wayback Machine
1444:
1439:
1438:
1396:
1390:
1386:
1379:
1361:
1357:
1325:
1319:
1315:
1274:
1267:
1256:
1252:
1245:
1231:
1224:
1214:
1212:
1195:
1194:
1190:
1182:
1149:
1143:
1139:
1134:
1115:Dispersal index
1099:
1025:
993:
991:
945:Under the VEI,
943:
855:Wah Wah Springs
817:
737:500–1,000 years
719:
634:
544:
442:
410:Soufrière Hills
394:Nevado del Ruiz
356:
271:
222:
204:
120:
115:
102:Classification
98:
96:
83:
72:
70:
69:that can eject
23:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1659:
1649:
1648:
1643:
1638:
1621:
1620:
1618:
1617:
1612:
1607:
1605:Earth timeline
1602:
1597:
1592:
1587:
1581:
1579:
1573:
1572:
1570:
1569:
1564:
1562:Volcano Number
1559:
1554:
1549:
1544:
1539:
1533:
1531:
1527:
1526:
1523:Volcano topics
1519:
1518:
1511:
1504:
1496:
1490:
1489:
1477:
1466:
1455:
1443:
1442:External links
1440:
1437:
1436:
1384:
1377:
1355:
1313:
1286:(8): 735–748.
1265:
1250:
1243:
1222:
1188:
1136:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1129:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1112:
1106:
1098:
1095:
1094:
1093:
1087:
1081:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
990:
987:
983:sulfur dioxide
942:
939:
895:
894:
843:
842:
839:
836:
833:
830:
827:
824:
821:
813:
812:
745:
744:
741:
738:
735:
732:
731:Super-colossal
729:
726:
723:
715:
714:
663:
662:
659:
656:
653:
650:
647:
641:
638:
630:
629:
570:
569:
566:
563:
560:
557:
554:
551:
548:
540:
539:
472:
471:
468:
465:
462:
459:
456:
449:
446:
438:
437:
386:
385:
382:
379:
376:
373:
370:
363:
362:> 10 m
360:
352:
351:
306:(since 1934),
300:
299:
296:
293:
290:
287:
284:
280:Strombolian /
278:
277:> 10 m
275:
267:
266:
247:Havre Seamount
235:
234:
231:
228:
225:
220:
217:
211:
210:> 10 m
208:
200:
199:
180:Fagradalsfjall
156:
155:
152:
149:
146:
143:
140:
135:
134:< 10 m
132:
128:
127:
123:
122:
117:
112:
109:
106:
103:
100:
93:
82:
81:Classification
79:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1658:
1647:
1644:
1642:
1641:Hazard scales
1639:
1637:
1634:
1633:
1631:
1616:
1613:
1611:
1608:
1606:
1603:
1601:
1598:
1596:
1593:
1591:
1588:
1586:
1583:
1582:
1580:
1578:
1574:
1568:
1565:
1563:
1560:
1558:
1555:
1553:
1550:
1548:
1545:
1543:
1540:
1538:
1535:
1534:
1532:
1528:
1524:
1517:
1512:
1510:
1505:
1503:
1498:
1497:
1494:
1488:
1484:
1481:
1478:
1476:
1475:
1470:
1467:
1465:
1464:
1459:
1456:
1453:
1449:
1446:
1445:
1432:
1428:
1424:
1420:
1416:
1412:
1408:
1404:
1403:
1395:
1388:
1380:
1374:
1370:
1366:
1359:
1351:
1347:
1343:
1339:
1335:
1331:
1324:
1317:
1309:
1305:
1301:
1297:
1293:
1289:
1285:
1281:
1280:
1272:
1270:
1261:
1254:
1246:
1240:
1236:
1229:
1227:
1210:
1206:
1202:
1198:
1192:
1181:
1177:
1173:
1169:
1165:
1161:
1157:
1156:
1148:
1141:
1137:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1116:
1113:
1110:
1107:
1104:
1101:
1100:
1091:
1088:
1085:
1082:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1058:
1055:
1054:
1050:
1046:
1042:
1038:
1034:
1030:
986:
984:
979:
976:
972:
968:
964:
960:
956:
952:
948:
938:
936:
932:
928:
924:
919:
917:
913:
909:
905:
901:
892:
888:
884:
880:
876:
872:
868:
864:
860:
856:
852:
848:
844:
840:
837:
834:
831:
829:Mega-colossal
828:
826:Ultra-Plinian
825:
820:
814:
810:
806:
802:
798:
794:
790:
786:
782:
778:
774:
770:
766:
762:
758:
757:Campi Flegrei
754:
750:
746:
742:
739:
736:
733:
730:
728:Ultra-Plinian
727:
722:
716:
712:
708:
704:
700:
696:
692:
688:
684:
680:
676:
672:
668:
667:Lake Ilopango
664:
660:
657:
654:
651:
648:
646:
645:Ultra-Plinian
642:
637:
631:
627:
623:
619:
615:
611:
607:
603:
599:
595:
591:
587:
583:
579:
575:
571:
567:
564:
561:
558:
555:
552:
547:
541:
537:
533:
529:
525:
521:
517:
513:
509:
505:
501:
497:
493:
489:
485:
481:
477:
473:
469:
466:
463:
460:
457:
455:/ Sub-Plinian
454:
450:
445:
439:
435:
431:
427:
423:
419:
415:
411:
407:
403:
399:
395:
392:(1963-1967),
391:
387:
383:
380:
377:
374:
371:
369:/ Sub-Plinian
368:
364:
359:
353:
349:
345:
341:
337:
333:
329:
325:
321:
320:Ritter Island
317:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
294:
291:
288:
285:
283:
279:
274:
268:
264:
261:(1977, 2002,
260:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
229:
226:
221:
218:
216:
212:
207:
201:
197:
193:
189:
185:
182:(2021-2023),
181:
177:
173:
169:
165:
161:
157:
153:
150:
147:
144:
141:
139:
136:
129:
124:
119:Stratospheric
118:
113:
110:
107:
104:
101:
90:
87:
78:
68:
64:
58:
56:
52:
48:
44:
40:
36:
27:
22:
1546:
1472:
1463:The Guardian
1461:
1406:
1400:
1387:
1364:
1358:
1333:
1329:
1316:
1283:
1277:
1259:
1253:
1234:
1213:. Retrieved
1209:the original
1200:
1191:
1180:the original
1159:
1153:
1140:
1103:Supervolcano
1036:
1033:proportional
980:
967:vesicularity
944:
920:
898:
743:substantial
675:Huaynaputina
661:substantial
655:50–100 years
568:significant
458:Catastrophic
430:Cumbre Vieja
243:Raoul Island
223:100 m – 1 km
114:Tropospheric
111:Periodicity
105:Description
84:
59:
55:Stephen Self
38:
34:
32:
1636:Volcanology
941:Limitations
867:Yellowstone
749:Long Valley
740:substantial
691:Santa Maria
658:substantial
565:substantial
556:Cataclysmic
467:substantial
381:substantial
310:(current),
215:Strombolian
213:Hawaiian /
166:(current),
164:Mawson Peak
162:(current),
1630:Categories
1215:August 21,
1132:References
959:ignimbrite
955:lava bombs
908:Lake TaupĹŤ
857:(30 Mya),
851:Ordovician
832:> 20 km
734:> 20 km
652:> 20 km
643:Plinian /
606:El ChichĂłn
598:St. Helens
559:> 10 km
461:> 10 km
259:Nyiragongo
151:negligible
145:< 100 m
121:injection
116:injection
1308:129680497
1080:(VEI-5–7)
859:La Garita
789:Santorini
699:Novarupta
500:Lamington
470:definite
464:18 months
451:Peléan /
406:1989-1990
384:possible
304:Stromboli
286:Explosive
282:Vulcanian
184:Mauna Loa
176:2014-2015
172:Holuhraun
126:Examples
75:10 m
57:in 1982.
1483:Archived
1431:53005926
1097:See also
1049:hotspots
935:Holocene
916:Holocene
891:26.5 kyr
863:26.3 Mya
707:Pinatubo
683:Krakatoa
649:Colossal
590:Tarawera
574:Vesuvius
562:12 years
412:(1997),
378:3 months
295:moderate
245:(2006),
241:(1995),
239:Yakedake
170:(2011),
148:constant
142:Effusive
138:Hawaiian
1460:, from
1454:website
1450:from a
1411:Bibcode
1338:Bibcode
1288:Bibcode
1164:Bibcode
1035:to the
963:Density
929:of the
875:640 kyr
871:2.1 Mya
805:Tambora
797:Samalas
793:1610 BC
785:4300 BC
777:5700 BC
753:760 kyr
614:Puyehue
453:Plinian
402:Redoubt
390:Surtsey
375:3–15 km
328:Galeras
292:2 weeks
160:KÄ«lauea
99:(bulk)
49:of the
1530:Topics
1429:
1375:
1306:
1241:
957:, and
883:74 kyr
773:Mazama
769:22 kyr
761:37 kyr
532:Semeru
516:Merapi
484:Bandai
414:Ontake
372:Severe
367:Peléan
344:Marapi
289:1–5 km
219:Gentle
168:Dallol
108:Plume
97:volume
95:Ejecta
63:tephra
1577:Lists
1427:S2CID
1397:(PDF)
1326:(PDF)
1304:S2CID
1183:(PDF)
1150:(PDF)
975:magma
887:TaupĹŤ
841:vast
781:Kikai
492:Pelée
422:Fuego
312:Unzen
298:none
233:none
230:minor
227:daily
154:none
1452:USGS
1373:ISBN
1239:ISBN
1217:2014
965:and
951:lava
879:Toba
838:vast
809:1815
801:1257
765:Aira
711:1991
703:1912
695:1902
687:1883
679:1600
626:2022
618:2011
610:1982
602:1980
594:1886
586:1707
582:Fuji
536:2021
528:2020
524:Taal
520:2010
512:2010
504:1951
496:1902
488:1888
480:1783
476:Laki
434:2021
426:2018
418:2014
398:1985
348:2023
340:2019
332:1993
324:1888
316:1792
308:Etna
263:2021
251:2012
196:2022
192:1984
188:1975
92:VEI
53:and
33:The
1419:doi
1407:130
1346:doi
1334:102
1296:doi
1172:doi
947:ash
910:'s
904:Mya
885:),
877:),
865:),
853:),
803:),
795:),
787:),
779:),
771:),
763:),
755:),
705:),
697:),
689:),
681:),
673:),
671:450
620:),
612:),
604:),
596:),
588:),
580:),
530:),
522:),
514:),
506:),
498:),
490:),
482:),
428:),
420:),
408:),
400:),
342:),
334:),
326:),
318:),
253:),
178:),
71:1.0
39:VEI
1632::
1425:.
1417:.
1405:.
1399:.
1344:.
1332:.
1328:.
1302:.
1294:.
1284:66
1282:.
1268:^
1225:^
1203:.
1199:.
1170:.
1160:87
1158:.
1152:.
953:,
949:,
893:)
873:,
811:)
713:)
628:)
578:79
538:)
436:)
350:)
265:)
198:)
194:,
190:,
131:0
1515:e
1508:t
1501:v
1433:.
1421::
1413::
1381:.
1352:.
1348::
1340::
1310:.
1298::
1290::
1247:.
1219:.
1174::
1166::
1051:.
889:(
881:(
869:(
861:(
849:(
818:8
807:(
799:(
791:(
783:(
775:(
767:(
759:(
751:(
720:7
709:(
701:(
693:(
685:(
677:(
669:(
635:6
624:(
616:(
608:(
600:(
592:(
584:(
576:(
545:5
534:(
526:(
518:(
510:(
502:(
494:(
486:(
478:(
443:4
432:(
424:(
416:(
404:(
396:(
357:3
346:(
338:(
330:(
322:(
314:(
272:2
249:(
205:1
186:(
174:(
73:Ă—
37:(
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