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