TYPES OF VOLCANIC

ERUPTIONS
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/volc/eruptions.html
http://geology.com/volcanoes/types-ofvolcanic-eruptions/

Phreatic eruption
Phreatic eruptions are steam-driven
explosions that occur when water beneath
the ground or on the surface is heated by
magma, lava, hot rocks, or new volcanic
deposits (for example, tephra and
pyroclastic-flow deposits).

The intense heat of such material

(as high as 1,170 C for basaltic
lava) may cause water to boil and
flash to steam, thereby generating
an explosion of steam, water, ash,
blocks, and bombs.

Phreatic
(or steam-blast) eruptions are driven by explosive
expanding steam resulting from cold ground or surface
water coming into contact with hot rock or magma.
The distinguishing feature of phreatic explosions is that
they only blast out fragments of preexisting solid rock
from the volcanic conduit; no new magma is erupted.
Phreatic activity is generally weak, but can be quite
violent in some cases, such as the 1965 eruption of Taal
Volcano, Philippines, and the 1975-76 activity at La
Soufrire, Guadeloupe (Lesser Antilles).

Phreatomagmatic eruption
An eruption that involves both
magma and water, which typically
interact explosively, leading to
concurrent ejection of steam and
pyroclastic fragments.

phreatomagmatic eruption
An example of a Phreatomagmatic Eruption was the
eruptions of Mt Usu in Japan in April 2000.
Phreatomagmatic eruptions at basaltic volcanoes are
capable of producing pyroclastic flows.

Strombolian
In a Strombolian-type eruption
observed during the 1965 activity of
Iraz Volcano in Costa Rica, huge clots
of molten lava burst from the summit
crater to form luminous arcs through
the sky. Collecting on the flanks of the
cone, lava clots combined to stream
down the slopes in fiery rivulets.

is a type of eruption that could be classified as low level.

These types of volcanic eruptions were named after the
Stromboli volcano in Sicily, which experienced this type of
ejection several times.
These eruptions can be small to medium when it comes to
the volume with some periods of violence.

An example of a Strombolian eruption that lasted a

shorter duration is the Paricutin volcano, which
erupted continuously from 1943 to 1952. A longer
lasting one is Mount Erebus in Antarctica which has
had these eruptions for many decades and of course
the namesake for this type of eruption, the Stromboli
volcano in Italy has actually been producing these
types of volcanic eruptions for thousands of years.

Vulcanian
Parcutin Volcano in 1947 demonstrated
a "Vulcanian"-type eruption, in which a
dense cloud of ash-laden gas explodes
from the crater and rises high above the
peak.
Steaming ash forms a whitish cloud near
the upper level of the cone.

Vulcanian Eruption

short but violent types of volcanic eruptions

These eruptions can create extremely powerful
explosions that cause material to travel at speeds
greater than 800 miles per hour and gain an
altitude of several kilometers.

Vulcanian eruptions produce ash clouds and tephra in

addition to pyroclastic density currents, which is a
mixture of rock, gas and hot ash that flows in a manner
very similar to fluids. The tephra from these flows is
generally spread out over larger areas than the tephra
emitted during Strombolian eruptions.

These eruptions are caused by either a lava dome

rupturing or when a plug of the lava from a volcanic
conduit fragments and explodes. In addition to lasting
anywhere from days to months or even years, these
Vulcanian eruptions may also be a precursor to larger and
more explosive eruptions. These types of volcanic
eruptions are named after the small volcano found on
Vulcano, an island in Italy.

PLINIAN

The most powerful eruptions are called "plinian"

and involve the explosive ejection of relatively
viscous lava.

Large plinian eruptions--such as during 18 May

1980 at Mount St. Helens or, more recently,
during 15 June 1991 at Pinatubo in the
Philippines--can send ash and volcanic gas tens
of miles into the air. The resulting ash fallout
can affect large areas hundreds of miles
downwind. Fast-moving deadly pyroclastic
flows ("nues ardentes") are also commonly
associated with plinian eruptions.

Plinian Eruptions

The most spectacular and most violent of all types of volcanic

eruptions is what is known as a Plinian eruption. This type of
eruption happens when gassy magma is fragmented and associated
with very viscous magma. The combination releases a huge amount
of energy, which will create an eruption column which will contain
ash, gas and could rise up to an altitude of 50 kilometers at very
high speeds. Because the ash goes up so high, it could end up
several thousand miles away from the volcanos location. This type
of eruption has been compared to a nuclear explosion because of
the mushroom shaped eruption column it will create.

These types of volcanic eruptions are named after Pliny the

Younger who was a Roman historian that made the comparison
back in 79 A.D. when Mount Vesuvius erupted so Plinian eruptions
were named after him. These types of eruptions do happen and the
one that took place at Mount St. Helens in 1980 is one of the best
examples. They are extremely dangerous and destructive and could
destroy the entire top of the mountain. Ash and lava bombs can
land several miles away from the volcano and the currents of lava
will destroy anything in the surrounding area. Because of the
amount of material released during an eruption it is possible that
the mountain will go into a resting period right after the eruption.