USGS photo.
Introduction
Plinian and Sub-Plinian eruptions differ primarily on the basis of intensity, although Plinian events may consist of more silicic magmas than Sub-Plinian ones.
Plinian eruptions are extremely explosive eruptions, producing ash columns that extend many tens of miles into the stratosphere and that spread out into an umbrella shape. These large eruptions produce widespread deposits of fallout ash. Eruption columns may also collapse due to density to form thick pyroclastic flows. They may also trigger lahars on composite volcanoes.
This style of eruption is named for the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE which was witnessed by Pliny the Elder.
The May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens was Plinian.
The 1912 eruption of Novarupta in Katmai National Park and Preserve also was Plinian. It produced an eruption column that rose to a height of more than 100,000 feet (30 km) and spread over most of southern Alaska and the Yukon Territory. So much magma was erupted that it lead to a 1.5-mile wide (2.5-km) caldera. The eruption lasted nearly three days. It also produced voluminous pyroclastic flows.
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Typical magma composition: silicic (rhyolitic)
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Description: Paroxysmal (particularly violent)
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Eruption Products: tephra, pumice, fallout ash, pyroclastic flows, lahars
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National Park examples: Novarupta in Katmai National Park and Preserve
Related Links
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Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve, Alaska—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home] [npshistory.com]
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Crater Lake National Park, Oregon—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home] [npshistory.com]
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Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home] [Volcanoes] [npshistory.com]
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Mount Rainier National Park, Washington—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home] [npshistory.com]
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USGS Alaska Volcano Observatory—Novarupta (in Katmai National Park and Preserve)
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USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory—Mount St. Helens