Series: Volcanic Eruption Styles

Categories in this traditional classification are based on the eruption styles of particular volcanoes. These magmatic eruption styles are listed in the order of increasing explosivity.

• Article 1: Hawaiian Eruptions

  

  Fire-fountains and effusive outpourings of very fluid basaltic lavas are the hallmarks of Hawaiian style eruptions. Read more

• Article 2: Strombolian Eruptions

  

  Stombolian eruptions look like volcanic firework displays. Explosions eject glowing volcanic bombs into the air that then fall around the crater. Read more

• Article 3: Vulcanian Eruptions

  

  Vulcanian eruptions are intermittent and characterized by explosive bursts that create dark eruption columns that rise to moderate heights. Read more

• Article 4: Sub-Plinian Eruptions

  

  Sub-Plinian eruptions create high eruption columns that are unsteady. Pyroclastic flows and lahars also form during these eruptions from composite volcanoes. Read more

• Article 5: Plinian Eruptions

  

  Plinian eruptions are more intense than Sub-Plinean eruptions. Eruption columns may extend into the stratosphere and spread out in an umbrella shape and produce widespread ash deposits. Pyroclastic flows and lahars also occur during these eruptions. Read more

• Article 6: Ultra-Plinian Eruptions

  

  These caldera-forming eruptions are the largest of all volcanic eruptions. These eruptions have higher eruption rates that form higher eruption columns and produce widespread pyroclastic flows. Read more