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Ready to rate the eruption you just saw? Here's what to do:
- To learn more about the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), click on each column heading.
- Then read a description of the eruption you saw and give it a VEI
number.
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)
|
| Description |
Volume of
Ejected
Material |
Plume
Height |
Eruption
Type |
Duration |
Total
Eruptions
Given
this VEI |
Example |
VEI |
Non-
Explosive |
variable |
<100m |
Hawaiian |
variable |
699 |
Kilauea
(1983 to
present) |
0 |
| Small |
<.001 km3 |
100-
1000m |
Hawaiian/
Strombolian |
<1 hr |
845 |
Nyiragongo
(1982) |
1 |
| Moderate |
.001-.01 km3 |
1-5km |
Strombolian/
Vulcanian |
1-6 hrs |
3477 |
Colima
(1991) |
2 |
Moderate/
Large |
.01-.1 km3 |
3-15km |
Vulcanian/
Plinian |
1-12 hrs. |
869 |
Galeras
(1924) |
3 |
| Large |
.1-1 km3 |
10-25km |
Vulcanian/
Plinian |
1-12 hrs. |
278 |
Sakura-Jima
(1914) |
4 |
Very
Large |
1-10 km3 |
>25 km |
Plinian/
Ultra-Plinian |
6-12 hrs. |
84 |
Villarrica
(1810) |
5 |
Very
Large |
10-100 km3 |
>25 km |
Plinian/
Ultra-Plinian |
>12 hrs. |
39 |
Vesuvius
(79 AD) |
6 |
Very
Large |
100-1000 km3 |
>25 km |
Ultra-Plinian |
>12 hrs. |
4 |
Tambora
(1812) |
7 |
Very
Large |
>1,000 km3 |
>25 km |
Ultra-Plinian |
>12 hrs. |
0 |
Yellowstone
Caldera
(2 million
years ago) |
8 |
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© | Updated November 2000
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