Volcano Images Page

compiled by

Bill Leeman

Rice University

click on underlined links for more info
Volcano Classifications

Types of volcanoes

Cinder cones

Composite or stratovolcanoes

Shield volcanoes

Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs)

Submarine volcanoes

Calderas

Other Volcano Photo Archives


Types of Eruptions

(Table)

Non-explosive:

Explosive (in order of increasing energetics):

Volcano Morphology


Volcanic Deposits

Debris Avalanches

Debris flow movie

Blow-down

Debris flows, mudflows, lahars

Lahar movie

Lava domes

Lava flows

Lava flow movie

Pyroclastic Flows

Pyroclastic flow movie

Maar or hydrovolcanic deposits

Ash-fall deposits

Ash fall movie

Complex volcanoes


Scales of impact

Distances covered

Areas covered per eruptive phase

Volumes extruded

Volcanic Explosive Index [VEI] - roughly tenfold increase in ejecta volume (and energy release) for each VEI-step; applied to explosive or pyroclastic volcanoes. Certain types of eruptions (e.g., flood basalts, ignimbrite flows) are not included. A comparison in scale between shield (Mauna Loa) and stratovolcanoes (Rainier) is illuminating. Also, time-history of eruptive activity is highly variable between volcanoes - some deposits accumulated over significant time periods (years, Mazama) whereas others were formed in days (Krakatoa).

VEI rank

Volume (km3)

Historic examples

0

only fumaroles

1949 Yakeyama

I

<0.00001

1926 Tokachidake

II

<0.0001

1893 Asama

III

<0.001

IV

<0.01

1959 Oshima

V

<0.1

many Hawaiian eruptions

VI

<1

1980 Mt. St. Helens (0.5 km3)

VII

<10

1888 Bandai (1.2 km3)

VIII

<100

1883 Krakatau, 18 km3; 1470 B.C. Santorini, 30 km3; Mazama, >40 km3

IX

>100

1815 Tambora, 150 km3

Maximum volumes for a single event generally increase with silica content and vent size - up to 100s - 1000s km3 for large caldera-related silicic eruptions; can be significant for large basalt eruptions.

Caldera sizes - range up to 100 x 35 km (Toba), 70 x 40 km (Yellowstone). There is a complete spectrum to smaller sizes. Number of examples decreases with increasing size.


Volcanic Hazards

Current volcanic activity

Deaths associated with eruption types

Hazard assessment


Additional resources


This page updated 12 Feb 2001 by Bill Leeman