A Vulcanian eruption is a short, violent, relatively small explosion of viscous magma . This type of eruption results from the fragmentation(meaning: the process or state of breaking or being broken into fragments ) and explosion of a plug of lava in a volcanic conduit. Vulcanian eruptions create powerful explosions in which material can travel faster than 350 meters per second (800 mph) and rise several kilometers into the air. They produce tephra, ash clouds, and pyroclastic density currents (clouds of hot ash, gas and rock that flow almost like fluids).
Vulcanian eruptions may be repetitive and go on for days, months, or years, or they may precede even larger explosive eruptions. They are named for the Italian island of Vulcano, where a small volcano that experienced this type of explosive eruption was thought to be the vent. |
Vulcanian Eruption |