Scribd
Upload
71 views1 page

G 35

The document discusses the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), which is a scale used to measure the magnitude of volcanic eruptions. The VEI is based on the volume of erupted material and how high the eruption plume reaches. More viscous magmas tend to cause more explosive eruptions due to higher gas pressure buildup. The VEI scale ranges from 0 to 8 and classifies eruptions based on their plume height, volume of erupted material, and frequency. Examples of eruptions from different levels on the VEI scale are provided.

Uploaded by

HIRA BATOOL
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
71 views1 page

G 35

The document discusses the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), which is a scale used to measure the magnitude of volcanic eruptions. The VEI is based on the volume of erupted material and how high the eruption plume reaches. More viscous magmas tend to cause more explosive eruptions due to higher gas pressure buildup. The VEI scale ranges from 0 to 8 and classifies eruptions based on their plume height, volume of erupted material, and frequency. Examples of eruptions from different levels on the VEI scale are provided.

Uploaded by

HIRA BATOOL
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Ch 1 Volcanoes 9/17/04 10:13 AM Page 35

Activity 4 Volcanic Hazards: Airborne Debris

Figure 2 Volcanic ash landing on buildings can result in death.Volcanic ash is also a hazard to
airplanes on the ground as well as in the air.

Geo Words
Volcanic Explosivity Index Volcanic Explosivity Index:
The table in Figure 3 is a scale of eruption magnitude.The scale is known as the percentage of pyroclastics
among the total products of a
Volcanic Explosivity Index, or VEI.The VEI is based on the volume of erupted volcanic eruption.
material and the height it reaches.The size of an eruption depends upon several
factors.Two important factors are the composition of the magma and the amount
of gas dissolved in the magma.The viscosity of a magma depends on two things:
the temperature of the magma, and its chemical composition.The higher the silica
content of magma, the more viscous it is.The more viscous it is, the more likely it
is for gas pressure to build. High-silica volcanoes, like Yellowstone, erupt extremely
violently, but on a scale of tens or hundreds of thousands of years.Volcanoes with
intermediate silica contents, like Mt. St. Helens, commonly produce violent
eruptions with a frequency of hundreds or thousands of years. Silica-poor magmas,
like those erupted at Kilauea, feed less explosive eruptions that occur more often.

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)

Plume
VEI Height Volume How often Example
0 <100 m 1000’s m3 Daily Kilauea
1 100–1000 m 10,000’s m3 Daily Stromboli
2 1–5 km 1,000,000’s m3 Weekly Galeras, 1992
3 3–15 km 10,000,000’s m3 Yearly Ruiz, 1985
4 10–25 km 100,000,000’s m3 10’s of years Galunggung, 1982
5 >25 km 1 km3 100’s of years St. Helens, 1980
6 >25 km 10’s km3 100’s of years Krakatoa, 1883
7 >25 km 100’s km3 1000’s of years Tambora, 1815
Figure 3

G 35
EarthComm

You might also like