Types of Eruptions

There are 4 types of volcanic eruptions and let me tell you a little bit about each of them.

• Plinian eruptions are the most explosive and dangerous eruptions. Plinian eruptions are the eruptions that explode a large ash explosion into the air and are followed by viscous lava flows and the most dangerous pyroclastic flow. Pyroflastic flow occurs when the ash cloud becomes to dense to support itself so it collapses and rushes down the volcano destroying anything in its path. Yeah John Cusack you would be dead.



• Vulcanian eruptions are also dangerous but they just erupt lots of ash. Pyroclastic flows do occur but the amount of ash is not as great so therefor vulcanian eruptions are not quite as deadly as plinian eruptions.



• Strombolian eruptions shoot fairly viscous lava into the air and down the volcano.



• Hawaiin volcanoes like their name are based upon the volcanoes in Hawaii. The Hawaiin eruptions occur over a vent where lava is forced out, but the lava has a very high viscosity so the lava is slow moving and not very dangerous.