This is a list of volcanoes that have had large explosive eruptions during the Holocene (since about 11,650 years Before Present), with a volcanic explosivity index (VEI) of 5 or higher, or a plume height of at least 30 km. To date, there have been no eruptions with a confirmed VEI of 8 in the Holocene; and only a few VEI-7 eruptions are thought to have occurred during this time: the most recent was the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora. This is not a complete list.
VEI | Volcano/complex | Volcanic arc/belt, subregion, or hotspot | Material volume (km3) | Date | Tephra or eruption name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bulk | DRE | |||||
5-6 | Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai | Tonga-Kermadec Islands volcanic arc | [1] –14 [2] | 6[3] | 7.1January 15, 2022 | 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and tsunami |
5 | Puyehue-Cordón Caulle | Andean Volcanic Belt | [4] | 0.76–1.26Unknown | June 4, 2011 | 2011–2012 Puyehue-Cordón Caulle eruption |
5 | Mount Hudson | Andean Volcanic Belt | [5] | 4.3–7.6[6] | 1.6–2.7August 8, 1991 | |
6 | Mount Pinatubo [7] | Luzon Volcanic Arc | [8] | 10[9] | 4.8–6.0June 15, 1991 | 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo |
5 | El Chichón [7] | Chiapanecan Volcanic Arc | 2.2 | [10] | 1.1April 4, 1982 | Tephra unit A |
5 | Mount St. Helens [7] | Cascade Volcanic Arc | [11] | 1.1[12] | 0.5May 18, 1980 | 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens |
5 | Mount Agung | Sunda Arc, Bali | 1 | Unknown | March 17, 1963 | |
5 | Bezymianny [a] | Kamchatka | 1.9 | Unknown | March 30, 1956 | |
5 | Kharimkotan | Kuril Islands | 1 | Unknown | 1933 | |
5 | Quizapú | Andean Volcanic Belt | 9.5 | [15] | 7–10April 10–21, 1932 | |
5 | Submarine volcano NNE of Iriomote Island | Japan | 1 | Unknown | 1924-10-31 | |
6 | Novarupta [7] | SW Alaska, Aleutian Arc | 26–30 | [16] | 13–14June 6, 1912 | |
5 | Ksudach | Kamchatka | 1.75 | Unknown | 1907-03-28 | |
6 | Santa María [7] | Central America Volcanic Arc, Guatemala | 10.7–11.4 | [16] | 6.4October 24, 1902 | 1902 eruption of Santa María |
5 | Mount Tarawera | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 2 | Unknown | June 10–15, 1886 | 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera |
6 | Krakatoa [7] | Sunda Arc | 18–25 | [17] | 9.0August 26, 1883 | 1883 eruption of Krakatoa |
5 | Askja | Iceland | 1.83 | Unknown | March 28, 1875 | |
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | 2 | Unknown | February 18, 1854 | |
5 | Mount Agung | Sunda Arc, Bali | 1 | Unknown | 1843 | |
5 | Cosigüina | Central America Volcanic Arc, Nicaragua | 4.25 | Unknown | January 20, 1835 | |
5-6 | Zavaritski Caldera [18] | Kuril Islands | Unknown | Unknown | 1831 | |
5 | Mount Galunggung | Sunda Arc, Java | 2 | Unknown | October 8, 1822 | |
7 | Mount Tambora [7] | Sunda Arc, Sumbawa | 144–213 | [19] | 37–50April 10, 1815 | 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora |
6? | Between Indonesia and Tonga [b] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | c.1808 | Undocumented 1808 eruption [21] |
5 | Mount St. Helens | Cascade Volcanic Arc | 1.5 | Unknown | c.1800 | T (Goat Rocks) |
5 | Katla | Iceland | 1 | Unknown | 1755-10-17 | |
5 | Mount Tarumae | Hokkaidō | 4 | Unknown | 1739-08-18 | Ta-a |
5 | Katla | Iceland | 1 | Unknown | 1721-05-11 | |
5 | Mount Fuji | Honshū | 1.7 | Unknown | December 16, 1707 | Hōei eruption of Mount Fuji |
5 | Tangkoko | Sangihe Volcanic Arc | 1 | Unknown | 1680 | |
5 | Mount Gamkonora | Halmahera Volcanic Arc | 1 | Unknown | 1673-05-20 | |
5 | Mount Tarumae | Hokkaidō | 2.8 | Unknown | 1667-09-24 | Ta-b |
5 | Mount Usu | Hokkaidō | 2.78 | Unknown | 1663-08-16 | |
6 | Long Island, PNG | Bismarck Volcanic Arc | 21 | [22] | 12c.1660 | Tibito tephra |
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | ≥ 2 | Unknown | 1652 CE ±11 | SH1 |
5 | Mount Melibengoy [23] | Mindanao, Philippines | 1 | Unknown | December 26, 1640 | |
5 | Komagatake | Hokkaidō | 2.9 | Unknown | 1640-07-31 | Ko-d |
5 | Mount Vesuvius | Campanian volcanic arc | 1.1 | Unknown | 1631-12-16 | |
5 | Furnas | São Miguel Island, Azores | 2.1 | Unknown | 1630-09-03 | |
5 | Katla | Iceland | 1 | Unknown | 1625-09-02 | |
6 | Huaynaputina | Andes, Central Volcanic Zone | 34–35 | [24] [25] | 12.2February 19, 1600 | |
5 | Raung | Sunda Arc, Java | 1 | Unknown | 1593 CE | |
5 | Kelud | Sunda Arc, Java | 1 | Unknown | c.1586 | |
6 | Billy Mitchell | Bougainville & Solomon Is. | 13.5 | Unknown | c.1580 | BM2 |
5 | Água de Pau | São Miguel Island, Azores | 1.3 | Unknown | 1563-06-28 / 1563-07-26 | |
5 | Mount St. Helens | Cascade Volcanic Arc | 1.5 | Unknown | c.1482 | We (Kalama) |
5 | Mount St. Helens | Cascade Volcanic Arc | 7.7 | Unknown | c.1480 | Wn (Kalama) |
6 | Bárðarbunga | Iceland | 10 | Unknown | c.1477 | Veidivatnahraun |
7? | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | c.1458 | Undocumented 1458 eruption [26] [27] [28] |
? | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 1452/1453 | Undocumented 1452/1453 eruption [26] [27] |
6 | Öræfajökull | Iceland | 10 | Unknown | June 5, 1362 | |
6 | Quilotoa | Andes, Northern Volcanic Zone | 21 | Unknown | c.1280 | |
5 | Katla | Iceland | 1 | 1262 CE | ||
7 | Mount Samalas | Lombok Island | 81–92 | [29] | 33–40c.1257 | 1257 Samalas eruption [c] |
5 | Mount Asama | Honshū | 1.3 | Unknown | August 29, 1108 | Tennin eruption (1108) |
5 | Hekla | Iceland | 1.2 | Unknown | c.1104 | H1 tephra |
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | ≥ 2 | 1034 CE ±11 | SH2 | |
5 | Billy Mitchell | Bougainville & Solomon Is. | 7 | 1030 CE | BM1 | |
6 | Baekdu Mountain [7] | Balhae (China – North Korea border) | 40–98 | [31] | 10–64c.946 | Millennium eruption Baegdusan-Tomakomai Tephra |
5 | Towada [32] | Honshū | 6.54 | Unknown | c.915 | Eruption episode A |
6 | Mount Churchill | eastern Alaska | 50 | 847 CE ±1 | WRAe | |
6 | Rabaul | Bismarck Volcanic Arc | 24 | Unknown | c.683 | Rabaul Pyroclastics |
6 | Dakataua | Bismarck Volcanic Arc | 10 | 653 CE ±18 | Dk | |
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | ≥ 2 | 650 CE ±40 | SH3 | |
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | ≥ 2 | 600 CE | ||
5 | Mount Haruna | Honshū | 1.6 | 550 CE ±10 | Futatsudake-Ikaho eruption | |
6-7 | Unknown source | Unknown [d] | Unknown | Unknown | c.536 | Volcanic winter of 536 |
5 | Mount Vesuvius | Campanian volcanic arc | 1.2 | Unknown | c.472 | Pollena |
6 | Lake Ilopango | Central America Volcanic Arc, El Salvador | 37–82 | [33] [34] | 44–95c.430 | Tierra Blanca Joven eruption |
5 | Akutan | Aleutian Arc | 1 | 340 | Akutan tephra | |
7 | Taupō Volcano [7] | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 110 | Unknown | [e] | c.232Hatepe eruption |
5 | Masaya [7] | Central America Volcanic Arc, Nicaragua | 6.6 | 150 | Masaya Tuff | |
5 | Mount Vesuvius | Campanian volcanic arc | 3.25 | Unknown | [f] | c.79Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 |
6 | Ambrym | Vanuatu | 70 | Unknown | c.50 | Ambrym Pyroclastic Series |
VEI | Volcano/complex | Volcanic arc/belt, subregion, or hotspot | Material volume (km3) | Date | Age (ka) [35] | Tephra or eruption name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bulk | DRE | ||||||
6 | Okmok Caldera | Umnak, Aleutian Arc | [36] | 25+[37] | 15+43 BCE | 2 | Okmok II |
5 | Etna | Campanian volcanic arc | 1 | Unknown | 122 BCE | 2.1 | S flank, summit (Cratere del Piano caldera) |
6 | Raoul Island | Kermadec Islands | 28.8 | Unknown | 250 BCE | 2.2 | Fleetwood |
5 | Mount St. Helens | Cascade Volcanic Arc | 1.2 | Unknown | 530 BCE | 2.5 | Ps/Pu (Pine Creek) |
5 | Mount Tarumae | Hokkaidō | 3.3 | 550 BCE | Ta-c | ||
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | 1 | 780 BCE | SH5 | ||
5 | Mount Fuji | Honshū | 1 | 930 BCE | Upper SE flank, Tephra layer Zu | ||
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | > 1 | 950 BCE | |||
6 | Mount Pinatubo | Luzon Volcanic Arc | 12.5 | Unknown | 1050 BCE | 3 | Maraunot eruptive period |
5 | Hekla | Iceland | 7.5 | 1100 BCE ±50 | H3 tephra | ||
5 | Mount Tarawera | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 8 | 1310 BCE ±12 | Kaharoa eruption | ||
5 | Mount Fuji | Honshū | 1 | 1350 BCE | Tephra layer Os | ||
5 | Avachinsky | Kamchatka | 1.75 | Unknown | 1350 BCE | 3.3 | Tephra layer IIAV3 |
6 | Taupō Volcano | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 17 | Unknown | 1460 BCE | 3.4 | Waimihia eruption |
5 | Avachinsky | Kamchatka | ≥ 3.6 | Unknown | 1500 BCE | 3.5 | Tephra layer AV1 |
5 | Hayes Volcano | SW Alaska, Aleutian Arc | 8.1 | 1550 BCE | Hayes Tephra set H | ||
6 | Youngest Caldera, Santorini | South Aegean Volcanic Arc | [38] | 34.51610 BCE | 3.6 | Minoan eruption | |
6 | Mount St. Helens | Cascade Volcanic Arc | 15.3 | Unknown | 1860 BCE | 3.8 | Yn (Smith Creek) |
6 | Mount Hudson | Andes, Southern Volcanic Zone | 12 | Unknown | 1890 BCE | 3.8 | |
5 | Mount Dana | SW Alaska, Aleutian Arc | 1 | 1890 BCE | 1890 BCE eruption | ||
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | > 1 | 2000 BCE | SHsp | ||
6-7 | Deception Island [39] | South Shetland Islands | Unknown | 30-60 | 1960 BCE | 4 | Outer Coast Tuff |
6 | Long Island, PNG | Bismarck Volcanic Arc | > 10 | Unknown | 2040 BCE | 4 | biliau beds |
5 | Rungwe | Great Rift Valley, Tanzania | 2.2 | 2050 BCE | Rungwe pumice | ||
5 | Nishiyama, Hachijō-jima | Izu–Bonin–Mariana Arc | 1.2 | 2050 BCE | Mitsune-7 scoria | ||
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | > 1 | 2100 BCE | SHsp | ||
7 | Paektu Mountain | Balhae (China – North Korea border) | Unknown | Unknown | 2264 BCE? | 4.2–5.1 [40] | Tianwenfeng eruption |
7 | Cerro Blanco (Argentina) | Andes, Central Volcanic Zone | 172 | [41] | 8–832300 BCE | 4.3 | |
5 | Hekla | Iceland | 5.6 | 2310 BCE ±20 | H4 tephra | ||
5 | Mount St. Helens | Cascade Volcanic Arc | 1.2 | Unknown | 2340 BCE | 4.3 | Yb (Smith Creek) |
5 | Piton de la Fournaise | Réunion | 1.8 | 2700 BCE | Bellecombe Ash Member | ||
5 | Ilyinsky | Kamchatka | 1.3 | 2850 BCE | ZLT-tephra; IL-tephra | ||
5 | Água de Pau | São Miguel Island, Azores | 5.4 | 2990 BCE | Fogo A | ||
5 | Lake Numazawa [32] | Honshū | 4.71 | 3400 BCE | |||
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | ≥ 2 | 3500 BCE | |||
6 | Mount Pinatubo | Luzon Volcanic Arc | 12? | Unknown | 3550 BCE | 5.5 | Crow Valley eruptive period |
7 | Taal Volcano | Luzon Volcanic Arc | 150> | [42] | 903580 BCE | 5.5 | Taal scoria pyroclastic flow |
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | ≥ 2 | 3650 BCE | |||
5 | Kaguyak | SW Alaska, Aleutian Arc | 3.9 | 3850 BCE | Caldera formation | ||
6 | Masaya Volcano | Central America Volcanic Arc, Nicaragua | 14.8 | Unknown | 4050 BCE | 6 | |
5 | Towada | Honshū | 9.18 | 4150 BCE | eruption episode C | ||
5 | Apoyeque | Central America Volcanic Arc, Nicaragua | 1.9 | 4160 BCE ±30 | Laguna Xiloá | ||
5 | Avachinsky | Kamchatka | ≥ 4 | Unknown | 4340 BCE | 6.3 | Tephra layer IAv12; AV4 |
6-7 | Macauley Island | Kermadec Islands | ⩽ 100 | Unknown | 4360 BCE | 6.3 | |
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | ≥ 2 | 4400 BCE | |||
5 | Komagatake | Hokkaidō | 3 | 4600 BCE ±50 | Ko-g | ||
5 | Nishiyama, Hachijō-jima | Izu–Bonin–Mariana Arc | 1.2 | 4650 BCE | Mitsune-5 scoria | ||
6 | Mount Hudson | Andes, Southern Volcanic Zone | 18 | Unknown | 4750 BCE | 6.7 | |
5 | Ksudach | Kamchatka | 7.5 | 4900 BCE | KS2 | ||
5 | Tavui | Bismarck Volcanic Arc | 5.75 | 4946 BCE ±40 | Raluan Pyroclastics | ||
5 | Hekla | Iceland | 1.7 | 5150 BCE | H5 tephra | ||
5 | Ksudach | Kamchatka | 3 | 5200 BCE | KS3 | ||
5 | Ichinsky | Kamchatka | 2.5 | 5400 BCE | |||
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | 1.2 | 5500 BCE | |||
6 | Lake Mashū | Hokkaidō | 18.6 | Unknown | 5550 BCE | 7.5 | Ma-f/g/h/i/j |
6 | Khangar | Kamchatka | 15 | Unknown | 5700 BCE | 7.7 | KHG tephra |
5 | Avachinsky | Kamchatka | 9 | Unknown | 5980 BCE | 7.9 | Tephra layer IAv2 |
6 | Menengai | East African Rift | 70 | Unknown | 6050 BCE | 8 | |
5 | Mount Tarawera | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 1.2 | 6060 BCE ±50 | Haroharo (Te Horoa & other domes) | ||
5 | Makushin Volcano | Unalaska, Aleutian Arc | 7.5 | 6100 BCE ±50 | |||
6 | Karkar Island | Bismarck Volcanic Arc | 20 | Unknown | 6318 BCE | 8.3 | Wadau deposit |
5 | Kizimen | Kamchatka | 4.9 | 6400 BCE ±50 | KZII | ||
6 | Karymsky | Kamchatka | 14.5 | Unknown | 6600 BCE | 8.6 | Tephra layer KRM |
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | 1 | 6800 BCE | |||
5 | Mount Tarumae | Hokkaidō | 1.9 | 6950 BCE | Ta-d | ||
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | ≥ 2 | 7150 BCE | |||
5 | Towada | Honshū | 2.5 | 7250 BCE | eruption episode E | ||
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | ≥ 1 | 7300 BCE | |||
6 | Mount Pinatubo | Luzon Volcanic Arc | ⩾10 | Unknown | 7460 BCE | 9.4 | Tayawan caldera, Pasbul eruptive period |
5 | Mount Tarawera | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 7560 BCE ±18 | Lake Rotoma | |||
6 | Água de Pau | São Miguel Island, Azores | 11.5 | Unknown | 8000 BCE | 10 | Inner Caldera Formation |
7 | Semisopochnoi Island | Aleutian Arc | 120 | Unknown | 8000 BCE | 10 | |
5 | Kizimen | Kamchatka | 4 | 8050 BCE | KZI | ||
6 | Grímsvötn | Iceland | 15 | Unknown | 8230 BCE | 10.2 | Saksunarvatn tephra |
5 | Lake Ngozi | Great Rift Valley, Tanzania | 7 | 8250 BCE | Kitulo pumice | ||
5 | Towada | Honshū | 1.3 | 8250 BCE | eruption episode F | ||
6 | Longonot | Great Rift Valley, Kenya | 50 | Unknown | 8910 BCE | 10.9 | |
5 | Mount Tongariro | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 1 | 9350 BCE | |||
5 | Mount Tongariro | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 1 | 9450 BCE | Poutu Lapilli (Mangamate) | ||
5 | Mount Tongariro | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 1 | 9650 BCE |
VEI | Volcano/complex | Volcanic arc/belt, subregion, or hotspot | Material volume bulk (km3) | Date (earliest est.) | Date (latest est.) | Tephra or eruption name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | Sakurajima | Kyūshū | 1 | c.1471 | c.1476 | |
5 | Mount Pinatubo | Luzon Volcanic Arc | 1 | c.1400 | c.1500 | Buag eruptive period |
5 | El Chichón | Chiapanecan Volcanic Arc | 2.8 | c.1260 | c.1460 | |
5 | Ubinas | Andes, Central Volcanic Zone | 2.8 | c.1000 | c.1164 | |
5 | Lake Mashū | Hokkaidō | 4.6 | c.980 | c.1180 | Ma-b |
5 | Puyehue | Andean Volcanic Belt | 4.32 | c.785 | c.935 | MH tephra |
6 | Ceboruco | Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt | 10.95 | c.730 | c.1130 | Jala Pumice |
5 | El Chichón | Chiapanecan Volcanic Arc | > 1 | c.680 | c.880 | tephra unit D |
6 | Pago | Bismarck Volcanic Arc | 20 | c.635 | c.785 | Witori-Galilo tephra |
5 | Pago | Bismarck Volcanic Arc | 6 | c.600 | c.780 | Witori-Kimbe 4 tephra |
5 | Opala | Kamchatka | 3.7 | c.560 | c.660 | Baranii Amphitheatre crater |
5 | Pago | Bismarck Volcanic Arc | 6 | c.210 | c.410 | Witori-Kimbe 3 tephra |
6 | Mount Churchill | eastern Alaska | 10 | c.145 | c.345 | WRAn |
6 | Ksudach | Kamchatka | 18.5 | c.140 | c.340 | KS1 |
5 | Furnas | São Miguel Island, Azores | 1.54 | 20 BCE | c.180 | Tephra layer C |
6 | Apoyeque | Central America Volcanic Arc, Nicaragua | 18 | 150 BCE | c.50 | |
5 | Masaya [7] | Central America Volcanic Arc, Nicaragua | 3.4 | 270 BCE | 70 BCE | Masaya Tuff |
5 | Popocatépetl | Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt | 3.2 | 500 BCE | c.100 | I.A1 Yellow Pumice |
5 | Mount Meager massif | Garibaldi Volcanic Belt | ⩾ 1 | 610 BCE | 210 BCE | Bridge River eruption |
5 | Mount Tongariro | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 1.2 | 750 BCE | 350 BCE | |
5 | Khodutka | Kamchatka | 1.25 | 1030 BCE | 830 BCE | KHD tephra |
5 | Yantarni Volcano | SW Alaska, Aleutian Arc | 1 | 1300 BCE | 300 BCE | |
6 | Pago | Bismarck Volcanic Arc | 30 | 1530 BCE | 1210 BCE | Witori-Kimbe 2 tephra |
5 | Etna | Campanian volcanic arc | 1 | 1550 BCE | 1450 BCE | |
6 | Mount Aniakchak | SW Alaska, Aleutian Arc | 50 | 1636 BCE | 1446 BCE | Aniakch |
5 | Mount St. Helens | Cascade Volcanic Arc | 3.5 | 1870 BCE | 1670 BCE | Ye (Smith Creek) ak II |
5 | Villarrica | Andean Volcanic Belt | 3.3 | 2010 BCE | 1610 BCE | Pucón Ignimbrite |
6 | Black Peak | SW Alaska, Aleutian Arc | 30 | 2050 BCE | 1750 BCE | |
5 | El Chichón | Chiapanecan Volcanic Arc | 2 | 2130 BCE | 1930 BCE | Unit K (SI; Espindola 2000) Unit E (Macias 1997) |
5 | Mount Galunggung | Sunda Arc, Java | 1 | 2400 BCE | 2100 BCE | |
6 | Mount Veniaminof | SW Alaska, Aleutian Arc | > 50 | 2455 BCE | 2153 BCE | V2 |
6 | Mount Vesuvius | Campanian volcanic arc | 2.0 | 2460 BCE | 2380 BCE | Avellino eruption |
5 | Phlegraean Fields | Campanian volcanic arc | 1.8 | 2650 BCE | 1650 BCE | Agnano Monte Spina |
5 | Lake Ikeda | Kyūshū | 2.3 | 2765 BCE | 2615 BCE | Ikeda-ko caldera, Tephra layer Ikp |
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | > 1 | 2920 BCE | 2320 BCE | SHdv |
5-6 | Fisher Caldera | Unimak, Aleutian Arc | 5.5 (DRE) | 3245 BCE | 3095 BCE | Turquoise Cone |
5 | Chaitén | Andean Volcanic Belt | 4.7 | 3320 BCE | 2880 BCE | Cha2/Mic2 tephra |
5 | Avachinsky | Kamchatka | 1.5 | 3350 BCE | 3050 BCE | Tephra layer IAv20; AV3 |
5 | Mount Tarawera | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 6 | 3621 BCE | 3431 BCE | Whakatane tephra |
5 | Popocatépetl | Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt | ⩾ 5 | 4000 BCE | 3400 BCE | I.A1 Yellow Pumice |
5 | Apoyeque | Central America Volcanic Arc, Nicaragua | 1 | 4050 BCE | 1050 BCE | W Chiltepe Peninsula, Mateare Tephra |
6 | Pago | Bismarck Volcanic Arc | 10 | 4210 BCE | 3790 BCE | Witori-Kimbe 1 tephra |
5 | Hekla | Iceland | 1 | 4210 BCE | 4010 BCE | Hekla Ö tephra |
5 | Mayor Island / Tūhua | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 1.6 | 5260 BCE | 4860 BCE | Taratimi Bay |
5 | Puyehue | Andean Volcanic Belt | 1.66 | 5230 BCE | 4930 BCE | PU-2 tephra |
7 | Kikai Caldera | Ryukyu Islands | [g] | 170–1855353 BCE | 5215 BCE | Akahoya eruption |
7 | Crater Lake (as Mount Mazama) | Cascade Volcanic Arc | [h] | 1205832 BCE | 5734 BCE | Mazama Tephra |
5-6 | Crater Lake | Cascade Volcanic Arc | > 9 | 5950 BCE | 5850 BCE | Lower Pumice, Llao Rock |
6 | Mount Aniakchak | Aleutian Arc | 30 | 7550 BCE | 5050 BCE | Aniakchak I |
6 | Tao-Rusyr Caldera | Onekotan, Kuril Islands | 55 | 6438 BCE | 6258 BCE | |
7 | Kurile Lake | Kamchatka | 155 | 6462 BCE | 6416 BCE | Ilinsky eruption |
5 | Pico de Orizaba | Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt | 1 | 6860 BCE | 6560 BCE | Upper Citlaltépetl ignimbrite |
5-6 | Mount Vesuvius | Campanian volcanic arc | 5.1 | 7040 BCE | 6840 BCE | Mercato eruption |
6 | Okmok Caldera | Umnak, Aleutian Arc | 75 | 8456 BCE | 6096 BCE | Okmok I |
6 | Morne Trois Pitons | Dominica, Lesser Antilles island arc | 58 | 7535 BCE | 7347 BCE | PPR3 - Link fall |
5 | Shiveluch | Kamchatka | ≥ 2 | 7550 BCE | 7250 BCE | |
5 | Calbuco | Southern Chile & Argentina | 1 | 7585 BCE | 5935 BCE | Ca8 tephra layer |
5 | Chaitén | Andean Volcanic Belt | 3.54 | 7950 BCE | 7550 BCE | Cha1 tephra |
5 | Roundtop Volcano | Unimak, Aleutian Arc | 7 | 8100 BCE | 7100 BCE | |
6 | Ulleung | South Korea | 28.5 | [45] | 8305 BCE[45] | 8227 BCEUlleungdo-Oki tephra |
5 | Taupō Volcano | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 4.8 | 8330 BCE | 7930 BCE | Unit E (Opepe Tephra) |
5 | Calbuco | Southern Chile & Argentina | 1 | 8615 BCE | 8305 BCE | Ca1 tephra layer |
6 | Lvinaya Past | Kuril Islands | 75 | 8756 BCE | 8614 BCE | |
6 | Aira | Kyūshū | 12 | 9050 BCE | 7050 BCE | Wakamiko Caldera |
5 | Askja | Iceland | 3.45 | 9110 BCE | 8710 BCE | Dyngjufjöll Tephra |
7 | Fisher Caldera | Unimak, Aleutian Arc | [i] | 1429114 BCE | 8330 BCE | Fisher Tuff |
5 | Taupō Volcano | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 1 | 9315 BCE | 9165 BCE | 4 km W of Te Kohaiakahu Point, Unit C (Poronui) |
5 | Taupō Volcano | Taupō Volcanic Zone | 1.4 | 9660 BCE | 9260 BCE | |
5 | Hijiori | Honshū | 2.3 | 10050 BCE | 9050 BCE | Obanazawa Pumice |
A supervolcano is a volcano that has had an eruption with a volcanic explosivity index (VEI) of 8, the largest recorded value on the index. This means the volume of deposits for such an eruption is greater than 1,000 cubic kilometers.
The volcanic explosivity index (VEI) is a scale used to measure the size of explosive volcanic eruptions. It was devised by Christopher G. Newhall of the United States Geological Survey and Stephen Self in 1982.
Eldgjá is a volcano and a canyon in Iceland. Eldgjá is part of the Katla volcano; it is a segment of a 40 kilometres (25 mi) long chain of volcanic craters and fissure vents that extends northeast away from Katla volcano almost to the Vatnajökull ice cap. This fissure experienced a major eruption around 939 CE, which was the largest effusive eruption in recent history. It covered about 780 square kilometres (300 sq mi) of land with 18.6 cubic kilometres (4.5 cu mi) of lava from two major lava flows.
Plinian eruptions or Vesuvian eruptions are volcanic eruptions marked by their similarity to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, which destroyed the ancient Roman cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. The eruption was described in a letter written by Pliny the Younger, after the death of his uncle Pliny the Elder.
Shishaldin Volcano, or Mount Shishaldin, is one of six active volcanoes on Unimak Island in eastern the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. It is the highest mountain peak of the Aleutian Islands, rising to a height of 9,373 ft above sea level. Shishaldin's magma supply is generated via flux melting above the Aleutian Trench, where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate. Due to its remote location and frequently inclement weather, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) monitors the volcano remotely via satellite and a seismic network deployed in 1997. Shishaldin is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian Islands, with 40 confirmed eruptions in the last 11,700 years. Notably, Shishaldin produced a sub-Plinian eruption in 1999.
Kambalny is a stratovolcano located in the southern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. It is the southernmost active volcano of Kamchatka. It has erupted mafic rocks. It has a summit crater as well as five cinder cones on its flanks which are the source of lava flows.
Kuwae was a landmass that existed in the vicinity of Tongoa and was destroyed by volcanic eruption in fifteenth century, probably through caldera subsidence. The exact location of the caldera is debated. A submarine caldera, now known as Kuwae caldera that is located between the Epi and Tongoa islands, is a potential candidate. Kuwae caldera cuts through the flank of the Tavani Ruru volcano on Epi and the northwestern end of Tongoa. Another potential candidate is a proposed caldera between Tongoa and Tongariki.
This timeline of volcanism on Earth includes a list of major volcanic eruptions of approximately at least magnitude 6 on the Volcanic explosivity index (VEI) or equivalent sulfur dioxide emission during the Quaternary period. Other volcanic eruptions are also listed.
Te Pou Hawaiki is a volcano in the Auckland volcanic field in New Zealand. It was a small, low scoria cone south-east of Mount Eden that was quarried away in the early 20th century.
The 946 eruption of Paektu Mountain, a stratovolcano on the border of North Korea and China also known as Changbaishan, occurred in late 946 CE. This event is known as the Millennium Eruption or Tianchi eruption. It is one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history; classified at least a VEI 6.
Laguna Amarga is a caldera and associated ignimbrite in the Andes of northwestern Argentina.
Dispersal index is a parameter in volcanology. The dispersal index was defined by George P. L. Walker in 1973 as the surface area covered by an ash or tephra fall, where the thickness is equal or more than 1/100 of the thickness of the fall at the vent. An eruption with a low dispersal index leaves most of its products close to the vent, forming a cone; an eruption with a high dispersal index forms thinner sheet-like deposits which extends to larger distances from the vent. A dispersal index of 500 square kilometres (190 sq mi) or more of coarse pumice is one proposed definition of a Plinian eruption. Likewise, a dispersal index of 50,000 square kilometres (19,000 sq mi) has been proposed as a cutoff for an ultraplinian eruption. The definition of 1/100 of the near-vent thickness was partially dictated by the fact that most tephra deposits are not well preserved at larger distances.
Ticsani is a volcano in Peru northwest of Moquegua and consists of two volcanoes that form a complex. "Old Ticsani" is a compound volcano that underwent a large collapse in the past and shed 15–30 cubic kilometres (3.6–7.2 cu mi) of mass down the Rio Tambo valley. Today an arcuate ridge remains of this edifice. "Modern Ticsani" is a complex of three lava domes which were emplaced during the Holocene. Two large eruptions took place during the Holocene, producing the so-called "Grey Ticsani" and "Brown Ticsani" deposits; the last eruption occurred after the 1600 eruption of neighbouring Huaynaputina. The volcano is seismically active and features active hot springs and fumaroles; since 2015 the volcano is monitored by the Peruvian government.
There are two large sulfate spikes caused by mystery volcanic eruptions in the mid-1400s: the 1452/1453 mystery eruption and 1458 mystery eruption. Before 2012, the date of 1458 sulfate spike was incorrectly assigned to be 1452 because previous ice core work had poor time resolution. The exact location of this eruption is uncertain, but possible candidates include the submerged caldera of Kuwae in the Coral Sea, Mount Reclus and Tofua caldera. The eruption is believed to have been VEI-7.
Lunar Crater volcanic field is a volcanic field in Nye County, Nevada. It lies along the Reveille and Pancake Ranges and consists of over 200 vents, mostly small volcanic cones with associated lava flows but also several maars, including one maar named Lunar Crater. Some vents have been eroded so heavily that the structures underneath the volcanoes have been exposed. Lunar Crater itself has been used as a testing ground for Mars rovers and as training ground for astronauts.
Mount Rittmann is a volcano in Antarctica. Discovered in 1988–1989 by an Italian expedition, it was named after the volcanologist Alfred Rittmann (1893–1980). It features a 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) or 8 by 5 kilometres wide caldera which crops out from underneath the Aviator Glacier. The volcano was active during the Pliocene and into the Holocene, including large explosive eruptions; a major eruption occurred in 1254 CE and deposited tephra over much of Antarctica. Currently, the volcano is classified as dormant.
The Tierra Blanca Joven eruption of Lake Ilopango was the largest volcanic eruption in El Salvador during historic times, and one of the largest volcanic events on Earth in the past 7,000 years, registering at 6 on the Volcanic explosivity index (VEI), and dating back to the mid 5th century A.D. The eruption produced between 37–82 km3 (8.9–19.7 cu mi) of ejecta. The date of the eruption has been constrained within 429–433 CE by identifying its signature volcanic ash in precision-dated ice cores sampled from Greenland, thus eliminating it as the cause of extreme weather events of 535–536.
The Cascade Volcanic Arc is a chain of volcanoes stretching from southern British Columbia down to northern California. Within the arc there is a variety of stratovolcanoes like Mount Rainier and broad shield volcanoes like Medicine Lake. But calderas are very rare in the Cascades, with very few forming over the 39 million year lifespan of the arc.