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Volcanoes in Eruption - Set 2 |
| The word "volcano" is used to refer to the opening from which molten rock and gas issue from Earth's interior onto the surface, and also to the cone, hill, or mountain built up around the opening by the eruptive products. This slide set depicts ash clouds, fire fountains, lava flows, spatter cones, glowing avalanches, and steam eruptions from 18 volcanoes in 13 countries. Volcano types include strato, cinder cone, basaltic shield, complex, and island-forming. |
Augustine, Alaska | |
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Augustine, Alaska, U.S.;59.37 N 153.42 W;1,282 m elevation This stratovolcano island with a summit lava dome is located in the Cook Inlet, southern Alaska. It has erupted explosively six times since 1812. Three of these eruptions are among the largest in Alaska's recorded history, and the one in 1883 produced a 9 m tsunami at Port Graham. Dangers from major ash falls or volcanically-generated tsunamis worry the local residents. The photo shows the volcano on the first day of an eruption cycle. This west-southwest view of the summit was taken on March 27, 1986. Photo credit: M.E. Yount, U.S. Geological Survey |
Cerro Negro, Nicaragua | |
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Cerro Negro, Nicaragua;12.50 N 086.70 W;675 m elevation This cinder cone in western Nicaragua has a name that means "black hill." It has erupted about 20 times since its birth in 1850. Explosive eruptions from the central crater are often accompanied by lava flows that issue from near the base of the cinder cone. It is the youngest of four basaltic cinder cones clustered along a line 20 km east-southeast of Telica. The is an oblique aerial view of the eruption on July 24, 1947. Photo credit: R. E. Wilcox, U.S. Geological Survey |
Galunggung, Indonesia | |
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Galunggung, Indonesia;07.25 S 108.05 E;2,168 m elevation This stratovolcano with a lava dome is located in western Java. Its first eruption in 1822 produced a 22-km-long mudflow that killed 4,000 people. The second eruption in 1894 caused extensive property loss. The photo depicts a spectacular view of lightning strikes during a third eruption on December 3, 1982, which resulted in 68 deaths. A fourth eruption occurred in 1984. Photo credit: R. Hadian, U.S. Geological Survey |
Irazu, Costa Rica | |
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Irazu, Costa Rica;09.98 N 083.85 W;3,411 m elevation This stratovolcano with a double crater is located in central Costa Rica. Fifteen explosive eruptions occurred between 1723 and 1989. A major eruption lasted from 1963 until 1965. Its numerous small-to- moderate ash falls were destructive to coffee plantations and a nuisance to the capital city of San Juan, 25 km to the west. Irazu is the highest volcano in Costa Rica, and it has the country's earliest historical eruption (1722). This photo, taken in 1964, shows the plume of ash being carried westward. Photo credit: H.H. Waldron, U.S. Geological Survey |
Kilauea, Hawaii | |
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Kilauea, Hawaii, U.S.;19.42 N 155.29 W;1,222 m elevation This basaltic shield volcano on the Island of Hawaii is among the most extensively studied volcanoes in the world. The volcano with its summit caldera is located on the east flank of giant Mauna Loa. Activity began with a violent explosive eruption in 1790. In the 19th and early 20th Centuries its lava lake eruptions attracted widespread attention. These comprise nearly half of the world's known lava lake eruptions. Both the summit and rift zones have produced extensive lava flows. This photo shows spatter activity in a fissure on Kilauea's east rift on September 20, 1977. Photo credit: U.S. Geological Survey, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory |
Kilauea, Hawaii Spatter Cones | |
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Kilauea, Hawaii This oblique aerial view taken on February 25, 1983, shows a line of spatter cones at Kilauea in various stages of activity. Photo credit: U.S. Geological Survey, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory |
Krakatau, Indonesia | |
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Krakatau,
Indonesia;6.10 S 105.42 E;813 m elevation Krakatau is located in the Sunda Strait, between Sumatra and Java. It is famous for its devastating 1883 eruption, one of the largest in history. Explosions were heard more than 4000 km away and atmospheric effects were recorded around the world. The emitted ash and pumice blocks totaled 18 km3 and the 6-km-diameter caldera collapsed. Tsunamis that reached heights of 40 m height killed 36,000 people on the low shores of Java and Sumatra. This drawing shows the ash cloud from the 1883 eruption. Photo credit: P. Hedervari, National Geophysical Data Center |
Mauna Loa, Hawaii | |
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Mauna Loa, Hawaii;19.475 N 155.61 W;4,170 m elevation This is a massive shield volcano with a summit caldera, on the Island of Hawaii. It has produced large lava flows from both the summit and rift zones totaling nearly four km3, in 40 known eruptions since the 18th Century. The 8 km height of the summit above the surrounding sea floor makes it the tallest historically active volcano in the world. A braided lava channel flowing from the main vent is shown in this oblique aerial view. The eruption in 1984 sent lavas within 6.5 km of Hilo. Photo credit: U.S. Geological Survey, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory |
Mayon, Luzon, Philippines | |
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Mayon, Luzon, Philippines;13.26 N 123.68 E;1,571 m elevation Mayon is a classic stratovolcano cone in the central Philippines. It has erupted explosively over 40 times since 1616, produced nuees ardentes from 18 eruptions, and numerous lava flows. The region is densely populated and at least twelve eruptions have resulted in deaths. Mayon has the most active, historic record in the Philippines (48 eruptions since 1616). The photo, taken in April, 1968, shows Mayon in eruption with three nuees ardentes descending the volcano. An eruption in 1993 lasted only 30 minutes but generated pyroclastic flows that killed 68 people and prompted the evacuation of 60,000 others. Photo credit: J.G. Moore, U.S. Geological Survey |
Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia | |
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Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia;4.88 N 75.37 W;5,389 m elevation More than 22,000 Colombians were killed on November 13, 1985, by the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz, the northernmost active volcano in the Andes. Hot volcanic ash melted part of the ice cap on the volcano's summit, triggering debris flows (lahars) that swept down river valleys and overran villages in their path. The most destructive lahar inundated the city of Armero, where more than 23,000 residents died. Scientists had accurately predicted the tragic eruption weeks before it happened. This is history's fourth largest single-eruption death toll, behind only Tambora (Indonesia) in 1815 (92,000), Krakatau in 1883 (36,000), and Mt. Pelee (West Indies) in 1902 (28,000). The photo shows a steam eruption in September of 1985 prior to the major eruption on November 13, 1985. Photo credit: U.S. Geological Survey |
Ngauruhoe, New Zealand | |
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Ngauruhoe,
New Zealand;39.16 S 175.63 E;2,291 m elevation This stratovolcano with a near perfect cone is located in central North Island on the southwest flank of the Tangariro massif. It has been New Zealand's most active volcano in historic times, with 61 eruptive episodes since its first recorded eruption in 1839. The photo shows an oblique aerial view of the steam eruption of August 21, 1968. An ash fall has darkened a fresh layer of snow at the summit. Ngauruhoe erupted again in 1977. Photo credit: University of Colorado |
Paricutin, Mexico | |
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Paricutin, Mexico;19.48 N 102.25 W;3,170 m elevation This photo shows the cinder cone soon after its birth in 1943 in a Mexican cornfield. During its brief nine-year lifespan (1943-1952), it built a 410-meter-high cone with extensive lava fields around the base of the cone. Most of the 2 km3 of eruptive products (ash, cinders, and lava) were produced in the first few years. Cinder cones such as this one are commonly formed by one eruption. Each subsequent eruption in the same area forms its own cinder cone. Photo credit: K. Segerstrom, U.S. Geological Survey |
Paricutin, Mexico Night Eruption | |
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Paricutin, Mexico This photo, taken in 1943, shows a spectacular view of an eruption of Paricutin at night. Glowing projectiles and pyroclastic fragments outline the conical shape of the volcano. The eruption consisted mostly of spheroidal bombs, lapilli, glassy cinder, and glassy ash formed by disintegration of the cinder. Photo credit: R.E. Wilcox, U.S. Geological Survey |
St. Helens, Washington | |
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Mount Saint Helens, Washington, U.S.;46.20
N 122.18 W;2,549 m elevation This stratovolcano is in southern Washington, 165 km south of Seattle and 80 km north-northeast of Portland, Oregon. For most of the 20th Century, the snow-covered mountain was known for its quiet beauty. However, mid-19th Century eruptions had been documented, and volcanologists recognized the volcano's potential danger. The volcano demonstrated its latent energy in a gigantic eruption on May 18, 1980. A directed blast leveled 400 km2 of forest, and formed a deep horseshoe crater facing north. A major debris flow filled a valley for 24 km. Sixty-two people were dead or missing. Total economic losses were estimated at $1.2 billion. The photo shows a growing lava dome in the explosion crater as it appeared on May 19, 1983, three years after the main eruption. Photo credit: University of Colorado |
Santorini, Greece | |
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Santorini, Greece;36.40 N 25.40 E;131 m elevation This stratovolcano with its submerged caldera is in the Aegean Sea. Its giant explosive eruption and caldera collapse in 1650 B.C. contributed to the destruction of the Minoan civilization. (This eruption was one of the largest in the last 10,000 years.) The huge eruption and sudden sinking of the island's center beneath the sea may have been the source of the legend of Atlantis and may have generated a huge tsunami. This old engraving shows the 1866 eruption of Nea Kameni, Santorini. The height of the central and right peaks is exaggerated. The last eruption (in 1950) formed a lava dome and thick lava flows on the islands within the caldera. Photo credit: P. Hedervari, National Geophysical Data Center |
Soufriere, St. Vincent, W. Indies | |
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Soufriere, St. Vincent, W. Indies;13.33 N 61.18 W;1,220 m elevation This volcano, whose name means "sulfur," is located on St. Vincent in the West Indies. It has a lake in its crater. Born in 1718, the volcano has had seven eruptions including violent eruptions in 1718, 1812, 1902, 1995, and 1997. A heavy ash fall accompanying the 1812 eruption killed 75 people. In 1902, the northern third of the island was devastated within several minutes by a glowing avalanche. The glowing ash cloud descended all sides of the volcano killing 1,600. Evacuation of 17,000 people in 1979 prevented a potential repeat of the tragedy of 1902. This photo, taken on April 22, 1979, shows a 6 km eruption cloud rising into the early morning sky. The cloud eventually rose to an altitude of 15 km. Large scale evacuations were ordered in 1997. Photo credit: F.C. Whitemore, U.S. Geological Survey |
Surtsey, Iceland | |
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Surtsey, Iceland;63.3 N 20.62 W;170 m elevation This island, built from cinders and lava, is located off the south coast of Iceland. The island was 800 m in diameter after the conlusion of the eruption sequence. Born from the sea, it has provided scientists a laboratory to observe how plants and animals establish themselves in new territory. The eruption began 130 m below sea level where it proceeded quietly until the height of the volcano approached the sea surface. Then the explosive activity could no longer be quenched by the sea. A black column of volcanic ash announced the island's birth on November 14, 1965. Jets of dense black ash shot skyward and the towering eruption cloud rose to a height of 9 km. By April of 1965, ash had blocked sea water from the crater area. Lava flows became prominent, forming a hard cap of solid rocks over the lower slopes of Surtsey. This prevented the waves from washing away the island. By June 1967, the three and one-half year eruption was over. The photo, taken in 1963, shows Surtsey just three days after the first sighting. Photo credit: University of Colorado |
Taal, Philippines | |
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Taal, Philippines;14.00 N 121.00 E;400 m
elevation Taal is a stratovolcano in a 15 x 22 km caldera lake 60 km south of Manila. At least thirty-four eruptions have occurred since 1572. This killer volcano took lives in 1716, 1749, 1754, 1874, 1911 (1300 deaths), and 1965. Many of the deaths were caused by tsunamis in the lake. This is an aerial view taken in late September, 1965. The explosion crater shows a new basaltic cinder cone rising from the lake that itself contains a hot lake. Photo credit: J.G. Moore, U.S. Geological Survey |
Veniaminof, Alaska | |
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Veniaminof, Alaska;56.17 N
159.38 W;2,507 m elevation Veniaminof is a large stratovolcano with a summit caldera 180 km northeast of Pavlof on the Alaska peninsula. Its first historic eruption, in 1830, lasted for eight years; seven events have since been reported. Shown here is an oblique aerial view taken on January 23, 1984. An active lava flow has split. The recent November lava flow is snow-covered. Photo credit: M.E. Yount, U.S. Geological Survey |
Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala | |
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Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala;14.48 N 90.88 W;3,763 m elevation Located 17 km southwest of Antigua, Fuego has been Guatemala's most active volcano since 1524. It has had 61 eruptions, three of which caused fatalities. This photo of the 1974 eruption of Volcan de Fuego shows clouds of ash and steam descending the volcano. Such glowing avalanches flowed down Fuego's slopes at 60 km/hr. This is Central America's most active volcano. Photo credit: F.C. Whitmore, Jr., U.S. Geological Survey |