The Types of Volcanic Eruptions; A Volcanologist's Guide

Around the planet at any given moment, there are between 40 and 55 volcanoes actively erupting. Among these volcanoes, no two eruptions are alike. Thus, to best understand the hazards an eruption might pose it is important to be able to identify the type of eruption which is ongoing. This video will briefly discuss the 14 types of volcanic eruptions and what types of volcanoes most frequently produce them.

Images with a list of eruption dates have their dates sources from the GVP of the Smithsonian Institution.

Google Earth imagery used in this video: ©Google & Data Providers

Citations:
[2] USGS
[3] Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
[4] Phivolcs
[5] Geonet

0:00 Types of Volcanic Eruptions
0:24 Submarine Eruption
0:52 Subglacial Eruption
1:23 Surtseyan Eruption
1:40 Icelandic Eruption
2:12 Hawaiian Eruption
2:32 Strombolian Eruption
3:05 Vulcanian Eruption
3:48 Phreatic Eruption
4:15 Phreatomagmatic Eruption
4:33 Plinian Eruption
4:52 Subplinian Eruption
5:02 Phreatoplinian Eruption
5:11 Ultra-Plinian Eruption
5:21 Pelean Eruption
5:58 Conclusion

Creative Commons Licenses used for sections of specific content in this video (not the entire video):

[GeologyHub]

I decided to finally publish this video! You might be wondering what Hunga Tonga’s eruption in 2022 might be classified as. It’s first phase was surtseyan. But it’s catastrophic phase was phreatoplinian/ultraplinian depending on tephra volume.

[physicsfan]

Ah! Yes! Finally! I've been wanting to ask for this video, but was afraid it would be too basic. You always mention the types of eruptions, and I'm always left confused. Thank you so much for this!

[just_kos]

Saving this to my "science, geology" playlist for further study, wanna take notes! You always present information I've never heard on other geology vids, I love it, thanks!

[captainboots]

Just wanted to say thanks for this video. I've read up on the different types before (though they didn't go through your whole list), but none of them emphasized things the way you did. It really helps one to better understand what the different types!

[ThomasWLalor]

There are more kinds of volcanic descriptions than I would have guessed. Will have to review this vid many more times. All I knew before Geology Hub were sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks, all of which are harder than my head! THANKS x 1000

[jefferyindorf]

BRAVO!!!
I didn't realize how many different types of eruption there are.
When you said 14, I was thinking " He's going to explain 14 types of eruptions in 6 minutes? Not going to happen."

Well, you did. Granted these were out of necessity thumbnail sketches, but were clear, and concise.

[ladyofthemasque]

Thank you for sharing this! It's wonderful that you include brief explanations/reminders of the type of a particular volcano you're covering, but it's also great to have examples all grouped together in one reference video.

[MrScott]

Today "The History Guy" did the historic 1902 Eruption of Mt Pelee on Martinique. He went thru what happened leading up to the eruption and its aftermath. Which included what happened to the people that lived there and what was going on at the time. It is history that needs to be remembered. But you can go more in depth as to what the eruption was like and its dynamics.

[fforfrance]

I'm delighted with this video. Helps my amateur understanding of eruptions a lot.

[SpaceLover-hefj]

FInally, This ! Many people have been asking for this ! Thank you Geology Hub ! Even I never knew that there were that many types of eruption.

[OpaSpielt]

Thanks for your decision to finally publishing this video. ❤
I waited for it for a long time already.
Thanks a lot. 🖐👴

[mbvoelker]

I've been hoping for this.

Not just for me but for homeschooling my son.

[LLYMYNT]

I love your channel, always interesting when it comes to volcanoes. I would like to request another video about Arizona, but this time, what looks like volcanic cones in the north valley in Phoenix, Arizona, and surrounding areas.
Thank You.

[jovanweismiller]

Thank you. Earlier I had watched a video on the eruption of Mt Pele in which it was mentioned that it had given its name to a class of eruptions. Now I know the other classes as well.

[thebassoonman]

Can you do the Todra volcanic field in Niger? It’s very interesting and quite large!

[JamesSavik]

This was a great educational video. It defined the types of eruptions that a novice might not know the terminology for. It should be pinned somewhere for quick reference.

[stevestrong]

I thought you had forgotten about my request for a guide to different types of eruptions. Thank you for delivering.

[jusaminit]

Good informative video delivered in a easy to understand format

[sharongould]

thank you for covering this! Before watching your channel I didnt realise how many types of valcanic eruptions there were or what their technical names were. Thank you!
Have you done a video previously covering the different lava types? I think this would also be beneficial for your channel community.

[viviflam]

I'm surprised how well you pronounced "Surtseyan". Every time I hear someone pronounce the "ey" in Surtsey they tend to do it similarly to Jersey or Orkney... as in, "Surt-sea". The funniest thing is when they say "Surtsey Island", since the suffix "ey" means island, what they're saying is "Surtr Island Island" 😅