History of Volcanic eruption in Timeline

A volcanic eruption is the release of material from a volcano. Volcanologists have identified distinct types of eruptions, often named after volcanoes where the specific behavior was first observed. Some volcanoes consistently exhibit one eruption type, while others demonstrate a sequence of different types during a single period of activity. These variations are crucial to understanding volcanic behavior and potential hazards.

1902: Mount Pelée Eruption Devastates St. Pierre

The 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée in Martinique was a catastrophic Peléan eruption that resulted in the destruction of St. Pierre and the loss of more than 30,000 lives, marking it as one of the worst volcanic events of the 20th century.

1947: First English-Language Paper on Glaciovolcanism

In 1947, William Henry Mathews published the first English-language paper on glaciovolcanism, describing the Tuya Butte field in northwest British Columbia, Canada, and inferring the eruptive processes that form tuyas.

1963: Irazú Volcano Eruption Triggered by Fast-Moving Magma

In 1963, Columbia University volcanologists discovered that the eruption of Costa Rica's Irazú Volcano was likely triggered by magma that traveled directly from the mantle in just a few months, bypassing the typical thousands of years of mixing in the magma chamber.

1963: Surtsey Island Formation

In 1963, the eruption off the coast of Iceland led to the formation of the island of Surtsey, becoming the most famous example of a Surtseyan eruption, which involves shallow-water interactions between water and lava.

November 2013: Mount Etna Eruption Sets Lava Fountain Record

In November 2013, Mount Etna in Italy produced the highest lava fountain ever recorded during a Hawaiian eruption, reaching a stable height of approximately 2,500 meters for 18 minutes and briefly peaking at 3,400 meters.