1. ✦The idea of a super-eruption haunts volcanologists, because it represents an uncontrollable natural hazard with a low probability but with grave consequences.
   

2. ✦We are pretty sure a super-eruption will happen again.  But its probability is still quite low for anytime soon. 
   

3. ✦We must think about and try to understand such events, even though they are unlikely in our lifetime, because man will have to confront them eventually.
   

4. ✦How can research contribute to understanding and possibly mitigation of the inevitable catastrophe?

What is a super-eruption?  An event which erupts more than 1000 km3  VEI>8

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)

Newhall & Self 82

Small volcanic eruptions happen more often than large ones. Really large eruptions are rare.

Large Holocene Eruptions-GVN

Super-eruptions have occurred in the recent geological past, but not in historic time.

More Information about Super-eruptions:

Secondary Issues:

   Geological Record of Supereruptions

    Large Igneous Provinces

    Calderas and Silicic Complexes

    Transport to Troposphere and Stratosphere

    Sulfur and Supereruptions

    Volcanic ash in Super Eruptions

    Scaling Up Eruptions

    Global Environmental Effects

    Forecasting a Super Eruption

Reference Page

created by

Bill Rose