Classification of Volcanoes: Active

We are almost done with the classification of volcanoes. Now we're on the last and the most common classification, the active volcanoes which is always the content of articles for it is the classification where volcanoes are erupting. We all know what active volcanoes are but let us still know what active volcanoes are.

An active volcano is defined as a volcano that has had at least one eruption during the past 10,000 years. An active volcano might be erupting or dormant. An erupting volcano is an active volcano that is having an eruption while dormant volcano as we have discussed on the previous blogs is a volcano that has not had an eruption for at least 10,000 years and is not expected to erupt again in a comparable time scale of the future. [1]

Active volcanoes are usually found in the Pacific Ring of Fire, where 75% of over 1,500 active volcanoes were there.

ACTIVE VOLCANOES

Kilauea

Location: Hawaii, USA Continuous eruption: From 1983 Explosivity Index: 4

(https://www.thinglink.com/scene/703592514581430273)

Kīlauea is the youngest volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island. It is located on the southeastern slope of neighbouring Mauna Loa and for many years was thought to be a satellite rather than a separate volcano. Research has shown, however, that Kīlauea has its own plumbing system which carries magma to the surface from more than 60km below. Moreover, the summit lies on a line of volcanoes that includes Mauna Kea and Kohala, but not Mauna Loa. [2]

Mount Etna

Location: Sicily, Italy Continuous eruption: 3,500 years Explosivity Index: 5

(http://www.wsj.com/video/dramatic-eruptions-from-mount-etna-europe-largest-volcano/C5C64E1F-E5B3-45DE-A9B5-ADEE583FD8E0.html)

Mount Etna is the largest of Europe’s most active volcanoes. It first erupted about 500,000 years ago and has been doing so continuously for 3,500 years.

Situated on the margin between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate, Etna has a base circumference of an incredible 140km and is by far the largest of Italy’s three active volcanoes, the others being Stromboli and Mount Vesuvius. [2]

Stromboli

Location: Stromboli, Italy Continuous eruption: 2,000 years Explosivity Index: 3

(https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/669928/active-volcano-mediterranean-holiday)

Stromboli is renowned for its violent bursts of molten lava, ash and rock, inspiring the term ‘Strombolian’ in describing comparable activity in other locations.

Stromboli’s eruptions are visible for long distances and it is thus known as the “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean”. It is perched on Stromboli island, the peak of a large underwater volcano which begins over 1,000 metres beneath the surface of the sea. [2]

Mount Vesuvius

Location: Campania, Italy

Last eruption‎: ‎March 17–23, 1944

Explosivity Index: 6

(http://kientranhandbook.com/vocab-reading-2-mount-vesuvius/)

Vesuvius is the only active volcano in mainland Europe, and has produced some of the continent's largest volcanic eruptions. Located on Italy's west coast, it overlooks the Bay and City of Naples and sits in the crater of the ancient Somma volcano. [3]

Mount Vesuvius is best known for its eruption in AD 79 which destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. [4]

Mount Mayon

Location: Albay

Last eruption: 2014

Explosivity Index: 4

(http://www.7continents5oceans.com/volcanoes-for-kids-facts-eruption-causes-more)

Mount Mayon, one of the most impressive Philippine landmarks, with an elevation of 2,462 meters, and is the most active volcano in the Philippines. Based on recorded history of the country, this almost perfect cone volcano in Albay erupted at least 51 times from 1616 up to present. The first recorded eruption of Mount Mayon was seen in February 1616 by Dutch explorer Joris Van Spilbergen.

One of the most remarkable and most devastating eruptions of Mount Mayon was its eruption in 1766 that erased the town of Cagsawa in the Philippine map. Only the bell tower of Cagsawa Church remained above the new surface. This 1766 volcanic eruption killed 2,200 people in Albay. Though other estimates put the death toll at 1,200 people killed. Ash was reported to be as deep as 30 feet (9 meters).

Its last eruption was in January 2014. [5]

References:

[1] https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcanoes/faq/active_erupting.html [2] https://www.atlasandboots.com/most-active-volcanoes-in-the-world/ [3] geology.com/volcanoes/vesuvius/ [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Vesuvius

[5] https://geology.knoji.com/top-ten-most-active-volcanoes-in-the-philippines/