List of largest volcanic eruptions

A tower of grey ash erupts above a mountain
The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, the largest eruption since 1912, is dwarfed by the eruptions in this list.

In a volcanic eruption, lava, volcanic bombs, ash, and various gases are expelled from a volcanic vent and fissure. While many eruptions only pose dangers to the immediately surrounding area, Earth's largest eruptions can have a major regional or even global impact, with some affecting the climate and contributing to mass extinctions. Volcanic eruptions can generally be characterized as either explosive eruptions, sudden ejections of rock and ash, or effusive eruptions, relatively gentle outpourings of lava. A separate list is given below for each type.

There have probably been many such eruptions during Earth's history beyond those shown in these lists. However erosion and plate tectonics have taken their toll, and many eruptions have not left enough evidence for geologists to establish their size. Even for the eruptions listed here, estimates of the volume erupted can be subject to considerable uncertainty.

Explosive eruptions

In explosive eruptions, the eruption of magma is driven by the rapid release of pressure, often involving the explosion of gas previously dissolved within the material. The most famous and destructive historical eruptions are mainly of this type. An eruptive phase can consist of a single eruption, or a sequence of several eruptions spread over several days, weeks or months. Explosive eruptions usually involve thick, highly viscous, silicic or felsic magma, high in volatiles like water vapor and carbon dioxide. Pyroclastic materials are the primary product, typically in the form of tuff. Eruptions the size of that at Lake Toba 74,000 years ago, at least 2,800 cubic kilometres (670 cu mi), or the Yellowstone eruption 620,000 years ago, around 1,000 cubic kilometres (240 cu mi), occur worldwide every 50,000 to 100,000 years.

Volcano—eruption Age (millions of years) Location Volume (km3) Notes Ref.
Guarapuava —Tamarana—Sarusas 132 Paraná and Etendeka traps 8,600 The nature of eruption is disputed. Paraná Province suggests an effusive origin from local sources. No ashfall deposits have been found, and the erupted volume could be 2-3 times larger than listed if any ashfall deposits are found.
Santa Maria—Fria ~132 Paraná and Etendeka traps 7,800 The nature of eruption is disputed. Paraná Province suggests an effusive origin from local sources. No ashfall deposits have been found, and the erupted volume could be 2-3 times larger than listed if any ashfall deposits are found.
Lake Toba Caldera—Youngest Toba Tuff 0.073 Sunda Arc, Indonesia 2,000–13,200 Largest known eruption on earth in at least the last million years, possibly responsible for a population bottleneck of the human species (see Toba catastrophe theory)
Guarapuava —Ventura ~132 Paraná and Etendeka traps 7,600 The nature of eruption is disputed. Paraná Province suggests an effusive origin from local sources. No ashfall deposits have been found, and the erupted volume could be 2-3 times larger than listed if any ashfall deposits are found.
Flat Landing Brook Eruption 466 Flat Landing Brook Formation 2,000–12,000 One of the largest and oldest supereruptions. Existence as a single eruption is controversial. Possibly a multiple 2,000+ km³ event under a million years.
Sam Ignimbrite and Green Tuff 29.5 Yemen 6,797–6,803 Volume includes 5550 km³ of distal tuffs. This estimate is uncertain to a factor of 2 or 3.
Goboboseb–Messum volcanic centre—Springbok quartz latite unit 132 Paraná and Etendeka traps, Brazil and Namibia 6,340 The nature of eruption is disputed. Paraná Province suggests an effusive origin from local sources. No ashfall deposits have been found, and the erupted volume could be 2-3 times larger than listed if any ashfall deposits are found.
Wah Wah Springs Tuff 30.06 Indian Peak-Caliente Caldera Complex 5,500–5,900 The largest of the Indian Peak-Caliente Caldera Complex, and includes flows over 4,000 meters thick at the most.
Caxias do Sul—Grootberg ~132 Paraná and Etendeka traps 5,650 The nature of eruption is disputed. Paraná Province suggests an effusive origin from local sources. No ashfall deposits have been found, and the erupted volume could be 2-3 times larger than listed if any ashfall deposits are found.
La Garita CalderaFish Canyon Tuff 27.8 San Juan volcanic field, Colorado 5,000 Part of at least 20 large caldera-forming eruptions in the San Juan volcanic field and surrounding area that formed around 26 to 35 Ma.
Lund Tuff 29.2 Indian Peak-Caliente Caldera Complex 4,400 Formed the White Rock Caldera, one of the largest eruptions of the Mid-Tertiary Ignimbrite flareup.
Jacui—Goboboseb II ~132 Paraná and Etendeka traps 4,350 The nature of eruption is disputed. Paraná Province suggests an effusive origin from local sources. No ashfall deposits have been found, and the erupted volume could be 2-3 times larger than listed if any ashfall deposits are found.
Ourinhos—Khoraseb ~132 Paraná and Etendeka traps 3,900 The nature of eruption is disputed. Paraná Province suggests an effusive origin from local sources. No ashfall deposits have been found, and the erupted volume could be 2-3 times larger than listed if any ashfall deposits are found.
Jabal Kura'a Ignimbrite 29.6 Yemen 3,797–3,803 Volume estimate is uncertain to a factor of 2 or 3.
Windows Butte tuff 31.4 William's Ridge, central Nevada 3,500 Part of the Mid-Tertiary ignimbrite flare-up
Anita Garibaldi—Beacon ~132 Paraná and Etendeka traps 3,450 The nature of eruption is disputed. Paraná Province suggests an effusive origin from local sources. No ashfall deposits have been found, and the erupted volume could be 2-3 times larger than listed if any ashfall deposits are found.
Oxaya ignimbrites 19 Chile 3,000 Really a regional correlation of many ignimbrites originally thought to be distinct
Gakkel Ridge Caldera 1.1 Gakkel Ridge 3,000 It is the only known supervolcano located directly on the mid-ocean ridge.
Grey's Landing Supereruption 8.72 Located in southern Idaho >2,800 One of 2 previously unknown Yellowstone hotspot Supereruptions; Largest Yellowstone eruption.
Pacana Caldera—Atana ignimbrite 4 Chile 2,800 Forms a resurgent caldera.
Mangakino Caldera—Kidnappers ignimbrite 1.01 Taupō Volcanic Zone, New Zealand 2,760
Iftar Alkalb—Tephra 4 W 29.5 Afro-Arabian 2,700
Yellowstone CalderaHuckleberry Ridge Tuff 2.059 Yellowstone hotspot 2,450–2,500 One of the largest Yellowstone eruptions on record
Nohi Rhyolite—Gero Ash-Flow Sheet 70 Honshū, Japan 2,200 Nohi Rhyolite total volume over 7,000 km³ in 70 to 72 Ma, Gero Ash-Flow Sheet being the largest
Whakamaru 0.254 Taupō Volcanic Zone, New Zealand 2,000 Largest in the Southern Hemisphere in the Late Quaternary
Palmas BRA-21—Wereldsend 29.5 Paraná and Etendeka traps 1,900 The nature of eruption is disputed. Paraná Province suggests an effusive origin from local sources. No ashfall deposits have been found, and the erupted volume could be 2-3 times larger than listed if any ashfall deposits are found.
Kilgore tuff 4.3 Near Kilgore, Idaho 1,800 Last of the eruptions from the Heise volcanic field
McMullen Supereruption 8.99 Located in southern Idaho >1,700 One of 2 previously unknown Yellowstone hotspot eruptions.
Sana'a Ignimbrite—Tephra 2W63 29.5 Afro-Arabian 1,600
Deicke and Millbrig 454 England, exposed in Northern Europe and Eastern US 1,509 One of the oldest large eruptions preserved
Blacktail tuff 6.5 Blacktail, Idaho 1,500 First of several eruptions from the Heise volcanic field
Mangakino Caldera—Rocky Hill 1 Taupō Volcanic Zone, New Zealand 1,495
Aso Caldera 0.087 Kyushu, Japan 930–1,860 Aso-4 ignimbrite
Emory Caldera—Kneeling Nun tuff 33 Mogollon-Datil volcanic field 1,310
Omine-Odai Caldera—Murou pyroclastic flow 13.7 Honshū, Japan 1,260 A part of the large eruptions that occurred in southwest Japan to 13 to 15 Ma.
Timber Mountain tuff 11.6 Southwestern Nevada 1,200 Also includes a 900 cubic km tuff as a second member in the tuff
Paintbrush tuff (Tonopah Spring Member) 12.8 Southwestern Nevada 1,200 Related to a 1000 cubic km tuff (Tiva Canyon Member) as another member in the Paintbrush tuff
Bachelor—Carpenter Ridge tuff 28 San Juan volcanic field 1,200 Part of at least 20 large caldera-forming eruptions in the San Juan volcanic field and surrounding area that formed around 26 to 35 Ma
Bursum—Apache Springs Tuff 28.5 Mogollon-Datil volcanic field 1,200 Related to a 1050 cubic km tuff, the Bloodgood Canyon tuff
Taupō VolcanoOruanui eruption 0.027 Taupō Volcanic Zone, New Zealand 1,170 Most recent VEI 8 eruption
Mangakino Caldera—Ongatiti–Mangatewaiiti 1.21 Taupō Volcanic Zone, New Zealand 1,150
Huaylillas Ignimbrite 15 Bolivia 1,100 Predates half of the uplift of the central Andes
Bursum—Bloodgood Canyon Tuff 28.5 Mogollon-Datil volcanic field 1,050 Related to a 1200 cubic km tuff, the Apache Springs tuff
Okueyama Caldera 13.7 Kyūshū, Japan 1,030 A part of the large eruptions that occurred in southwest Japan to 13 to 15 Ma.
Yellowstone CalderaLava Creek Tuff 0.639 Yellowstone hotspot 1,000 Last large eruption in the Yellowstone National Park area
Awasa Caldera 1.09 Main Ethiopian Rift 1,000
Cerro Galán 2.2 Catamarca Province, Argentina 1,000 Elliptical caldera is ~35 km wide
Paintbrush tuff (Tiva Canyon Member) 12.7 Southwestern Nevada 1,000 Related to a 1200 cubic km tuff (Topopah Spring Member) as another member in the Paintbrush tuff
San Juan—Sapinero Mesa Tuff 28 San Juan volcanic field 1,000 Part of at least 20 large caldera-forming eruptions in the San Juan volcanic field and surrounding area that formed around 26 to 35 Ma
Uncompahgre—Dillon & Sapinero Mesa Tuffs 28.1 San Juan volcanic field 1,000 Part of at least 20 large caldera-forming eruptions in the San Juan volcanic field and surrounding area that formed around 26 to 35 Ma
Platoro—Chiquito Peak tuff 28.2 San Juan volcanic field 1,000 Part of at least 20 large caldera-forming eruptions in the San Juan volcanic field and surrounding area that formed around 26 to 35 Ma
Mount Princeton—Wall Mountain tuff 35.3 Thirtynine Mile volcanic area, Colorado 1,000 Helped cause the exceptional preservation at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Aira Caldera 0.03 Kyushu, Japan 940–1,040 Osumi pumice fall deposit, Ito ignimbrite, and Aira-Tanzawa ash fall deposit

Effusive eruptions

A red-hot lava flow streams out of a fuming vent, meandering past the viewer under a low cloudy sky.
Effusive eruption of lava from Krafla, Iceland

Effusive eruptions involve a relatively gentle, steady outpouring of lava rather than large explosions. They can continue for years or decades, producing extensive fluid mafic lava flows. For example, Kīlauea on Hawaiʻi continuously erupted from 1983 to 2018, producing 2.7 km3 (1 cu mi) of lava covering more than 100 km2 (40 sq mi). Despite their ostensibly benign appearance, effusive eruptions can be as dangerous as explosive ones: one of the largest effusive eruptions in history occurred in Iceland during the 1783–1784 eruption of Laki, which produced about 15 km3 (4 cu mi) of lava and killed one fifth of Iceland's population. The ensuing disruptions to the climate may also have killed millions elsewhere. Still larger were the Icelandic eruptions of Katla (the Eldgjá eruption) circa 934, with 18 km3 (4 cu mi) of erupted lava, and the Þjórsárhraun eruption of Bárðarbunga circa 6700 BC, with 25 km3 (6 cu mi) lava erupted, the latter being the largest effusive eruption in the last 10,000 years. The lava fields of these eruptions measure 565 km2 (Laki), 700 km2 (Eldgjá) and 950 km2 (Þjórsárhraun).

Eruption Age (Millions of years) Location Volume
(km3)
Notes Refs
Mahabaleshwar–Rajahmundry Traps (Upper) 64.8 Deccan Traps, India 9,300
Wapshilla Ridge flows ~15.5 Columbia River Basalt Group, United States 5,000–10,000 Member comprises 8–10 flows with a total volume of ~50,000 km3
McCoy Canyon flow 15.6 Columbia River Basalt Group, United States 4,300
Umtanum flows ~15.6 Columbia River Basalt Group, United States 2,750 Two flows with a total volume of 5,500 km3
Sand Hollow flow 15.3 Columbia River Basalt Group, United States 2,660
Pruitt Draw flow 16.5 Columbia River Basalt Group, United States 2,350
Museum flow 15.6 Columbia River Basalt Group, United States 2,350
Moonaree Dacite 1591 Gawler Range Volcanics, Australia 2,050 One of the oldest large eruptions preserved
Rosalia flow 14.5 Columbia River Basalt Group, United States 1,900
Gran Canaria shield basalt eruption 14.5 to 14 Gran Canaria, Spain 1,000 p. 17
Joseph Creek flow 16.5 Columbia River Basalt Group, United States 1,850
Ginkgo Basalt 15.3 Columbia River Basalt Group, United States 1,600
California Creek–Airway Heights flow 15.6 Columbia River Basalt Group, United States 1,500
Stember Creek flow 15.6 Columbia River Basalt Group, United States 1,200

Large igneous provinces

The Siberian Traps underlie much of Russia, from the Lena River west to the Ural Mountains (around 3,000 km), and stretching south from the Arctic coast almost to Lake Baikal (around 2,000 km).
Extent of the Siberian Traps large igneous province (map in German)

Highly active periods of volcanism in what are called large igneous provinces have produced huge oceanic plateaus and flood basalts in the past. These can comprise hundreds of large eruptions, producing millions of cubic kilometers of lava in total. No large eruptions of flood basalts have occurred in human history, the most recent having occurred over 10 million years ago. They are often associated with breakup of supercontinents such as Pangea in the geologic record, and may have contributed to a number of mass extinctions. Most large igneous provinces have either not been studied thoroughly enough to establish the size of their component eruptions, or are not preserved well enough to make this possible. Many of the eruptions listed above thus come from just two large igneous provinces: the Paraná and Etendeka traps and the Columbia River Basalt Group. The latter is the most recent large igneous province, and also one of the smallest. A list of large igneous provinces follows to provide some indication of how many large eruptions may be missing from the lists given here.

Igneous province Age (Millions of years) Location Volume (millions of km3) Notes Refs
Ontong Java–Manihiki–Hikurangi Plateau 121 Southwest Pacific Ocean 59–77 Largest igneous body on Earth, later split into three widely separated oceanic plateaus, with a fourth component perhaps now accreted onto South America. Possibly linked to the Louisville hotspot.
Kerguelen Plateau–Broken Ridge 112 South Indian Ocean, Kerguelen Islands 17 Linked to the Kerguelen hotspot. Volume includes Broken Ridge and the Southern and Central Kerguelen Plateau (produced 120–95 Ma), but not the Northern Kerguelen Plateau (produced after 40 Ma).
North Atlantic Igneous Province 55.5 North Atlantic Ocean 6.6 Linked to the Iceland hotspot.
Mid-Tertiary ignimbrite flare-up 32.5 Southwest United States: mainly in Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico 5.5 Mostly andesite to rhyolite explosive (.5 million km3) to effusive (5 million km3) eruptions, 25–40 Ma. Includes many volcanic centers, including the San Juan volcanic field.
Caribbean large igneous province 88 Caribbean–Colombian oceanic plateau 4 Linked to the Galápagos hotspot.
Siberian Traps 249.4 Siberia, Russia 1–4 A large outpouring of lava on land, believed to have caused the Permian–Triassic extinction event, the largest mass extinction ever.
Karoo-Ferrar 183 Mainly Southern Africa and Antarctica. Also South America, India, Australia and New Zealand 2.5 Formed as Gondwana broke up
Paraná and Etendeka traps 133 Brazil/Angola and Namibia 2.3 Linked to the Tristan hotspot
Central Atlantic magmatic province 200 Laurasia continents 2 Believed to be the cause of the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event. Formed as Pangaea broke up
Deccan Traps 66 Deccan Plateau, India 1.5 A large igneous province of west-central India, believed to have been one of the causes of the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event. Linked to the Réunion hotspot.
Emeishan Traps 256.5 Southwestern China 1 Along with Siberian Traps, may have contributed to the Permian–Triassic extinction event.
Coppermine River Group 1267 Mackenzie Large Igneous Province/Canadian Shield 0.65 Consists of at least 150 individual flows.
Ethiopia-Yemen Continental Flood Basalts 28.5 Ethiopia/Yemen/Afar, Arabian-Nubian Shield 0.35 Associated with silicic, explosive tuffs
Columbia River Basalt Group 16 Pacific Northwest, United States 0.18 Well exposed by Missoula Floods in the Channeled Scablands.

See also


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