What is the term for a volcanic eruption characterized by explosive outbursts?

A Plinian eruption is characterized by highly explosive outbursts of volcanic material. This type of eruption is named after Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist who documented the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Plinian eruptions are marked by the rapid ejection of large amounts of ash, pumice, and volcanic gases, forming a vertical column that can reach tens of kilometers into the atmosphere. The explosive nature of these eruptions is often due to the high viscosity of the magma, which traps gas until the pressure becomes too great, resulting in spectacular explosive activity.

Other types of eruptions, such as Hawaiian or shield eruptions, are characterized by relatively gentle lava flows with minimal explosive activity. Fissure eruptions also differ in that they typically involve the flood of basaltic lava from cracks in the ground, producing expansive lava fields rather than explosive ejections.