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Height of Eruption Column

The height of a volcanic eruption cloud (in kilometers) is taken from direct observation or from estimates based upon historic accounts.

For pre-historic eruptions, this scale is calculated based upon the dispersal of the volcanic products- i.e. how far and wide they are scattered. Volcanic eruptions that have very tall columns will spread tephra far and wide.

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Volcano Web : Volcano Terminology : Height of Eruption Column

created by Lorrie Lava, lava@pele.bigu.edu
Volcanic Studies, Big University

last modified: April 1, 1995

URL: http://www.bigu.edu/web/height.html