Volcanic Explosivity Index

The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) was devised by Chris Newhall of the U.S. Geological Survey and Steve Self at the University of Hawaii in 1982 to provide a relative measure of the explosiveness of volcanic eruptions.

Volume of products, eruption cloud height, and qualitative observations (from Gentle to Cataclysmic) are used to determine the explosivity value. The scale is open-ended and ranges from 0, for non-explosive eruptions (less than 10⁴ cubic metres of tephra ejected), to 8, for explosive eruptions larger than any in history (10¹² cubic metres of tephra and a cloud column height of over 25 km). Values higher than 8 can be determined if needed.

VEI	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Total Historic Eruptions	487	623	3176	733	119	19	5	2	0

See also:

• Nevado del Ruiz, 1985 (VEI = 3)
• Mount St. Helens, 1980 (VEI = 5)
• Krakatoa, 1883 (VEI = 6)
• Novarupta, 1912 (VEI = 6)
• Mount Tambora, 1815 (VEI = 7)
• Long Valley Caldera (VEI = 7)
• Yellowstone (VEI = 8)