Vulcanian eruptions are more violent and explosive than strombolian eruptions. Vulcanian eruptions are named after the island of Vulcano off the coast of Italy. This is the same island that gave us the name "Volcano". Vulcanian eruptions contain high dark clouds of steam, ash, and gas. The ash plume builds a cauliflower shaped head and a thinner more treetrunk-like base. When the volcano quits erupting ash and gases it then ejects thick pasty lava. Vulcanian eruptions usually build a steep sided cone that is more symetrical than a cinder cone. This more symetrical cone is called a strovolcano.
Vulcanian eruptions will send an ash plume to a height of 2 -9 miles. The photo to the left is of Katla volcano in Iceland which erupted in 1918.
Click on the "Next" button to view these symetrical volcanoes.
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