Plinian Eruption (Noun)
Meaning
A volcanic eruption in which a stream of gas and ash is violently ejected to a height of several miles.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural events.
Examples
- The massive plinian eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD buried the nearby towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum under a thick layer of ash and pumice.
- The 1980 plinian eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington state was one of the most significant volcanic events in recent US history.
- During a plinian eruption, a large amount of ash and gas is released into the atmosphere, potentially affecting global climate patterns.
- The 1815 plinian eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia caused widespread destruction and led to the "Year Without a Summer" in 1816.
- Scientists closely monitored the volcano for signs of a plinian eruption, which could have devastating effects on the surrounding area and global air travel.