Largest volcanic eruptions since 1900

[HurricaneBill]

1991
Volcano: Mt. Pinatubo
Location: Philippines
VEI: 6

Pinatubo had the second largest eruption of the 20th century. The only eruption that was larger was Novarupta in 1912. In March 1991, Pinatubo started showing signs of unrest. Between April and June, authorities evacuated people from areas within 40km of the volcano. In mid-June, the eruptions increased in intensity. On June 15, the climactic eruption occurred. The eruption sent ash 34km (21 miles) into the air. Pyroclastic flows traveled as far as 16km from the volcano. At the time of the eruption, Typhoon Yunya was passing over the Philippines. Yunya's heavy rains mixed in with the ash and produced massive lahars.

In all, 847 people were killed by the eruption. Global temperatures dropped up to 0.6*C (1.1*F).

[HurricaneBill]

1991
Volcano: Cerro Hudson
Location: Chile
VEI: 5

Cerro Hudson erupted only two months after Pinatubo. Unlike Pinatubo, Cerro Hudson was in a rather remote area. The eruption was Chile's 2nd largest of the 20th century. The largest was the 1932 eruption of Cerro Azul.

Despite its intensity, the eruption of Cerro Hudson received very little attention. This was most likely due to the media being focused on Pinatubo.

[HurricaneBill]

1992
Volcano: Mt. Spurr (This was Spurr's 2nd VEI4 eruption since 1900)
Location: USA (Alaska)
VEI: 4

The eruption deposited ash on Anchorage and forced its airports to close for 20 hours.

[HurricaneBill]

1993
Volcano: Lascar
Location: Chile
VEI: 4

Lascar consists of two cones. The extinct Western Cone and the active Eastern Cone. Despite several major pyroclastic eruptions in the past, Lascar has failed to form a caldera.

The 1993 eruption ranks as Lascar's largest historical eruption.

[HurricaneBill]

1994
Volcano: Rabaul (This was Rabaul's 2nd VEI4 eruption since 1900)
Location: Papua New Guinea
VEI: 4

The 1994 eruption of Rabaul's volcanoes, Tavurvur and Vulcan, gave the city only 19 hours to evacuate. Thanks to planning and evacuation drills, the death toll was only 5.

The 1994 eruption devastated the city with heavy ashfall and destroyed Rabaul's airport.

Rabaul had been the provincial capital of the Papua New Guinea province of East New Britain. After 1994, the provincial capital was relocated to Kokopo.

[HurricaneBill]

The 2000s had 10 eruptions measuring VEI4.

2000
Volcano: Ulawun
Location: Papua New Guinea
VEI: 4

Ulawun's name means "the Father". It is one of Papua New Guinea's most active volcanoes.

[HurricaneBill]

2001
Volcano: Shiveluch (This was Shiveluch's 2nd VEI4 eruption since 1900)
Location: Russia (Kamchatka Peninsula)
VEI: 4

Shiveluch has been in a state of constant eruption since August 1999. The largest eruption occurred on May 22, 2001, when Shiveluch produced an ash cloud as high as 20km. Fortunately, the closest town to Shiveluch is 50km away.

[HurricaneBill]

2002
Volcano: Ruang (Not to be confused with the volcano Raung on Java)
Location: Indonesia
VEI: 4

Ruang was one of Indonesia's largest eruptions in years. An ash cloud reached 20km in altitude.

[HurricaneBill]

2002
Volcano: Reventador
Location: Ecuador
VEI: 4

Reventador produced an ash cloud that reached heights of 17km. Ash fell as far away as Quito, which is 70km west of the volcano. Schools and businesses were closed due to the ash, as well as Quito's airport.

[HurricaneBill]

2004
Volcano: Manam (This was Manam's 2nd VEI4 eruption since 1900)
Location: Papua New Guinea
VEI: 4

Manam is one of Papua New Guinea's most active volcanoes. The 2004 eruption left 5 people dead and led to Manam Island being abandoned. In 2007, the displaced islanders were permanently resettled at Andarum.

[HurricaneBill]

2006
Volcano: Rabaul (This was Rabaul's 3rd VEI4 eruption since 1900)
Location: Papua New Guinea
VEI: 4

Rabaul is one of Papua New Guinea's most active volcanoes. It is also one of its most dangerous. The 2006 eruption shook windows and slammed doors in Rabaul town. It also blew out the windows at the volcano observatory 12km away. The eruption occurred from Tavurvur, a highly active cinder cone.

[HurricaneBill]

2008
Volcano: Chaiten
Location: Chile
VEI: 4

After being quiescent for more than 9,400 years, Chaiten erupted. The nearby town of Chaiten was evacuated. Many buildings were destroyed by ash and mud. Lahars caused flooding and completely filled the original course of the Chaiten River. As a result, the river excavated a new course through the town of Chaiten, destroying a large portion of it. The town of Chaiten has been abandoned and will be rebuilt 10km to the north.

[HurricaneBill]

2008
Volcano: Mt. Okmok
Location: USA (Alaska)
VEI: 4

Located on Umnak Island, Okmok is a large shield volcano topped by a large caldera. In July 2008, Okmok erupted without warning. An ash plume reached a height of 15km. Fort Glenn, a private cattle ranch on the flanks of Okmok, had to be evacuated periodically. During one evacuation, heavy ashfall made noon-time dark as night.

[HurricaneBill]

2008
Volcano: Kasatochi
Location: USA (Alaska)
VEI: 4

Kasatochi is an island volcano with a crater lake inside its summit. In August 2008, Kasatochi erupted, sending ash plumes as high as 13.7km. Pyroclastic flows and surges raced into the sea. The flows and surges extended Kasatochi's shoreline. The eruption also increased the size of Kasatochi's crater. Photos taken after the eruption showed that the crater lake was still intact.

[HurricaneBill]

2009
Volcano: Sarychev Peak (This was Sarychev Peak's 2nd VEI4 eruption since 1900)
Location: Russia (Kuril Islands)
VEI: 4

The eruption of Sarychev Peak sent ash plumes as high as 13.7km and disrupted air traffic in the region. The International Space Station was passing overhead as the eruption was occurring and took many stunning photographs of the ash plumes rising up.

[HurricaneBill]

The 2010s have already seen 3 VEI4 eruptions.

2010
Volcano: Eyjafjallajokull
Location: Iceland
VEI: 4

After being quiescent since the mid 19th century, Eyjafjallajokull began erupting in March 2010. Eyjafjallajokull gained notoriety for its hard to pronounce name and for causing massive disruptions in air travel across Europe.

Eyjafjallajokull also raised concerns that nearby Katla may erupt. Eyjafjallajokull's 3 previous eruptions were followed by eruptions from Katla. Katla produced a small subglacial eruption in 2011.

[HurricaneBill]

2010
Volcano: Mt. Merapi (not to be confused with Mt. Marapi on Sumatra)
Location: Indonesia
VEI: 4

Merapi's name in Javanese means "Mountain of Fire". It is considered one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes and also one of its most dangerous. Merapi has produced more pyroclastic flows than any other volcano in the world. Frequently active, Merapi has a long list of destructive eruptions. Normally, Merapi's eruptions are low-level and don't reach higher than VEI3. However, on occasion, Merapi does have explosive eruptions. Prior to 2010, the only other historical VEI4 eruption of Merapi was in 1872.

The 2010 eruption began in late October 2010 and lasted until the end of November. Ash plumes reached as high as 17km. Over 350,000 people were evacuated from areas within 20km of the volcano.

The eruption killed at least 353 people, the deadliest eruption since Pinatubo in 1991.

[HurricaneBill]

2011
Volcano: Grimsvotn (This was Grimsvotn's 2nd VEI4 eruption since 1900)
Location: Iceland
VEI: 4

The 2011 eruption of Grimsvotn was the volcano's largest in over a century. It was also more powerful than Eyjafjallajokull's eruption in 2010. Grimsvotn released more ash in 24 hours than Eyjafjallajokull released during its entire eruption. Although there was disruption of air travel, it was nowhere near the level of disruption caused by Eyjafjallajokull.