The Plinian eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines on June 15, 1991, was the second largest eruption of the 20th century, and it generated both Plinian and co-PDC plumes (Holasek et al., 1996; Koyaguchi and Tokuno, 1993).

What causes a Plinian eruption?

Plinian/Vesuvian eruptions are marked by columns of volcanic debris and hot gases ejected high into the stratosphere, the second layer of Earth's atmosphere. The key characteristics are ejection of large amount of pumice and very powerful continuous gas-driven eruptions.

Is Plinian eruption explosive?

Plinian eruptions are large explosive events that form enormous dark columns of tephra and gas high into the stratosphere (>11 km). Such eruptions are named for Pliny the Younger, who carefully described the disastrous eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D.