Timeline of volcanism on Earth

This timeline of volcanism on Earth is a list of major s of approximately at least magnitude 6 on the (VEI) or equivalent  emission around the  period (from 2.58  to the present).

Some eruptions cooled the global climate—inducing a —depending on the amount of sulfur dioxide emitted and the magnitude of the eruption. Before the present epoch, the criteria are less strict because of scarce data availability, partly since later eruptions have destroyed the evidence. Only some eruptions before the period (from 23 Mya to 2.58 Mya) are listed. Known large eruptions after the period (from 66 Mya to 23 Mya) are listed, especially those relating to the, the , and the Taupo Volcanic Zone.

Active volcanoes such as, and  do not appear on this list, but some  volcanoes that generated calderas do appear. Some dangerous volcanoes in "populated areas" appear many times: so Santorini, six times and Yellowstone hotspot, 21 times. The Bismarck volcanic arc,, and the , , appear often too.

In addition to the events listed below, are many examples of eruptions in the Holocene on the Kamchatka Peninsula, which are described in a supplemental table by.

Large Quaternary eruptions
The epoch begins 11,700 years  (10,000  ago).

Since 1000 AD

 * , island of Luzon, Philippines; 1991, June 15; VEI 6; 6 to 16 km3 of ; an estimated 20000000 t of were emitted
 * , Alaska Peninsula; 1912, June 6; VEI 6; 13 to 15 km3 of lava
 * , Guatemala; 1902, October 24; VEI 6; 20 km3 of tephra
 * , Indonesia; 1883, August 26–27; VEI 6; 21 km3 of tephra
 * , Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia; 1815, Apr 10; VEI 7; 150 km3 of tephra; an estimated 200000000 t of were emitted, produced the ""
 * , VEI 6–7; discovered from ice cores in the 1980s.
 * , Northeastern Iceland; 1783–1785; ; 1783–1784; VEI 6; 14 km3 of lava, an estimated 120000000 t of were emitted, produced a, 1783, on the North Hemisphere.
 * , Northeast of New Guinea; 1660 ±20; VEI 6; 30 km3 of tephra
 * , Santorini, Greece; 1650, September 27; VEI 5; 2 km3 of tephra
 * , Peru; 1600, February 19; VEI 6; 30 km3 of tephra
 * , Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea; 1580 ±20; VEI 6; 14 km3 of tephra
 * , Northeastern Iceland; 1477; VEI 6; 10 km3 of tephra
 * "the location of this eruption is uncertain, as it has only been identified from distant records and atmospheric events around the time of King 's wedding; it is believed to have been VEI 7 and possibly even larger than 's in 1815.
 * 1452–53 arc, ; the location of this eruption in the South Pacific is uncertain, as it has been identified from distant  records; the only pyroclastic flows are found at ; 36 to 96 km3 of tephra; 175000000 - 700000000 t of sulfuric acid
 * 1280(?) in, Ecuador; VEI 6; 21 km3 of tephra
 * , Rinjani volcanic complex,, ; 40 km3 (dense-rock equivalent) of tephra, Arctic and Antarctic s provide compelling evidence to link the ice core sulfate spike of 1258/1259 A.D. to this volcano.

Overview of Common Era
This is a sortable summary of 27 major eruptions in the last 2000 years with VEI ≥6, implying an average of about 1.3 per century. The count does not include the notable VEI 5 eruptions of Mount St. Helens and Mount Vesuvius. Date uncertainties, tephra volumes, and references are also not included.

Note: Caldera names tend to change over time. For example, Okataina Caldera, Haroharo Caldera, Haroharo volcanic complex, Tarawera volcanic complex had the same magma source in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. Yellowstone Caldera, Henry's Fork Caldera, Island Park Caldera, Heise Volcanic Field had all Yellowstone hotspot as magma source.

Earlier Quaternary eruptions
2.588 ± 0.005 million years BP, the period and  epoch begin.


 * ,, , Germany; 12.9 ka; VEI 6; 6 km3 of tephra.
 * Emmons Lake Caldera (size: 11 x 18 km), Aleutian Range, 17 ka ±5; more than 50 km3 of.
 * , Atherton Tableland, North Queensland, Australia; was formed over 17 ka.
 * , East African Rift, Kenya; 29 ka
 * , ; VEI 6; 30 ka (Grand Savanne Ignimbrite).
 * , Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia; Golygin eruption; about 41.5 ka; VEI 7
 * (size: 20 x 8 km), ; VEI 7; around 52 ka; 220 to 250 km3 of tephra.
 * (size: 100 x 30 km), Sumatra, Indonesia; VEI 8; 73 ka ±4; 2500 to 3000 km3 of tephra; probably six s of sulfur dioxide were emitted (Youngest Toba Tuff).
 * (size: 17 x 20 km), Guatemalan Highlands; Los Chocoyos eruption; formed in an eruption 84 ka; VEI 7; 300 km3 of.
 * (size: 24 km wide), island of, Japan; 90 ka; last eruption was more than 600 km3 of tephra.
 * Sierra La Primavera volcanic complex (size: 11 km wide),, Mexico; 95 ka; 20 km3 of Tala Tuff.
 * (size: 24 km wide), island of Kyūshū, Japan; 120 ka; 80 km3 of tephra.
 * (size: 24 km wide), island of Kyūshū, Japan; 140 ka; 80 km3 of tephra.
 * , Massif Central, central France; it is part of an ancient stratovolcano which has been inactive for about 220,000 years.
 * Emmons Lake Caldera (size: 11 x 18 km), Aleutian Range, 233 ka; more than 50 km3 of.
 * (size: 24 km wide), island of Kyūshū, Japan; caldera formed as a result of four huge caldera eruptions; 270 ka; 80 km3 of tephra.
 * calderas (size: 9 x 18 km), Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia; 325–175 ka 20 km3 of deposits.
 * (size: 20 x 16 km), Argentina-Chile; 450 ka; 450 km3 of tephra.
 * (size: 45 x 85 km); 640 ka; VEI 8; more than 1000 km3 of tephra
 * , USA; Tumalo volcanic center; with eruptions from 600–700 to 170 ka years ago
 * , Arizona, USA; the Colorado River was dammed by lava flows multiple times from 725 to 100 ka.
 * Mono County, California, USA; ; 758.9 ka ±1.8; VEI 7; 600 km3 of.
 * , New Mexico, USA; around 1.15 Ma; VEI 7; around 600 km3 of the Tshirege formation, Upper Bandelier eruption.
 * ,, USA; were formed over 1.5 Ma by a now-extinct volcano.
 * Ebisutoge-Fukuda tephras, Japan; 1.75 Ma; 380 to 490 km3 of tephra.
 * Yellowstone hotspot; (size: 100 x 50 km); 2.1 Ma; VEI 8; 2450 km3 of.
 * (size: 32 km wide),, northwestern Argentina; 2.2 Ma; VEI 8; 1050 km3 of Cerro Galán Ignimbrite.

Pliocene eruptions
Approximately 5.332 million years BP, the epoch begins. Most eruptions before the Quaternary period have an unknown VEI.


 * , Boring, Oregon, USA; the zone became active at least 2.7 Ma, and has been extinct for about 300,000 years.
 * , Australia; remnant of a ic active around 2.3 to 3 Ma.
 * (size: 40 x 50 km),, Bolivia; 2.9 Ma; VEI 7; more than 820 km3 of Pastos Grandes.
 * , northeastern coast of 's ; it erupted from 1 million to 3 Ma.
 * a created approximately 3 Ma after the opening of the.
 * (size: 60 x 35 km), Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex, northern Chile; 4 Ma; VEI 8; 2500 km3 of Atana Ignimbrite.
 * , Bolivia; 4 Ma; 620 km3 of Frailes Ignimbrite E.
 * (size: 32 km wide),, northwestern Argentina; 4.2 Ma; 510 km3 of Real Grande and Cueva Negra tephra.
 * , Heise volcanic field, Idaho; Kilgore Caldera (size: 80 x 60 km); VEI 8; 1800 km3 of Kilgore Tuff; 4.45 Ma ±0.05.
 * Caldera,, Bolivia; 5 Ma; 470 km3 of tephra.

Miocene eruptions
Approximately 23.03 million years BP, the period and  epoch begin.
 * , Bolivia; 5.6–5.8 Ma (Guacha ignimbrite).
 * , Australia; and  are both made of  rock, remnants of  flows that once filled a large volcanic  6.4 Ma.
 * Yellowstone hotspot, Heise volcanic field, Idaho; 5.51 Ma ±0.13 (Conant Creek Tuff).
 * Yellowstone hotspot, Heise volcanic field, Idaho; 5.6 Ma; 500 km3 of Blue Creek Tuff.
 * Cerro Panizos (size: 18 km wide), Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex, Bolivia; 6.1 Ma; 652 km3 of Panizos Ignimbrite.
 * Yellowstone hotspot, Heise volcanic field, Idaho; 6.27 Ma ±0.04 (Walcott Tuff).
 * Yellowstone hotspot, Heise volcanic field, Idaho; Blacktail Caldera (size: 100 x 60 km), Idaho; 6.62 Ma ±0.03; 1500 km3 of Blacktail Tuff.
 * (size: 40 x 50 km), Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex, Bolivia; 8.3 Ma; 652 km3 of Sifon Ignimbrite.
 * , Admiralty Islands, northern Papua New Guinea; 8–10 Ma
 * , New Zealand; Akaroa erupted 9 Ma, erupted 12 Ma.
 * were formed in a series of undersea volcanic eruptions 8–10 Ma, as the African plate drifted over the.
 * Yellowstone hotspot, Twin Fall volcanic field, Idaho; 8.6 to 10 Ma.
 * Yellowstone hotspot, Picabo volcanic field, Idaho; 10.21 Ma ± 0.03 (Arbon Valley Tuff).
 * , New Zealand; the last eruptive phase ended some 10 Ma. The center of the caldera is about, the main port of the city of.
 * Yellowstone hotspot, Idaho; ; 10.0 to 12.5 Ma ( eruption).
 * , British Columbia, Canada; has generated the over the last 13 million years.
 * Yellowstone hotspot,, Nevada/ Oregon; around 12.8 to 13.9 Ma.
 * Tejeda Caldera,, Spain; 13.9 Ma; the 80 km3 eruption produced a composite ignimbrite (P1) of rhyolite, trachyte and basaltic materials, with a thickness of 30 metres at 10 km from the caldera center
 * shield basalt eruption, Spain; 14.5 to 14 Ma; 1,000 km3 of tholeiitic to alkali basalts
 * , Naples, Italy; 14.9 Ma; 79 km3 of Neapolitan Yellow Tuff.
 * Huaylillas Ignimbrite, Bolivia, southern Peru, northern Chile; 15 Ma ±1; 1100 km3 of tephra.
 * Yellowstone hotspot, McDermitt volcanic field (North),, Whitehorse Caldera (size: 15 km wide), Oregon; 15 Ma; 40 km3 of Whitehorse Creek Tuff.
 * Yellowstone hotspot (?), volcanic field; 15.0 to 15.5 Ma.
 * Yellowstone hotspot, McDermitt volcanic field (South), Jordan Meadow Caldera, (size: 10–15 km wide), Nevada/ Oregon; 15.6 Ma; 350 km3 Longridge Tuff member 2-3.
 * Yellowstone hotspot, McDermitt volcanic field (South),, (size: 33 km wide), Nevada/ Oregon; 15.6 Ma; 400 km3 Longridge Tuff member 5.
 * Yellowstone hotspot, McDermitt volcanic field (South), Calavera Caldera, (size: 17 km wide), Nevada/ Oregon; 15.7 Ma; 300 km3 of Double H Tuff.
 * Yellowstone hotspot, McDermitt volcanic field (South), Hoppin Peaks Caldera, 16 Ma; Hoppin Peaks Tuff.
 * Yellowstone hotspot, McDermitt volcanic field (North), Trout Creek Mountains, Pueblo Caldera (size: 20 x 10 km), Oregon; 15.8 Ma; 40 km3 of Trout Creek Mountains Tuff.
 * Yellowstone hotspot, McDermitt volcanic field (South), Washburn Caldera, (size: 30 x 25 km wide), Nevada/ Oregon; 16.548 Ma; 250 km3 of Oregon Canyon Tuff.
 * Yellowstone hotspot (?), Northwest Nevada volcanic field (NWNV), Virgin Valley, High Rock, Hog Ranch, and unnamed calderas; West of, Nevada; 15.5 to 16.5 Ma.
 * Yellowstone hotspot, Steens and, Pueblo, Steens, and Malheur Gorge-region, , , Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, USA; most vigorous eruptions were from 14–17 Ma; 180000 km3 of lava.
 * , Australia; is part of the remnants of the Nandewar extinct volcano that ceased activity about 17 Ma after 4 million years of activity.
 * Oxaya Ignimbrites, northern Chile (around 18°S); 19 Ma; 3000 km3 of tephra.
 * was erupting about 21 to 22 Ma.

Volcanism before the Neogene

 * Paleogene ends 23 million years ago.
 * The formation of the basalts occurs between 10–6 million years ago.
 * The formation of the occurs between 17 and 6 million years ago.
 * erupts in the Wheeler Geologic Area, Central Colorado volcanic field, Colorado, USA, eruption several VEI8 events (Possibly as high as a VEI9), 5000 km3 of Fish Canyon Tuff was blasted out in a major single eruption about 27.8 million years ago.
 * Unknown source in erupts 29 million years ago with at least 3000 km3 of Green Tuff and SAM.
 * Sam Ignimbrite in forms 29.5 million years ago, at least 5550 km3 of distal tuffs associated with the ignimbrites.
 * Jabal Kura’a Ignimbrite in forms 29.6million years ago, at least 3700 km3 of distal tuffs associated with the ignimbrites.
 * The begins 30 million years ago
 * About 33.9 million ago, the epoch of the  period begins
 * The Mid-Tertiary ignimbrite flare-up begins 40 million years ago and last till 25 million years ago.
 * erupts 50 million years ago with a VEI7 850 km3 of tephra.
 * is believed to have first appeared about 60 million years ago.
 * Formation of the Brito-Arctic province begins 61 million years ago.
 * Approximately million years ago, the  occurred
 * ,, India, formed between 60 and 68 million years ago which are thought to have played a role in the K-Pg extinction.
 * The has produced the, it is active for at least 80 million years. It may have originated the  around 120 million years ago.
 * , is the oldest extant seamount in the, with an estimated age of 82 million years.
 * The begins forming 110 million years ago.
 * The form from 117–116 million years ago.
 * The forms from 125–120 million years ago
 * , Brazil, Namibia and Angola form 128 to 138 million years ago. 132 million years ago, a possible supervolcanic eruption occurred, ejecting 8600 km3.
 * Formation of the flood basalts begins 183 million years ago.
 * The flood basalts of the are thought to have contributed to the  about 199 million years ago.
 * The are thought to have played a significant role in the  252 million years ago.
 * Formation of the began 260 million years ago.
 * The occurs about 374 million years ago.
 * The occurs between 450 and 440 million years ago.
 * , ; VEI8; 420 million years ago
 * ,, England; VEI8; Ordovician (488.3–443.7 million years ago).
 * The eon begins 542 million years ago
 * forms 1,270 million years ago.
 * and form 2,500 million years ago.
 * forms 2,704–2,707 million years ago.
 * Approximately 2,500 million years ago, the eon of the Precambrian period begins
 * About 3,800 million years ago, the eon of the  period begins

Volcanic dimming
The global dimming through volcanism (ash aerosol and ) is quite independent of the eruption VEI. When sulfur dioxide (boiling point at : -10 °C) reacts with water vapor, it creates sulfate ions (the precursors to sulfuric acid), which are very reflective; ash aerosol on the other hand absorbs. Global cooling through volcanism is the sum of the influence of the global dimming and the influence of the high of the deposited ash layer. The lower and its higher albedo might prolong this cooling period. Bipolar comparison showed six sulfate events: (1815),  (1835),  (1883),  (1963), and  (1982), and the. And the atmospheric transmission of direct solar radiation data from the (MLO),  (19°32'N) detected only five eruptions:
 * June 11, 2009, (?),, 400 tons of tephra, VEI 4
 * 48.09167°N, 153.2°W
 * June 12–15, 1991 (eruptive climax),, , 11,000 ±0.5 tons of tephra, VEI 6
 * Global cooling: 0.5 °C, 15.13333°N, 120.35°W
 * March 28, 1982,, , 2,300 tons of tephra, VEI 5
 * 17.36°N, -93.22778°W
 * October 10, 1974,, , 400 tons of tephra, VEI 4
 * 14.47278°N, -90.88028°W
 * February 18, 1963,, , 100 tons of lava, more than 1,000 tons of tephra, VEI 5
 * Northern Hemisphere cooling: 0.3 °C,-8.34167°N, 115.50833°W

But very large emissions overdrive the oxidizing capacity of the. 's and 's concentration goes up, global temperature goes up, ocean's temperature goes up, and ocean's solubility goes down.