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Directed Volcanic Blasts | John Seach
Directed volcanic blasts are powerful explosions with a
significant laterally-directed component, which can generate
devastating, high energy pyroclastic density currents.
Directed blasts can be very devastating events. Over the past century there have been 31,000 fatalities from blast eruptions.
Ititial blast velocities can be from 223-435 m/s.
The term “directed volcanic blast” was used for the first time by Gorshkov in 1959, who studied the eruption of Bezymianny volcano in Kamchatka in 1956.
Blast eruptions are relatively common events. At least 10 occurred between 1888 and 1997, which is about one every 10 years.
Directed volcanic blasts have occurred at Pelee (Martinique 1902), Bezymianny (Kamchatka 1956), Lassen (USA 1915), Hibok (Philippines 1951), Lamington (Papua New Guinea 1951), Katmai (Alaska 1912), Bandai (Japan 1888), Asama (Japan 1783), Arenal (Costa Rica, 1968), and Mt St Helens (USA 1980).