Tierra Blanca Joven eruption

The Tierra Blanca Joven eruption of Lake Ilopango was the largest volcanic eruption in El Salvador during historic times with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 6, dating back in the mid 5th century A.D. The eruption ejected about 43.7 cubic kilometres (10.5 cu mi) of dense rock equivalent.[1] The eruption was one of the largest volcanic events on Earth in recorded history, with or in the last 7,000 years. The possible date of the eruption was 431 AD and the eruption is considered a possible source of extreme weather events of 535-536.

Tierra Blanca Joven eruption
The eruption created an 8 by 11 km (5.0 by 6.8 mi) caldera-filled lake known as Lake Ilopango.
VolcanoLake Ilopango
Date450 AD ± 30 years
TypeUltra-Plinian
LocationEl Salvador, Central America
13.67°N 89.05°W / 13.67; -89.05
VEI6
The estimate ashfall in the region during the Tierra Blanca Joven eruption. The ash covered at least 10,000 km2 (3,900 sq mi). The red spot is the ash at the bottom of the image.

Volcanic eruption

The Tierra Blanca Joven eruption is El Salvador's largest volcanic eruption in the last 10,000 years. This VEI-6 Plinian eruption occurred during the 5th century and was larger than the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa or the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, having probably been more comparable to the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora.[2] It produced about 84 km3 (20 cu mi) of tephra (several times as much as the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens), produced major pyroclastic fall and large pyroclastic flows that covered 10,000 km2 (3,900 sq mi) under 50 cm (20 in) or more of pumice and ash. The eruption devastated an area of up to 100 km (62 mi) radius around the volcano. Some researchers describe the eruption as having occurred in the 5th-6th century. Having produced more than 10.5 cu mi (44 km3) of dense rock, the Tierra Blanca Joven eruption is one of the largest volcanic events on Earth in recorded history.[3]

See also

References
  1. Greshko, M. Colossal volcano behind 'mystery' global cooling finally found. National Geographic. 23 August 2019.
  2. "Ilopango". www.volcanodiscovery.com.
  3. Colossal volcano behind 'mystery' global cooling finally found. National Geographic. 23 August 2019.
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