Significant Global Volcanic Eruptions Map: Explore 887 Events by VEI, Deaths, and Tsunamis
This interactive map displays 887 significant volcanic eruptions from around the world, drawn from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. A significant eruption is one that caused fatalities, caused damage of approximately $1 million or more, had a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 6 or greater, generated a tsunami, or was associated with a major earthquake. Each circle is sized and coloured by VEI — the larger and darker the marker, the more explosive the eruption.
Interactive Significant Volcanic Eruptions Map
All 887 eruptions load instantly. Use the filters to narrow by explosivity, time period, associated tsunami, or recorded fatalities. Click any marker to see the full event record.
How to Use This Map
Getting Started
The map opens showing all 887 recorded significant eruptions worldwide. A loading spinner is shown while the data is fetched from NOAA. Once loaded, all markers appear instantly and all filtering is done client-side with no reload required. The count badge in the controls bar shows how many eruptions match your current filters.
Filters and Controls
- Min VEI — filter to eruptions at or above a chosen Volcanic Explosivity Index. Select “6+ (colossal)” to see only the largest events in the historical record.
- Period — narrow to eruptions from a specific era: 21st century, 20th century, 19th century, post-1500, CE only, or all time (including ancient and BCE events).
- Tsunami only — show only eruptions that generated a recorded tsunami.
- Fatalities only — show only eruptions with confirmed deaths.
All four filters can be combined. The URL updates automatically so any filtered view can be shared directly.
Reading the Markers
Circle size and colour both encode the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI). Pale yellow small circles represent gentle eruptions (VEI 0–1); large dark-red circles represent colossal events (VEI 6–7); the largest near-black circles represent mega-colossal eruptions (VEI 8). Click any marker to see the full event record, including the volcano name, date, country, deaths, injuries, damage estimate, associated tsunami or earthquake, volcano morphology, elevation, and the original NOAA event notes.
What Is the Volcanic Explosivity Index?
The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) is a logarithmic scale, similar to the Richter scale for earthquakes, that measures the relative explosivity of volcanic eruptions. It runs from 0 (non-explosive) to 8 (mega-colossal). Each step on the scale represents roughly a tenfold increase in the volume of material ejected.
| VEI | Classification | Ejecta volume | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Gentle / Fissure | <10,000 m³ | Kilauea (ongoing) |
| 2–3 | Explosive / Severe | 10,000 m³ – 10 km³ | Stromboli, Galeras |
| 4–5 | Cataclysmic / Paroxysmal | 0.1 – 10 km³ | Pinatubo 1991 (VEI 6), Vesuvius 79 AD (VEI 5) |
| 6–7 | Colossal / Super-colossal | 10 – 1,000 km³ | Krakatoa 1883 (VEI 6), Tambora 1815 (VEI 7) |
| 8 | Mega-colossal | >1,000 km³ | Yellowstone (~630,000 BP) |
About the NOAA Significant Volcanic Eruptions Dataset
The NOAA/NGDC Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database is maintained by the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the World Data Service for Geophysics (WDS). It documents volcanic events that meet at least one of the following criteria: caused fatalities; caused moderate damage of approximately $1 million or more; had a VEI of 6 or greater; generated a tsunami; or were associated with a major earthquake. The database draws on historical records, scientific literature, and eyewitness accounts stretching back thousands of years, making it one of the most comprehensive long-term records of volcanic hazard events available.
The data was downloaded on 1 February 2025 and has not been modified from the original NOAA source. It is served via an ESRI ArcGIS Online feature service (service ID: 3318aafcd304414bb8da481d173c551d) operated by Esri.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a volcanic eruption “significant”?
NOAA classifies a volcanic eruption as significant if it meets at least one of five criteria: it caused fatalities; it caused damage of approximately $1 million or more; it had a VEI of 6 or greater; it generated a tsunami; or it was associated with a major earthquake. Not all large eruptions are included — only those with a documented hazard impact or extreme explosivity.
Why does filtering to VEI 6+ show so few eruptions?
VEI 6 and above events are genuinely rare. In recorded history, roughly a dozen eruptions have reached VEI 6 or higher. Examples include Pinatubo (1991, VEI 6), Krakatoa (1883, VEI 6), and Tambora (1815, VEI 7). A VEI 8 event — sometimes called a “supervolcano” eruption — has not occurred in recorded human history; the examples in the dataset come from the geological and prehistoric record.
How far back does the dataset go?
The NOAA dataset includes eruptions spanning thousands of years, with some entries dating to before the Common Era (BCE). The quality and completeness of records naturally improves for more recent events. Use the “CE only” or “Post-1500” period filters to focus on the era with the most reliable documentation.
Which volcanic region has the most significant eruptions?
The Pacific Ring of Fire — including Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the Americas — accounts for the majority of entries in the dataset. Indonesia alone has experienced some of the most destructive eruptions in recorded history, including Tambora (1815) and Krakatoa (1883). Use the map to zoom into specific regions and click markers for details.
Can eruptions trigger tsunamis?
Yes. Volcanic tsunamis can be caused by the collapse of a volcanic edifice into the sea, submarine eruptions, or eruption-triggered landslides. The 1883 Krakatoa eruption generated tsunamis that killed more than 30,000 people. Use the “Tsunami only” filter on the map to see all eruptions in the dataset with a recorded associated tsunami.
Where can I download the full dataset?
The full NOAA Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions database is available from the NOAA Natural Hazards Data portal. The dataset citation is: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): NCEI/WDS Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5JW8BSH.
