Volcanic explosivity index

The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) is a scale used by scientists to measure how powerful a volcanic eruption is. It considers factors like the amount of ash and volcanic material released, the height the ash reaches, and the eruption's duration. The scale ranges from 0 to 8, with higher numbers indicating more explosive and impactful eruptions. For example, a small eruption with little ash might be a VEI 0, while a massive, world-changing eruption could be a VEI 7 or 8. This helps scientists compare and understand eruption sizes and potential impacts.