Those ‘VEI-5′ volcanoes that are, in reality, VEI-6
Some names: Fuji, Marsili, Oraefajokull, (classified as VEI-5 on Wikipedia and many ofter sources) and many other that are well known, and even already classified as VEI-6 in many other sources.
Mount Fuji is tough. It was never destroyed. It’s strongest recorded eruption was the latest eruption, a sub-plinian, rating VEI-5, ejecting 8 km3 of material. It’s next eruption is calculated to be a full VEI-6. scientist say the magma chamber of Mt.Fuji contains like 40 times morepressure that what it contained before the last eruption. I guess, more magma. Some sites except a St.Helens phenomenon (Mt.Fuji getting destroyed). We must remember that some volcanoes survive to VEI-6 eruptions. This is one example:
This volcano is St.Maria. The little erupting cone seems coming from a Strombolian eruption. In reality that is the product of a VEI-6. The volcano came out just slightly scarred by the early 1900′s eruption. There are no calderas on St. Maria.
Mount Fuji has a hole on it’s flank. This hole is caused by the latest, major VEI-5, but overall, the volcano beared it.
Marsili is a submarine/fissure vent volcano in the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Sea is a small ocean, and there are volcanoes on it’s depts, some coming on surface. Marsili is classified as VEI-5, potentially VEI-6 The volcano is feared because it can produce tsunami with it’s strong eruption, and the top is not that far from surface.
Oraefajokull is an Icelandic stratovolcano. On Wikipedia is classified as VEI-5, but on Volcano-cafe is classified as VEI-6 (I am reading about it right now).
To be honest, this is not one volcano I know much about, so I haven’t a lot to say
I wonder why many VEI-6 are classified as VEI-5 (and later reclassified as VEI-6). Probably the two are rather similar. VEI-5 eject 1 km3 of material, VEI-6 10 km3. They’re caused by plinian eruptions (usually), but in some cases even smaller eruption can produce such high VEI. Laki, another Icelandic volcano produced a Strombolian VEI-6. And because the eruption was Strombolian, with a low eruptive column, the whole Europe was turned into a gas chamber and many people died poisoned by volcanic ash. Way worse than a regular VEI-6 such as the one of Pinatubo in 1991, or the Pompeii Eruption. Those were plinian eruptions, volcanic ejecta was sent high in the sky. That did about nothing to people that were far away from the volcanoes.
Another VEI-5 (that I rather suspect is a VEI 6) is Bezymjannj, St.Helens Russian sister. It is a strong volcano, that can send volcanic material as high as 50 km from land, even with minor eruptions (like the VEI-5 eruption occurred in 1956)
It is a really active and violent volcano. Seeing how it looks today, I see it is recovering well. Soon the caldera will disappear.
There are also volcanoes that are legit VEI-5. I might mention, of those I know, Aogashima and Vulture. I would also mention Mount Rainier, Colima, Mt.Agung and some others I can’t recall right now (I’ve seen them classified as VEI-6 anywhere). However, if you see a volcano that has been classified as VEI-5 classified as VEI-6 (and even VEI-7) at least in two sources, well... we are most likely in front to an understimated volcano.