What kind of eruption was the Mt. Pelee eruption of 1902? And what caused it?

Adam

Not surprisingly the eruption was of the Peleean type. Obviously they came up with the name after that particular eruption. It involved the collapse of a lava dome as well as some exploding magma. These produced what are called pyroclastic flows - mixtures of hot gas and ash that cannot be outrun and are hot enough so that they pretty much kill you instantly. Mt. Pelee is definitely still an active volcano. In fact, the 1902 eruption was just the start of an eruption that lasted into 1929.

Sincerely,
Scott Rowland

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