Explosivity (Volcanic Explosivity Index) – 6. Cotopaxi is capable of generating relatively large explosive eruptions, compounded by the fact that this activity will melt or even destroy its ice cap, generating rapid flows of water and volcanic debris downs its valleys, called lahars.

Unpredictability: An index created from the range and frequency of different sizes of activity at that volcano (0 to 100) This volcano top trumps resource was developed in conjunction with Dr Laura Hobbs, Volcanologist: Science from the Start and Lancaster University. Find out the devastation potential for Etna, unpredictability of Mount St. Helens and the wow factor of Stromboli in this edition of Top Trumps - VolcanoesLast known eruption: Yasur has been in a continuous state of activity since at least 1774, when Captain James Cook first reported the sighting of ‘ a Volcano which threw up vast quantities of fire and smoak and made a rumbling noise which was heard at a good distance.’

Seeing a volcano erupt is a truly awesome sight, but there are some volcanoes you wouldn’t want to be standing too close to when they do. In fact, with some, you wouldn’t want to be standing anywhere near when they explode. So volcanologists have developed a scale that helps them measure just how explosive they are!Wow! Factor An Index from 0 to 100 ( Fuji in Japan) ! Our most subjective factor. This was an interesting category to construct. There are so many things about volcanoes, that make you go wow! The pictures on the cards reflect the large differences. Some volcanoes have beautiful and impressive edifices that are very imposing or grand ( Fuji, Villarica, Mayon), some frequently erupt fantastic globules of red-spattering magma (e.g. Yasur), some leave behind traces of huge scale eruptions (e.g. Vesuvius). The range of these types is represented in our volcanoes. You can discuss with you class what aspects of volcanic activity makes them go Wow!