DIRECTED-BLAST ERUPTION OF BESYMIANNYI ON MARCH 30, 1956: PROBLEMS OF INTERPRETATION

Abstract

The pattern of the 1956 eruption at Bezymyannyi that is universally recognized now is in conflict with observational data. Analysis of these data shows that there was no supersonic 30-km movement of large volumes of resurgent and juvenile material along ballistic paths. The development of the eruption resembles the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. It is proposed that the term "directed volcanic blast" can be used to describe these and other similar events but should be "cleaned” from erroneous interpretations in terms of pyrotechnics.