Stunning bird's eye view of a volcanic eruption with massive ash cloud and smoke plumes.

An eruption that switched modes

Vesuvius switched between a towering column and ground‑hugging surges six times.

Mount Vesuvius 79 AD: Two Styles, One Disaster

Ancient ruins in Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background, Italy.

Tower then torrent

A Plinian column soared 15–30 km for 18–20 hours, blanketing Pompeii in 2.8 m of pumice and ash. Then pyroclastic surges raced downslope.

Mount Vesuvius 79 AD: Two Styles, One Disaster

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