Volcano Eruption Simulator: Every Volcano, Any VEI
VolcanoSim models eruptions at VEI 1 through 8 for all 1,215 Holocene-active volcanoes. Ash plume height, pyroclastic flow reach, lahar paths. Historic eruptions and supervolcano scenarios. Free to explore, $29.99 lifetime for Pro features.
Launch the interactive simulator →1,215 volcanoes, every one interactive
Most volcano simulators cover a handful of famous mountains — Vesuvius, St. Helens, Krakatoa. VolcanoSim covers every Holocene-active volcano cataloged by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, plus historical supervolcanoes. That’s 1,215 volcanoes, each with real coordinates, VEI history, last known eruption date, and geological context. Click any one of them, choose a VEI, and watch the simulation run.
Every eruption model scales three physical processes: ash plume height and dispersal based on wind patterns at the volcano’s location, pyroclastic flow reach based on slope and VEI-scaled ejecta volume, and lahar (volcanic mudflow) paths following real drainage networks downhill from the crater. For research-grade use, the math isn’t peer-reviewed — but every parameter comes from published volcanology literature.
Supervolcanoes done right
VEI 8 eruptions are vanishingly rare — the last confirmed one was Taupo ~26,500 years ago — but they’re the category every volcano enthusiast actually wants to model. Yellowstone. Toba. Long Valley. Campi Flegrei. These scenarios are built into VolcanoSim with real caldera dimensions and geologically plausible ashfall coverage. Run a Yellowstone VEI 8 and see realistic fallout across the continental US. Run Toba and see the estimated climate impact that may have bottlenecked the human species 74,000 years ago.
Compare any two eruptions
Pro users get side-by-side compare mode: pick any two volcanoes, any two VEIs, and see their eruption characteristics, historical records, and scenario outputs rendered in parallel. Useful for classrooms, research, and settling the “which was worse” debates. Krakatoa 1883 vs Pinatubo 1991? Tambora 1815 vs Toba 74ka? Easy to see when you can run them next to each other on the same screen.
Frequently asked questions
How many volcanoes are in the simulator?
1,215 volcanoes — every Holocene-active volcano cataloged by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, plus historical supervolcanoes (Yellowstone, Toba, Taupo, Long Valley, Campi Flegrei) available for extinct-but-significant scenarios. Each volcano has real VEI history, last-eruption date, and geographic coordinates.
What is VEI and what do the numbers mean?
VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) is a logarithmic scale from 0 to 8. VEI 1 is Stromboli-style mild eruption. VEI 3 is Mount St. Helens 1980. VEI 6 is Pinatubo 1991 — the largest in modern memory. VEI 7 is Tambora 1815 (the "year without a summer"). VEI 8 is supervolcano-scale (Yellowstone, Toba). The simulator scales ash plume height, ejecta volume, and regional impact realistically at each step.
Can I compare two eruptions side by side?
Yes — the compare mode (Pro) lets you pick any two volcanoes and see their eruption characteristics, histories, and scenarios side by side. Useful for teaching, research, or just settling the argument about whether Krakatoa 1883 or Pinatubo 1991 was worse.
What about supervolcanoes like Yellowstone?
Supervolcano scenarios are first-class citizens in VolcanoSim. You can run a VEI 8 Yellowstone eruption and see realistic ash fallout coverage across North America, or model Toba's 74,000-year-old super-eruption that nearly caused a human population bottleneck. Pro users get custom VEI override so you can run any scenario at any scale.
Who uses this?
Earth science teachers building classroom material, volcanologists checking scenario assumptions, disaster preparedness researchers, podcast hosts doing episodes on Laacher See or Campi Flegrei, and anyone who read about the 536 AD climate crisis and wanted to see what Ilopango looked like on a map. $12.99/year or $29.99 lifetime standalone, or $79 as part of the SimulationMaps bundle.
$79 once. Every map. Forever.
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