ABSTRACT
Scarcely a day goes by without a volcanic eruption occurring somewhere in the world. Every century in historic time, and perhaps every century since the beginning of the Earth, has had its share of major volcanic eruptions. Many will have happened in remote, inaccessible places and have never been recorded. Others have affected populated areas and forced themselves into the legends or the archives of mankind because of the damage and deaths that they have caused. The present century has been no exception. It was inaugurated with tremendous outbursts at the Soufriere in St Vincent, at Montagne Pelée in Martinique, and Santa Maria in Guatemala in 1902. Mid-century was celebrated a little late with the great eruption of Bezymianny in Kamchatka in 1956, and, since Mount St Helens erupted in 1980, three hitherto little-known volcanoes, El Chichón, Nevado del Ruiz and Pinatubo, have achieved world renown. Statistically, at least one other large eruption should take place before the century ends.
