plinian

Descriptive of a style of volcanic eruption similar in character and in intensity to that of the AD 79 eruption of Vesuvius witnessed by Pliny the Younger.

Adjective

  1. Descriptive of a style of volcanic eruption similar in character and in intensity to that of the AD 79 eruption of Vesuvius witnessed by Pliny the Younger.
    • The earliest activity of Monte Vulture, central Italy, included ignimbrites but the bulk of the volcano was built up by plinian airfall deposits. - 1988 July, J. E. Guest, A. M. Duncan, D. K. Chester, “Monte Vulture...

Origin

From Pliny + -an.

Derived

subplinian ultraplinian