An eruption that primarily involves steam explosions, usually ground water flashed into steam by the heat of subsurface magma
U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior, Volcano Hazards Program, Glossary, Washington, DC, USA 2011. http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/glossary/alluvium.ht ml, (ND/ Volc Emr - Amer) {795}