VEI—Volcanic Explosivity Index—a 1–8 scale of the explosivity of volcanic eruptions describes the 1815 eruption as super-colossal.
Among eruptions recorded in modern history, such as Cumbre Vieja (2021),
Vesuvius (79),
Mount St. Helens (1980),
Krakatoa (1883), or
Mount Pinatubo (1991), Mount Tambora eruption was so far the only VEI-7.
