Mass and energy budgets of explosive volcanic eruptions

Analysis of the frequency‐size relationship of explosive volcanic eruptions for the past 2000 years reveals that the time‐averaged eruptive mass flux of tephra from subaerial explosive eruptions is 3×10 4 kg s −1 . This mass flux corresponds to a thermal energy release of 4×10 10 W. Half of the long‐term (>10³ year) mass and thermal energy release from explosive volcanic eruptions is accounted for by eruptions of >10 km³ of tephra.