A review, consisting of 8 papers with 120 illustrations, this book aims to present an outline of the editors' current understanding of several aspects of the physics of volcanic eruptions. The aspects covered include the physical characterization of silicic magma relevant to explosive volcanism, vesiculation of silicic magmas, conduit flow and fragmentation, gas loss from magmas during eruption, observations and models of eruption columns, tephra dispersal, pyroclastic density currents, and future research directions. By no means a complete outline nor one that reflects all important issues regarding explosive volcanic eruption physics, the papers in this book reflect the research interests of the group of writers chosen for this review. As such there is a notable bias towards eruption of silicic magmas, which is fair considering that these magmas are perhaps the most common in explosive magmatic eruptions. Readers will find this book to be a useful guide to issues that have been recent topics of considerable attention in volcano physics. Because of the generous citation of background research, each paper in itself is an excellent starting point for students and professionals to rapidly grasp the salient topics, those that have experimental and theoretical as well as observational basis for discussion. Also available: Statistics in Volcanology - ISBN 1862392080 Pyroclastic Density Currents and the Sedimentation of Ignimbrites (Geological Society Memoirs M0027) - ISBN 978-1-86239-124-6 The Geological Society of LondonFounded in 1807, the Geological Society of London is the oldest geological society in the world, and one of the largest publishers in the Earth sciences.The Society publishes a wide range of high-quality peer-reviewed titles for academics and professionals working in the geosciences, and enjoys an enviable international reputation for the quality of its work.The many areas in which we publish in include:-Petroleum geology-Tectonics, structural geology and geodynamics-Stratigraphy, sedimentology and paleontology-Volcanology, magmatic studies and geochemistry-Remote sensing-History of geology-Regional geology guides