"explosion-dominated" eruptions are the most pronounced of io's eruption styles. these eruptions, sometimes called "outburst" eruptions from their earth-based detections, are characterized by their short duration (lasting only weeks or months), rapid onset, large volumetric flow rates, and high thermal emission. they lead to a short-lived, significant increase in io's overall brightness in the near-infrared. the most powerful volcanic eruption observed on io was an "outburst" eruption at surt, observed by earth-based astronomers on february 22, 2001.