Paroxysm
Volcano Learning zone > Volcano Glossary
![Paroxysm of Mt Etna ( source unknown)](volcanoimages/etna2009medium.png)
A paroxysm is a sudden, violent and dramatic volcanic eruption.
There can be dramatic lava fountaining 1000 s of feet into the air. Ash clouds can extend 10 000s of feet into the upper atmosphere. M Etna is jnown for its sudden and dramatic lava fountains.