A new 40Ar/39Ar eruption age for the Mount Widderin volcano,Newer Volcanic Province,Australia, with implications for eruption frequency in the region

The Mount Widderin shield volcano is located near Skipton, western Victoria, in the Western Plains subprovince of the monogenetic Pliocene–Holocene Newer Volcanic Province (NVP). Radiometric ages for lavas in the Hamilton–Skipton–Derrinallum area are few, owing to limited suitable outcrop for K–Ar or ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology studies. Existing age constraints for flows in this area have been inferred from Regolith Landform Units (RLUs), complemented by a small number of K–Ar studies on ≥1 Ma flows. Although the RLU approach provides a valuable overview of relative eruption ages across the NVP, it is of limited use in eruption frequency studies. Additional radio-isotopic ages are required to refine age ranges for individual RLUs, and to validate previous assignment of individual flows to specific RLUs. We report a new, high-precision ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 389 ± 8 ka (2σ) for a Mount Widderin basalt sample. Based on this age and geomorphic observations, we propose that both the Widderin and Elephant lava flows be reassigned from the Eccles RLU to the Rouse RLU. We use the 389 ± 8 ka (2σ) age for Widderin, along with published K–Ar ages, to anchor a stratigraphic sequence of 15 individual flows in the Hamilton–Skipton–Derrinallum area, demonstrating that intermittent volcanism has occurred in this area from ≥3 Ma to ≤0.389 Ma. Within the limits of available data for the NVP, this time span of volcanic activity is second only to that of the Melbourne area. We consider the significance of the Widderin eruption age, in conjunction with published age constraints for maars and scoria cones of the Western Plains subprovince, building on previous studies that have focused solely on lava flow ages. The inclusion of the additional data weakens the argument for a decrease in volcanic activity after ca 0.9 Ma as implied by published ages for lava flows only. Additional detailed combined geochronology–geomorphology studies of lavas, scoria cones and maars in strategically selected small areas are advocated to better understand eruption frequency across the NVP.     

Volcanoes and Climate: Sizing up the Impact of the Recent Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Volcanic Eruption from a Historical Perspective

An undersea volcano at Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai (HTHH) near the South Pacific island nation of Tonga, erupted violently on 15 January 2022. Potential climate impact of the HTHH volcanic eruption is of great concern to the public; here, we intend to size up the impact of the HTHH eruption from a historical perspective. The influence of historical volcanic eruptions on the global climate are firstly reviewed, which are thought to have contributed to decreased surface temperature, increased stratospheric temperature, suppressed global water cycle, weakened monsoon circulation and El Ni?o-like sea surface temperature. Our understanding of the impacts of past volcanic eruptions on global-scale climate provides potential implication to evaluate the impact of the HTHH eruption. Based on historical simulations, we estimate that the current HTHH eruption with an intensity of 0.4 Tg SO₂ injection will decrease the global mean surface temperature by only 0.004°C in the first year after eruption, which is within the amplitude of internal variability at the interannual time scale and thus not strong enough to have significant impacts on the global climate.     

Use of Remote Imagery to Analyse Changes in Morphology and Longitudinal Large Wood Distribution in the Blanco River After the 2008 Chaitén Volcanic Eruption,Southern Chile

The 2008 Chaitén volcanic eruption generated significant changes in the channel morphology and large wood (LW) abundance along the fluvial corridor of the Blanco River, southern Chile. Comparisons of remote sensing images from the pre‐eruption (year 2005) and post‐eruption (years 2009 and 2012) conditions showed that in a 10.2 km long study segment the Blanco River widened 3.5 times from 2005 to 2009, and that the maximum enlargement was nine times the original width. Changes in channel width were lower between the years 2012 and 2009. The sinuosity and braiding indexes also changed between 2005 and 2009. After the eruption the channel sinuosity was higher and specific river reaches developed a braided pattern, but by 2012 the channel was recovering pre‐eruption characteristics. Huge quantities of LW were introduced to the study segment; individual LW per km of channel length were 1.6 and 74.3 in 2005 and 2009, respectively, and more than 30 log jams km^?1 were observed in the year 2009. Between 2009 and 2012 the quantity of LW was very similar. Statistically significant relationships were found between the number of log jams and channel sinuosity and between the number of pieces of large wood with sinuosity and channel width. Wood was highly dynamic between 2009 and 2012: 78% of individual pieces and 48% of log jams identified in the 2009 image had moved by 2012. Finally the supervised classification of imagery associated with ArcMap tools was tested to identify large wood.     

Earthquake triggering of mud volcanoes

Mud volcanoes sometimes erupt within days after nearby earthquakes. The number of such nearly coincident events is larger than would be expected by chance and the eruptions are thus assumed to be triggered by earthquakes. Here we compile observations of the response of mud volcanoes and other geologic systems (earthquakes, volcanoes, liquefaction, ground water, and geysers) to earthquakes. The compilation shows a clear magnitude–distance threshold for triggering, suggesting that these seemingly disparate phenomena may share similar underlying triggering mechanisms. The compilation also shows that pre-existing geysers and already-erupting volcanoes and mud volcanoes are much more sensitive to earthquakes than quiescent systems.     

喀拉喀托火山喷发过程与巽他海啸成因

介绍了2018年12月22日发生的巽他海峡喀拉喀托火山喷发的过程及其火山监测情况,并提取了欧空局哨兵1A遥感卫星在火山喷发前后的遥感影像,通过遥感影像的对比分析获得了火山锥体的坍塌范围;使用3DAnalyst软件模块对坍塌部分的DEM影像进行分析,计算出海平面以上火山锥体的坍塌体积约为54000000m3,海面以下崩塌锥体体积更加巨大,崩塌导致火山周围水体发生激荡形成海浪,海浪相干传播至周边海岸附近引发了巽他海峡海啸;海啸灾害主要发生在印尼万丹省西冷县和板底兰县西部沿海,与根据火山喷发引发海啸的传播路径推测的受灾地区基本一致。     

A discriminatory diagram of massive versus stratified deposits based on the sedimentation and bedload transportation rates. Experimental investigation and application to pyroclastic density currents

Dense gas-particle jets similar to collapsing eruption columns were generated by large-scale experiments. The column collapse resulted in a ground-hugging current forming stratified layers with bedding similar to natural pyroclastic density current deposits. At the impact of the collapsing column on the ground, a thick, massive bed was formed due to a high sedimentation rate that dumped turbulence due to high clast concentration. Down-current, flow expansion favoured turbulence and dilute gas-particle current that formed thin rippled layers deposited under traction. Experiments fed with fine ash (median size 0·066 mm) formed deposits without tractional structures, because fine particles, as other sedimentary fine material, is cohesive and exposes a limited surface to the shear stress. Experimental outcomes show that massive beds are formed where the sedimentation rate per unit width S_rw exceeds the bedload transportation rate Q_b by two orders of magnitude. A lower ratio generates traction at the base of the flow and formation of shear structures that increase in wavelength and height with a decreasing flux. This study presents a diagram that provides a useful addition for facies analysis of pyroclastic density currents, provided that deposits representing sustained sedimentation can be identified in the field. In the diagram a decrease in the S_rw/Q_b ratio corresponds to an increase in bedform size. Application of the diagram for hazard assessment purposes allows the reconstruction of the mass eruption rate of the Agnano–Monte Spina eruption at Campi Flegrei, which is the main variable defining the intensity of past eruptions, and of the Bingham rheology of the massive underflow of the Mercato pyroclastic density current at Vesuvius.     

公元1500—2000年印度尼西亚—菲律宾强火山喷发对中国中东部旱涝格局的影响*

强火山活动是气候变化的重要自然驱动因素,可导致中国降水出现年际或年代际变化,甚至极端的旱涝现象。探究位于中国邻域的印度尼西亚—菲律宾一带的强火山喷发与中国旱涝分布格局的关系,有助于阐释中国旱涝发生的时空规律及机制,为预测未来火山爆发可能导致的降水异常提供借鉴。本文基于1500—2000年期间世界强火山活动和中国旱涝资料,运用时序叠加分析的方法辨识了印度尼西亚—菲律宾一带的强火山喷发后中国旱涝在年际尺度上的时空变化特征,并对1815年Tambora火山喷发进行案例分析。结果表明印度尼西亚—菲律宾一带的强火山喷发对中国的旱涝格局有一定的影响:强火山喷发后第0年至第2年,中国中东部各站点的整体变化为偏涝;在第3年,整体出现了偏旱的转变,且变化幅度相比其他年份较大;就地区而言,喷发后华北、华南地区分别出现了由旱转涝、由涝转旱的变化,并且这些变化大概持续了2~3年,随后2个区域均恢复了喷发前的旱涝趋势;印度尼西亚1815年Tambora火山喷发后0~3年,中国以涝情为主,但发生涝情的区域逐年在发生变化。     

中国历史文献中的异常大气光象记载与世界火山活动

中国历史文献记载的某些异常曙暮光、日月和天空颜色异常现象,可能是在适宜条件下由重大的火山喷发产生的火山尘幕所致.将15世纪以后的这类异常大气光象记载与世界重大火山活动的记录详细对比,发现1525年、1638年、1640年、1853年、1883年、1911年等年份多处地点观测到的异常大气光象与世界重大火山活动有很好的对应关系.以1883年和1640年为例,从火山的喷发时间、地理位置和大气环流条件等方面,推证这些异常的大气光象是火山尘幕的影响所致.认为这类历史记载可以作为火山活动的间接证据,从而为搜寻早期重大火山活动信息提示了新途径.     

关于2003年10～11月日地关系重大事件研究综述

发生于2003年10～11月许许多多日地关系重大事件,西方称为万圣节日地事件或风暴(Halloween Events 或Halloween Storms),并予以特别关注.本文综述对这次日地重大事件的国际集会讨论和公开出版的文献,在太阳爆发方面包括：（1）太阳活动区与耀斑;（2）日冕物质抛射CMEs;（3）日冕激波;（4）太阳高能粒子SFPs;（5）活动区能量与面积、耀斑大小和CME速率.在日球层与地球物理效应方面,包括：（1）日球层响应;（2）大磁暴与宇宙线磁层效应;（3）热层与电离层效应;（4）白天极光、臭氧亏损;（5）中国学者工作.期望我国在此基础上积极开展工作和取得创新.     

火山喷发和太阳活动对我国温度影响的研究

利用特征向量分析、时序叠加分析和谱分析相结合的方法,给出了近５０年来我国地面气温场中较为清晰的火山喷发和太阳活动信号。强烈的火山喷发导致全国大部分地区降温,降温最明显的时段是喷发１年多以后,并能持续约半年。除这个主信号以外,青藏高原、东南沿海和东北地区都可能出现较为复杂的温度变化。温度变化与太阳活动之间的联系更多地反映在二者的振荡关系上。