Changes in eruptive style during the A.D. 1538 Monte Nuovo eruption (Phlegrean Fields, Italy): the role of syn-eruptive crystallization

The Monte Nuovo eruption is the most recent event that occurred at Phlegrean Fields (Italy) and lasted from 29 September to 6 October 1538. It was characterized by 2 days of quasi-sustained phreatomagmatic activity generating pumice-bearing pyroclastic density currents and forming a 130-m-high tuff cone (Lower Member deposits). The activity resumed after a pause of 2 days with two discrete Vulcanian explosions that emplaced radially distributed, scoria-bearing pyroclastic flows (Upper Member deposits). The juvenile products of Lower and Upper Members are, respectively, phenocryst-poor, light-coloured pumice and dark scoria fragments with K-phonolitic bulk compositions, identical in terms of both major and trace elements. Groundmass is formed by variable proportions of K-feldspar and glass, along with minor sodalite and Fe-Ti oxide present in the most crystallized samples. Investigations of groundmass compositions and textures were performed to assess the mechanisms of magma ascent, degassing and fragmentation along the conduit and implications for the eruptive dynamics. In pumice of the Lower Member groundmass crystal content increases from 13 to 28 vol% from the base to the top of the sequence. Products of the Upper Member consist of clasts with a groundmass crystal content between 30 and 40 vol% and of totally crystallized fragments. Crystal size distributions of groundmass feldspars shift from a single population at the base of the Lower Member to a double population in the remaining part of the sequence. The average size of both populations regularly increases from the Lower to the Upper Member. Crystal number density increases by two orders of magnitude from the Lower to the Upper Member, suggesting that nucleation dominated during the second phase of the eruption. The overall morphological, compositional and textural data suggest that the juvenile components of the Monte Nuovo eruption are likely to record variations of the magma properties within the conduit. The different textures of pumice clasts from the Lower Member possibly reflect horizontal gradients of the physical properties (P, T) of the ascending magma column, while scoriae from the second phase are thought to result from the disruption of a slowly rising plug crystallizing in response to degassing. In particular, crystal size distribution data point to syn-eruptive degassing-induced crystallization as responsible for the transition in eruptive style from the first to the second phase of the eruption. This mechanism not only has been proved to profoundly affect the dynamics of dome-forming calc-alkaline eruptions, but may also have a strong influence in driving the eruption dynamics of alkaline magmas of intermediate to evolved compositions.Editorial responsibility: J. Donnelly-Nolan     

Ubinas: the evolution of the historically most active volcano in southern Peru

Ubinas volcano has had 23 degassing and ashfall episodes since A.D. 1550, making it the historically most active volcano in southern Peru. Based on fieldwork, on interpretation of aerial photographs and satellite images, and on radiometric ages, the eruptive history of Ubinas is divided into two major periods. Ubinas I (Middle Pleistocene >376 ka) is characterized by lava flow activity that formed the lower part of the edifice. This edifice collapsed and resulted in a debris-avalanche deposit distributed as far as 12 km downstream the Rio Ubinas. Non-welded ignimbrites were erupted subsequently and ponded to a thickness of 150 m as far as 7 km south of the summit. These eruptions probably left a small collapse caldera on the summit of Ubinas I. A 100-m-thick sequence of ash-and-pumice flow deposits followed, filling paleo-valleys 6 km from the summit. Ubinas II, 376 ky to present comprises several stages. The summit cone was built by andesite and dacite flows between 376 and 142 ky. A series of domes grew on the southern flank and the largest one was dated at 250 ky; block-and-ash flow deposits from these domes filled the upper Rio Ubinas valley 10 km to the south. The summit caldera was formed between 25 and 9.7 ky. Ash-flow deposits and two Plinian deposits reflect explosive eruptions of more differentiated magmas. A debris-avalanche deposit (about 1.2 km³) formed hummocks at the base of the 1,000-m-high, fractured and unstable south flank before 3.6 ka. Countless explosive events took place inside the summit caldera during the last 9.7 ky. The last Plinian eruption, dated A.D.1000–1160, produced an andesitic pumice-fall deposit, which achieved a thickness of 25 cm 40 km SE of the summit. Minor eruptions since then show phreatomagmatic characteristics and a wide range in composition (mafic to rhyolitic): the events reported since A.D. 1550 include many degassing episodes, four moderate (VEI 2–3) eruptions, and one VEI 3 eruption in A.D. 1667. Ubinas erupted high-K, calc-alkaline magmas (SiO₂=56 to 71%). Magmatic processes include fractional crystallization and mixing of deeply derived mafic andesites in a shallow magma chamber. Parent magmas have been relatively homogeneous through time but reflect variable conditions of deep-crustal assimilation, as shown in the large variations in Sr/Y and LREE/HREE. Depleted HREE and Y values in some lavas, mostly late mafic rocks, suggest contamination of magmas near the base of the >60-km-thick continental crust. The most recently erupted products (mostly scoria) show a wide range in composition and a trend towards more mafic magmas.Recent eruptions indicate that Ubinas poses a severe threat to at least 5,000 people living in the valley of the Rio Ubinas, and within a 15-km radius of the summit. The threat includes thick tephra falls, phreatomagmatic ejecta, failure of the unstable south flank with subsequent debris avalanches, rain-triggered lahars, and pyroclastic flows. Should Plinian eruptions of the size of the Holocene events recur at Ubinas, tephra fall would affect about one million people living in the Arequipa area 60 km west of the summit.Editorial responsibility: D Dingwell     

Magma movements in Etna volcano associated with the major 1991–1993 lava eruption: evidence from gravity and deformation

The 1991–1993 eruption was probably the largest on Mt. Etna for 300 years. Since then the volcano has entered an unusually quiescent period. A comprehensive record of gravity and ground deformation changes presented here bracket this eruption and give valuable insight into magma movements before, during and after the eruption. The gravity and deformation changes observed before the eruption (1990–1991) record the intrusion of magma into the summit feeder and the SSE-trending fracture system which had recently been active in 1978, 1979, 1983 and 1989, creating the feeder dyke for the 1991–1993 eruption. In the summit region gravity changes between 1992 and 1993 (spanning the end of the eruption) reflect the withdrawal of magma from the conduit followed more recently (1993–1994) by the re-filling of magma in the conduit up to pre-eruption levels. In contrast, in the vicinity of the fracture zone, gravity has remained at the 1991–1992 level, indicating that no withdrawal has occurred here. Rather, magma has solidified in the fracture system and sealed it such that the 1993–1994 increase in magma level in the conduit was not accompanied by further intrusion into the flanks. Mass calculations suggest that a volume of at least 10⁷ m³ of magma has solidified within the southeastern flank of the volcano.     

Silicic magma entering a basaltic magma chamber: eruptive dynamics and magma mixing — an example from Salina (Aeolian islands,Southern Tyrrhenian Sea)

The Pollara tuff-ring resulted from two explosive eruptions whose deposits are separated by a paleosol 13 Ka old. The oldest deposits (LPP, about 0.2 km³) consist of three main fall units (A, B, C) deposited from a subplinian column whose height (7–14 km) increased with time from A to C, as a consequence of the increased magma discharge rate during the eruption (1–8x10⁶ kg/s). A highly variable juvenile population characterizes the eruption. Black, dense, highly porphyritic, mafic ejecta (SiO₂=50–55%) almost exclusively form A deposits, whereas grey, mildly vesiculated, mildly porphyritic pumice (SiO₂=56–67%) and white, highly vesiculated, nearly aphyric pumice (SiO₂=66–71%) predominate in B and C respectively. Mafic cumulates are abundant in A, while crystalline lithic ejecta first appear in B and increase upward. The LPP result from the emptying of an unusual and unstable, compositionally zoned, shallow magma chamber in which high density mafic melts capped low density salic ones. Evidence of the existence of a short crystal fractionation series is found in the mafic rocks; the andesitic pumice results from complete blending between rhyolitic and variously fractionated mafic melts (salic component up to 60 wt%), whereas bulk dacitic compositions mainly result from the presence of mafic xenocrysts within rhyolitic glasses. Viscosity and composition-mixing diagrams show that blended liquids formed when the visosities of the two end members had close values. The following model is suggested: 1. A rhyolitic magma rising through the metamorphic basement enterrd a mafic magma chamber whose souter portions were occupied by a highly viscous, mafic crystal mush. 2. Under the pressure of the rhyolitic body the nearly rigid mush was pushed upwards and mafic melts were squeezed against the walls of the chamber, beginning roof fracturing and mingling with silicic melts. 3. When the equilibrium temperature was reached between mafic and silicic melts, blended liquids rapidly formed. 4. When fractures reached the surface, the eruption began by the ejection of the mafic melts and crystal mush (A), followed by the emission of variously mingled and blended magmas (B) and ended by the ejection of nearly unmixed rhyolitic magma (C).     

北部湾涠洲岛及斜阳岛火山地质与喷发历史研究

涠洲岛及斜阳岛是北部湾内一对姊妹火山岛，本文采用火山岩K-Ar法，火山岩中砂岩捕掳体光释光法（OSL）和贝壳^14C法分别测定了火山活动的年代，结合火山岩地质特征，将涠洲岛火山活动初步划分为早-中更新世（1．42Ma-0．49Ma）和晚更新世末期（36ka-33ka）两期。早-中更新世溢流玄武质熔岩盾造就了涠洲岛及斜阳岛，从涠洲岛横路山锅盖岭盾形火山锥溢出的熔岩流向四周漫流，形成涠洲岛中心高四周低的盾形火山地形，其晚阶段球状风化玄武岩沿涠洲岛潮间带分布。晚更新世末期涠洲岛南湾火山和斜阳岛斜阳村火山射气岩浆喷发，间有岩浆喷发，形成典型的低平火山口和巨厚基浪堆积几乎覆盖两岛，经历了海蚀作用，塑造了两岛现代地貌景观。     

火山通道岩浆流动动力学模型在天池火山喷发过程中的应用

在圆柱形火山通道的下部,岩浆上升速度与岩浆粘度、密度及压力有关。这时的流体动力学过程可以应用一般的牛顿流体模型。火山通道中部气泡化岩浆上升时,液相和气相的转化符合质量守恒方程,混合相总体符合动量守恒方程。其中气泡形成与生长过程符合达西定律与数密度方程。在火山通道靠上部的碎屑化带里,不同组分符合质量守恒方程,混合相总体符合动量守恒方程。天池火山千年大喷发时,通道直径是62m。岩浆房内的岩浆含有约3%体积百分数的气泡,气泡体积在65%时岩浆破碎,颗粒离开通道时的速度是145ms~(-1),而气体离开通道时的速度是170ms~(-1)。气体颗粒分散相出口压力是12.2MPa。在破火山口塌陷之前,岩浆房内气泡体积可高达30%～40%。与此同时,碎屑化发生时岩浆的孔隙度也增加到70%～75%左右。这时的出口压力降低至7～8MPa,出口气体速度增加到180ms~(-1)。气象站碱流质寄生火山喷发对应的喷发通道直径是40m,喷发以气体出口速度15～25ms~(-1)的弱爆破性喷发和侵出式喷发为特征。这时浮岩的孔隙度比千年大喷发的孔隙度低,为48%～61%,而浮岩密度高,为1.01～1.35gcm~(-3)。在侵出相喷发时最高释放率可以达到42m~3s~(-1)(致密岩石当量 DRE),孔隙度变化范围是70%～80%。     

生态系统可持续管理的对策

简要介绍了千年生态系统评估(MA)项目对策工作组的报告《生态系统与人类福祉:政策响应》的核心内容.MA的评估结果显示,在过去的50年里,60%的生态系统服务已经出现下降或不可持续利用的状况,而且许多生态系统服务在未来50年内仍会急剧下降,这将严重威胁联合国千年发展目标的实现.但是,MA认为通过对当前的政策、制度和行为习惯进行重大调整,仍然可望在满足对生态系统服务不断增长的需求的同时,减缓和扭转生态系统的退化趋势.基于这一认识,MA的对策工作组通过分析过去和当前用于生态系统管理的各种对策的优点与缺点,指出了生态系统可持续管理的障碍;确定了制度与管理对策、经济与激励对策、社会与行为对策、技术对策以及知识与认知对策方面可望改善生态系统管理状况的一系列干预措施;并提出了设计生态系统可持续管理的决策的基本原则以及有助于制定生态系统管理决策的有效手段.     

The millennium eruption of Hekla in February 2000

The 18th historic eruption of Hekla started on 26 February, 2000. It was a short-lived but intense event, emitting basaltic andesitic (55.5 wt% SiO₂) pyroclastic fragments and lava. During the course of the eruption, monitoring was done by both instruments and direct observations, together providing unique insight into the current activity of Hekla. During the 12-day eruption, a total of 0.189 km³ DRE of magma was emitted. The eruptive fissure split into five segments. The segments at the highest altitude were active during the first hours, while the segments at lower altitude continued throughout the eruption. The eruption started in a highly explosive manner giving rise to a Subplinian eruptive column and consequent basaltic pyroclastic flows fed by column collapses. After the explosive phase reached its maximum, the eruption went through three more phases, namely fire-fountaining, Strombolian bursts and lava effusion. In this paper, we describe the course of events of the eruption of Hekla and the origin of its magma, and then show that the discharge rate can be linked to different style of eruptive activity, which are controlled by fissure geometry. We also show that the eruption phases observed at Hekla can be linked with inferred magma chamber overpressure prior to the eruption.     

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Response Strategies of China

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) which launched in 2015 inherited, extended and developed the merits of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in 2000. By the analysis of SDG goals, it can be found that SDG has mainly covered the securities of food supplies, disease prevention, social justice and human rights, the securities of water, energy, land and eco-environment. It covers the human, social, economic, and eco-environmental dimensions. To achieve it, the SDG should be localized and coordinated with the long-term development strategies of Chinese government. And the goals should be integrated into the policies and engineering projects of China simultaneously. By multilaterally cooperating with international communities and sharing the development experiences of other countries/regions, and confronting global issues together, the SDG can be achieved eventually by all the countries of the world.