Redefining active volcanoes: a discussion

The analysis of the current definitions of active volcanoes indicates that they are empirical, conventional, inaccurate, nongeological, and arbitrarily constraining. Redefinition is therefore needed. One possible approach is to refine the current empirical definitions. A statistically reasonable and practical redefinition using a geologically based time convention-Holocene or 10000 years-is suggested. A set of time conditions according to volcano typology-i.e. 1000; 10000 and 100000 years for high-frequency basaltic shields, andesitic-dacitic composite volcanoes and low-frequency large silicic calderas, respectively-as further refinement of the empirical definition is also envisaged. Devising a phenomenological definition as a theoretical approach is another possibility, but in practice extant diagnostic means are still unsatisfactory to discriminate accurately between dormant and extinct volcanoes. As a consequence of the redefinition, a classification of volcanoes according to their eruptive status is proposed. Redefinition of active volcanoes might increase accuracy in the usage of basic terms in volcanology and influence volcanic hazard assessment and risk mitigation projects.     

中国2007年以来全新世火山地质研究的主要进展

简要列举了近年来全新世火山地质领域的研究进展,主要涉及新确定的全新世火山、精细喷发序列与喷发频率、高分辨率火山机构多维框架研究、火山碎屑物粒度分布、形貌特征与成因、火山碎屑流、涌流和火山泥石流堆积、降落堆积成因亚类、火山活动与新构造和火山地质遗迹资源、环境及火山灾害。     

火山学述评

火山学研究有了长足的进步。本文总结近些年全球火山学研究各个方面的成果,包括对火山基本概念的新的认识、火山机构、火山的各种分类、火山岩石学和地球化学、火山岩相学、评估火山爆发大小的火山爆发指数、岩石和地球化学分类、各种常量和微量元素区分图、活火山分布与板块构造理论的关系、活火山给人类带来的灾害与利益和活火山的监测、曾经的火山活动与生物毁灭、单成因火山研究等。火山—构造是未来火山学研究的一个方向,通过火山与构造关系的研究以揭示火山的分布和地球的演化。火山喷出的岩浆是其通过地下以岩墙或管道形式为通道运移到地表的结果。中朝边境上的长白山的位置是个特例,应当值得深入的研究。中国分布有许多新生代火山,它们是否为单成因火山、这些火山在成分上是否有演化规律、它们的分布与大地构造的关系等都有待深入和系统的研究。     

Major-ion bulk deposition around an active volcano (Mt. Etna, Italy)

Bulk atmospheric deposition of major cations (Na, K, Ca, Mg) and anions (Cl, F, SO₄) were measured at 15 sites around an active volcano, Mount Etna, from 2001 to 2003. Their composition indicates several natural sources, among which deposition of plume-derived volcanogenic gas compounds is prevalent for F, Cl and S. Plume-derived acidic compounds are also responsible for the prevailing acidic composition of the samples collected on the summit of the volcano (pH in the 2.45–5.57 range). Cation species have complex origin, including deposition of plume volcanogenic ash and aerosols and soil-dust wind re-suspension of either volcanic or carbonate sedimentary rocks. Variation of the deposition rates during the March 2001–March 2003 period, coupled with previous measurements from 1997 to 2000 (Appl Geochem 16:985–1000, 2001), were compared with the variation of SO₂ flux, volcanic activity and rainfall. The deposition rate was mainly controlled by rainfall. Commonly, about 0.1–0.9% of HF, HCl and SO₂ emitted by the summit crater's plume were deposited around the volcano. We estimate that ∼2 Gg of volcanogenic sulphur were deposited over the Etnean area during the 2002–2003 flank eruption, at an average rate of ∼24 Mg day⁻¹ which is two orders of magnitude higher than that typical of quiescent degassing phases.     

Experimental simulations of gas-driven eruptions: kinetics of bubble growth and effect of geometry

 Simulated gas-driven eruptions using CO₂–water-polymer systems are reported. Eruptions are initiated by rapidly decompressing CO₂–saturated water containing up to 1.0 wt.% CO₂. Both cylindrical test cells and a flask test cell were used to examine the effect of magma chamber/conduit geometry on eruption dynamics. Bubble-growth kinetics are examined quantitatively in experiments using cylindrical test cells. Uninhibited bubble growth can be roughly expressed as dr/dt≈λD(β-1)/(γt ^1/3) for a CO₂–water-polymer system at 0–22  °C and with viscosities up to 5 Pa·s, where r is the radius of bubbles, λ and D are the Ostwald solubility coefficient and diffusivity of the gas in the liquid, β is the degree of saturation (decompression ratio), and γ characterizes how the boundary layer thickness increases with time and is roughly 1.0×10^–5 m/s^1/3 in this system. Unlike the radius of cylindrical test cells, which does not affect the eruption threshold and dynamics, the shape of the test cells (flask vs cylindrical) affects the dynamics but not the threshold of eruptions. For cylindrical test cells, the front motion is characterized by constant acceleration with both Δh (the height increase) and ΔV (the volume increase) being proportional to t ²; for the flask test cell, however, neither Δh nor ΔV is proportional to t ² as the conduit radius varies. Test-cell geometry also affects foam stability. In the flask test cell, as it moves from the wider base chamber into the narrower conduit, the bubbly flow becomes fragmented, affecting the eruption dynamics. The fragmentation may be caused by a sudden increase in acceleration induced by conduit-shape change, or by the presence of obstacles to the bubbly flow. This result may help explain the range in vesicularities of pumice and reticulite. Received: 16 May 1997 / Accepted: 11 October 1997     

Magma degassing and basaltic eruption styles: a case study of 2000 year BP Xitle volcano in central Mexico

To investigate the relationship between volatile abundances and eruption style, we have analyzed major element and volatile (H₂O, CO₂, S) concentrations in olivine-hosted melt inclusions in tephra from the 2000 yr BP eruption of Xitle volcano in the central Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. The Xitle eruption was dominantly effusive, with fluid lava flows accounting for 95% of the total dense rock erupted material (1.1 km³). However, in addition to the initial, Strombolian, cinder cone-building phase, there was a later explosive phase that interrupted effusive activity and deposited three widespread ash fall layers. Major element compositions of olivine-hosted melt inclusions from these ash layers range from 52 to 58 wt.% SiO₂, and olivine host compositions are Fo_84–86. Water concentrations in the melt inclusions are variable (0.2–1.3 wt.% H₂O), with an average of 0.45±0.3 (1σ) wt.% H₂O. Sulfur concentrations vary from below detection (50 ppm) to 1000 ppm but are mostly ≤200 ppm and show little correlation with H₂O. Only the two inclusions with the highest H₂O have detectable CO₂ (310–340 ppm), indicating inclusion entrapment at higher pressures (700–900 bars) than for the other inclusions (≤80 bars). The low and variable H₂O and S contents of melt inclusions combined with the absence of less soluble CO₂ indicates shallow-level degassing before olivine crystallization and melt inclusion formation. Olivine morphologies are consistent with the interpretation that most crystallization occurred rapidly during near-surface H₂O loss. During cinder cone eruptions, the switch from initial explosive activity to effusive eruption probably occurs when the ascent velocity of magma becomes slow enough to allow near-complete degassing of magma at shallow depths within the cone as a result of buoyantly rising gas bubbles. This allows degassed lavas to flow laterally and exit near the base of the cone while gas escapes through bubbly magma in the uppermost part of the conduit just below the crater. The major element compositions of melt inclusions at Xitle show that the short-lived phase of renewed explosive activity was triggered by a magma recharge event, which could have increased overpressure in the storage reservoir beneath Xitle, leading to increased ascent velocities and decreased time available for degassing during ascent.     

An experimental facility for investigating hydromagmatic eruptions at high-pressure and high-temperature with application to the importance of magma porosity for magma-water interaction

An experimental facility has been developed to investigate magma-water interaction (MWI). The facility operates in a high-pressure and high-temperature environment, with temperatures up to 1,200°C and pressures up to 200 MPa. Cylindrical sample-holders (20 by 180 mm in size) are heated conductively to yield a three phase (melt, crystals and gas) system, and then water (or other fluid) is injected into the sample through a capillary tube (diameter 0.5 mm, length ca. 1,000 mm) under controlled conditions. Pressure, volume and temperature changes are continuously recorded during every phase of the experiments. To test this facility, MWI is studied at subliquidus temperatures (800 and 900°C) and pressure (8 MPa), using a leucite tephrite sample with two different initial grain sizes. Because of the grain-size dependence of sintering, the two starting materials produce magmas with different textures at the same temperature: porous magma for large initial grain sizes and dense magma for small initial grain sizes. In these experiments 1.5 g of water at room temperature is injected into 6.0 g of partially molten sample at velocities ranging from 1 to 3 m/s. We find that the extent of fragmentation and transport caused by MWI are mainly controlled by the texture of the interacting sample with explosive interaction occurring only for porous magmas.     

First historical evidence of a significant Mt. Etna eruption in 1224

The 1224 Mt. Etna eruption is a significant event both in terms of the mass of erupted materials and because it involved the lower eastern slope of the volcano, reaching down to the sea. Nevertheless, it is unknown to current historical catalogues. According to the historical sources, only two other lava flows actually reached as far as the sea: in 396 BC, just north of the present-day inhabited area of Acireale, according to the geological data alone, and in 1669, when the lava covered the south-eastern flank of Mt. Etna and damaged Catania. We present and discuss the two medieval sources that attest to the eruption of 1224 and make available the original texts. Furthermore, through the close analysis of the historical and topographic context of the Etna area, taking account of the roads and ports in the early 13th century, we have tried to single out the possible area of the lava's outlet into the sea in 1224 on historical grounds. A repeat of an eruption similar to that of 1224 would have a serious impact today as the coast is densely populated.