Title | Anatomy of a submarine pyroclastic flow and associated turbidity current: July 2003 dome collapse, Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat, West Indies |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2008 |
Authors | Trofimovs, J, R. Sparks, SJohn, Talling, PJ |
Journal | Sedimentology |
Volume | 55 |
Pagination | 617-634 |
ISBN Number | 1365-3091 |
Keywords | Granular flow, Montserrat, Soufrière Hills Volcano, Submarine pyroclastic flow, turbidity current |
Abstract | The 12 to 13 July 2003 andesite lava dome collapse at the Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat, provides the first opportunity to document comprehensively both the sub-aerial and submarine sequence of events for an eruption. Numerous pyroclastic flows entered the ocean during the collapse, depositing approximately 90% of the total material into the submarine environment. During peak collapse conditions, as the main flow penetrated the air–ocean interface, phreatic explosions were observed and a surge cloud decoupled from the main flow body to travel 2 to 3 km over the ocean surface before settling. The bulk of the flow was submerged and rapidly mixed with sea water forming a water-saturated mass flow. Efficient sorting and physical differentiation occurred within the flow before initial deposition at 500 m water depth. The coarsest components (∼60% of the total volume) were deposited proximally from a dense granular flow, while the finer components (∼40%) were efficiently elutriated into the overlying part of the flow, which evolved into a far-reaching turbidity current. |
URL | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.2007.00914.x |
- Log in to post comments
- Google Scholar