Volcanic flank collapse: diversity of behaviour, hazard generation and controls on volcano evolution
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Sch of Ocean and Earth Science
Abstract
The collapse of volcanoes, resulting from instability, can lead to extremely large landslides. These form avalanches of rock that may travel outwards for tens of kilometres. The impacts of such events can be devastating, destroying all in their path. Such debris avalanches have occurred many times in the past. Field evidence indicates the presence of their deposits around volcanoes worldwide. In some cases, these large landslides may be accompanied by eruption, but at other times, they may occur without a clear link to volcanic activity. Thus, there are different types of edifice collapse that may generate debris avalanches. In addition to generating debris avalanches, the collapse of a portion of a volcano can lead to changes in the subsequent activity of the volcano itself. This change in eruptive behaviour results means that the types of hazard posed by a particular volcanic system may switch through time, as part of a cycle of volcano construction and destruction. Volcanic hazards, related both to landslides and eruption, are at present unpredictable. Only by understanding in more detail the causes of failure, and how failure relates to the hazardous potential of these large landslides, can our forecasting capacity be improved. This project aims to improve our overall understanding of how volcanic debris avalanches are generated, and how different causes or types of collapse result in a range of hazards posed by avalanches. These hazards can be assessed in terms of the timing, style and size of events. The project also aims to place the collapse of volcanoes within the process of volcano formation and destruction. This can be done through understanding how collapse affects magma stored beneath the volcano, and thereby influences later volcanic activity and development. These relationships are fundamental to understanding volcanism. The approach this project will take is to incorporate existing data, from numerous detailed studies of individual volcanoes, with new data from well-known debris avalanche deposits and volcano collapses. I will assess these data for general relationships and patterns relating to the causes of collapse and avalanche processes. The selected field sites are in Mexico and Chile, where several examples of volcanic collapses are well exposed. By taking field-based and chemical measurements, debris avalanches can be placed in a time-context with activity at the collapsed volcano. Additionally, chemical data can be used to understand how magma beneath the volcano has changed through time, in terms of its storage conditions, mixing and ascent. Such data therefore provide information relating to the evolution of volcanoes through time, and how this evolution is impacted by collapse. The field and laboratory results will be strengthened by the application of calculations and models that show how collapse alters the stress and pressure conditions beneath volcanoes. Hence, changes in volcano evolution can be interpreted in light of quantitative data, and relationships between sizes and types of collapse and changes in volcanic behaviour can be better understood. This approach is important for understanding the potential types and impacts of volcanic hazards at individual volcanoes, and how these may differ through time. Further developments of this work will be to apply these finding to understand the behaviour of debris avalanches and their associated hazards in different environments. Such hazards may include changes in debris avalanche flow behaviour, or tsunami generation when debris avalanches interact with water.
Organisations
- University of Southampton (Lead Research Organisation)
- National Autonomous University of Mexico (Collaboration)
- National Geology and Mining Service (Collaboration)
- University of Savoy (Collaboration)
- University of Bremen (Collaboration)
- Bandung Institute of Technology (Collaboration)
- Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Sebastian Watt (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Cassidy M
(2013)
Timing and emplacement dynamics of newly recognised mass flow deposits at ~8-12ka offshore Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat: How submarine stratigraphy can complement subaerial eruption histories
in Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
Cassidy M
(2014)
Construction of volcanic records from marine sediment cores: A review and case study (Montserrat, West Indies)
in Earth-Science Reviews
Cassidy M
(2014)
Chapter 20 Multi-stage collapse events in the South Soufrière Hills, Montserrat as recorded in marine sediment cores
in Geological Society, London, Memoirs
Coussens M
(2016)
The relationship between eruptive activity, flank collapse, and sea level at volcanic islands: A long-term (>1 Ma) record offshore Montserrat, Lesser Antilles
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Coussens M
(2017)
Long-term changes in explosive and effusive behaviour at andesitic arc volcanoes: Chronostratigraphy of the Centre Hills Volcano, Montserrat
in Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
Karstens J
(2019)
From gradual spreading to catastrophic collapse - Reconstruction of the 1888 Ritter Island volcanic sector collapse from high-resolution 3D seismic data
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Karstens J
(2020)
Combining 3D seismics, eyewitness accounts and numerical simulations to reconstruct the 1888 Ritter Island sector collapse and tsunami
in International Journal of Earth Sciences
Marino G
(2015)
Bipolar seesaw control on last interglacial sea level.
in Nature
Talling P
(2014)
Large Submarine Landslides on Continental Slopes: Geohazards, Methane Release, and Climate Change
in Oceanography
Wall-Palmer D
(2014)
Late Pleistocene stratigraphy of IODP Site U1396 and compiled chronology offshore of south and south west Montserrat, Lesser Antilles
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Description | See later entry for equivalent award - NE/I02044X/2 |
Exploitation Route | See later entry for equivalent award - NE/I02044X/2 |
Sectors | Environment |
Description | Please see later entry for the equivalent award (NE/I02044X/2) (award transferred to a different institution - full entry is provided in this transferred version of the award) |
Description | Emplacement dynamics of debris avalanches and submarine landslides at Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat |
Amount | £70,987 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/K000403/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2012 |
End | 01/2014 |
Description | Collapse processes at Jocotitlan and Colima, Mexico |
Organisation | National Autonomous University of Mexico |
Country | Mexico |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Ongoing research into collapse at Mexican volcanoes |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Impacts of volcano collapse at Antuco volcano |
Organisation | National Geology and Mining Service |
Country | Chile |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Ongoing research, in collaboration with Hugo Moreno (Servicio Nacional de Geologia y Mineria, Temuco, Chile) |
Collaborator Contribution | Sharing of data and transfer of findings, via their associated work, to governmental organisation (SERNAGEOMIN, Chile) |
Impact | NA |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Landslide processes offshore Montserrat |
Organisation | University of Bremen |
Department | MARUM |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Participation in Marine research expedition M154/2 (RV Meteor) offshore Montserrat in 2018. This built on results arising from the NERC-funded project, and will continue to do so via a German-funded PhD project. |
Collaborator Contribution | Participation in marine research expedition as sedimentologist, including planning of sites, description of cores and samples, and involvement with post-expedition research proposal (leading to funded PhD project). |
Impact | TBC |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Numerical modelling of volcanic collapse processes and impact on subsurface magma storage systems |
Organisation | University of Savoy |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Hosted for several weeks at Universite de Savoie to use facilities and develop updated numerical models of magma storage systems |
Collaborator Contribution | Models developed by V. Pinel, Universite de Savoie. Training provided. |
Impact | NA |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Ritter Island volcanic collapse processes |
Organisation | Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres |
Department | Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Development of new proposal and associated reserach to complement planned research into collapse deposits around Ritter Island |
Collaborator Contribution | Sharing of data and results from forthcoming research cruise into deposits offshore Ritter Island (seismic data), including participation in research. |
Impact | NA |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Volcanic eruption processes at Krakatau volcano, Indonesia |
Organisation | Bandung Institute of Technology |
Country | Indonesia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Through this project we have strengthened research collaborations with the Bandung Institute of Technology (Mirzam Abdurrachman), which has built on previous partnerships developed by a co-investigator on the project (M Cassidy). The team from Bandung offered substantial field support in Indonesia during this project, and research support (leading the drone based element of the research project), and we are continuing to work together on outputs from this project. The collaboration has also led to an upcoming research visit and is likely to support future research in the region between the two teams. We have shared data and samples resulting from the field survey, presented a series of talks in Bandung, and will continue to analyse and publish results together. |
Collaborator Contribution | As noted above, the partners contributed significantly to field support and led the drone-based part of the field survey; they have also contributed subsequent data and samples to the project, and the Indonesian and UK teams are continuing to work together on the project. |
Impact | The collaboration is not multi-disciplinary. Co-authored research publications are in preparation and will be reported here in due course. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Media coverage of project related research at AGU conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Outputs from this research project, alongside other NERC funded reserach projects investigating Krakatau (Tappin et al., eruption generated tsunamis; and Hunt et al., marine survey of Anak Krakatau) was covered widely following presentations at the AGU conference. This included articles on several international websites and a discussion on a BBC radio programme. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Multiple public talks and exhibits related to the research project (West Midlands region) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Several talks and outreach events have been given by the investigators involved in this project. Examples include an exhibit at a recent arts and science evening event (Lapworth Lates) held in the Lapworth Museum, Birmingham, where an exhibit showed samples, video and images relating to the research, as a starting point to stimulate discussions with a broad public audience. Other examples include a presentation of the reserach at the upcoming Pint of Science festival (Birmingham), and a talk to school and local interest groups at the Shropshire Geological Society. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020,2021,2022 |
Description | Series of public reserach talks at Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Following the field element of this project in Indonesia, and building on our partnership with Indonesian collaborators, four members of the reserach team presented a series of talks at Bandung Intsitute of Technology, Indonesia, about the aims of the project and initial results. The talks were given in the university but also live-streamed to a public audience. Following the talks, there was an open discussion between the speakers and the audience, including several questions from the public audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.itb.ac.id/news/read/57208/home/peneliti-itb-bersama-para-geologist-inggris-lakukan-penel... |