Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6443148 | Earth-Science Reviews | 2014 | 20 Pages |
Abstract
Assessing the relative importance of various triggers of volcanic eruptions has been hampered because of the lack of a general model that allows a quantitative comparison in an unbiased form. In this paper the most important triggers of volcanic eruptions are examined using a general reference framework that visualizes volcanic eruptions as the final event on a chain of causality. Based on this general framework, a hierarchical classification of triggers is proposed. First and second order triggers are defined as processes capable to initiate the rupture of the walls of a magma reservoir, regardless of whether the tapped magma can reach the surface or not. Third order triggers are those taking place only after the rupture of the walls of a magma reservoir has occurred, but are important in determining whether the tapped magma actually reaches the surface. A fundamental trigger is defined as any first order trigger that also can provide enough energy to feed a volcanic eruption even in the absence of third order triggers. The assessment of the relative importance of triggers is done by considering the whole range of depths from which a volcanic eruption is likely to have been fed, including magma reservoirs located deeper than 150Â km, even when these eruptions might be relatively uncommon in the geological record.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Geology
Authors
Edgardo Cañón-Tapia,