Inland-directed base surge generated by the explosive interaction of pyroclastic flows and seawater at Soufriere Hills volcano, Montserrat

Edmonds, M. and Herd, R. A. (2005) Inland-directed base surge generated by the explosive interaction of pyroclastic flows and seawater at Soufriere Hills volcano, Montserrat. Geology, 33 (4). pp. 245-248. DOI 10.1130/G21166.1

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Abstract

The largest and most intense lava-dome collapse during the eruption of Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat, 1995–2004, occurred 12–13 July 2003. The dome collapse involved around 200 x 106 m3 of material and was associated with a phenomenon previously unknown at this volcano. Large pyroclastic flows at the peak of the dome collapse interacted explosively with seawater at the mouth of the Tar River Valley and generated a hot, dry base surge that flowed 4 km inland and 300 m uphill. The surge was destructive to at least 25 m above the ground and it carbonized vegetation. The resulting two-layer deposits were as much as 0.9 m thick. Although the entire collapse lasted 18 h, the base surge greatly increased the land area affected by the dome collapse in a few minutes at the peak of the event, illustrating the complex nature of the interaction between pyroclastic flows and seawater.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	05 - Petrology - Igneous, Metamorphic and Volcanic Studies
Divisions:	05 - Petrology - Igneous, Metamorphic and Volcanic Studies
Journal or Publication Title:	Geology
Volume:	33
Page Range:	pp. 245-248
Identification Number:	10.1130/G21166.1
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	27 May 2011 15:06
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2013 09:58
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/1634

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