Deep and rapid thermo-mechanical erosion by a small-volume lava flow

This is a Preprint and has not been peer reviewed. The published version of this Preprint is available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116163. This is version 4 of this Preprint.

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Authors

Elisabeth Gallant, Fanghui Deng, Surui Xie, Charles B. Connor, Timothy H. Dixon, J. Armando Saballos, Carmen Guitierrez, Douglas Myhre, Laura J. Connor, John M. Zayac

Abstract

We document remarkably efficient thermo-mechanical erosion by a small-volume lava flow. Downcutting by a basaltic-andesite lava flow on the steep-sided Momotombo volcano, Nicaragua, occurred at 100 times the rate commonly reported for thermal erosion in lava flow fields, even though this flow was small-volume (0.02 km^3) and effused at a low rate for <1 week. The erosion depth, up to 30 m incision, is explained by reduction of hardness, H, of the pyroclastic substrate into which the lava flow incised. We show that incision depth decreases, approximately exponentially, with distance along the flow path, until erosion stopped and the flow became constructional. This transition occurs 650 m from the vent on a slope averaging a 32° incline. Results indicate that syn-eruptive erosion is an important morphological process on some steep-sided volcanoes that are predominantly composed of layered pyroclasts. Rapid erosion and incision increased flow run-out for the 1905 flow, which in turn directed the flow and run-out of the 2015 lava flow. Mapping and understanding these features is critical for improving lava flow hazard assessments and provides insight into the construction and growth of composite cones.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31223/osf.io/zsybk

Subjects

Earth Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Volcanology

Keywords

Dates

Published: 2019-10-08 18:54

Last Updated: 2020-05-04 17:27

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License

GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) 2.1