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Evolution of the submarine–subaerial edifice of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska, during its 2016–2017 eruption based on analysis of satellite imagery

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Abstract

The 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano involved at least 70 detected eruptive events between mid-December 2016 and August 30, 2017. Acquisition of high-resolution satellite imagery throughout the duration of the eruptive period allowed us to document and map the various morphologic changes that occurred on the subaerial part of Bogoslof Island. The emplacement of pyroclastic-flow and surge deposits caused the island to increase in area by about 1.5 km2. The dominant volcanic landforms of the eruption were a series of tuff rings emplaced around various submarine vents. Many of the tuff rings were mantled with surface dunes and impressive amounts of ballistic ejecta, likely derived from erupting magma bodies or previously emplaced submarine lava domes. Debris-flow deposits and surface channels extending over tuff ring surfaces apparent in multiple satellite images are evidence for explosive ejection of seawater. In most cases, erupting vents were initially submarine or began at subaerial lava domes and were largely flooded by seawater suggesting that water-magma ratios were likely high. Under such conditions where water is abundant, eruptive products typically reflect a high degree of water involvement and are dominated by the formation of wet tephra jets and flows and associated deposits typically consist of fine ash and lapilli, contain accretionary lapilli and ash aggregates, and usually form tuff cones and mounds. We observed none of these features in our analysis of satellite data or during our examination of eruptive deposits on Bogoslof Island in 2018. On the contrary, the dominant landform associated with the Bogoslof eruption was tuff rings. The development of tuff rings and surface dunes are commonly associated with the formation of pyroclastic base surges that are by comparison emplaced relatively dry. Dry base surge deposits can be generated from phreatomagmatic explosions involving superheated steam. It is possible that shallow submarine, magma–wet sediment interactions were a characteristic and possibly a dominant eruptive process of the 2016–2017 Bogoslof eruption.

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Correspondence to Christopher F. Waythomas.

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Editorial responsibility: D. Fee; Special Issue Editor N. Fournier

This paper constitutes part of a topical collection: The 2016-17 shallow submarine eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska

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Online Resource 1

Timeline of detected eruptive events at Bogoslof volcano, December 2016 through March 2017. Also shown are the dates and type of high-resolution satellite data analyzed for eruption-caused changes to Bogoslof Island. (PNG 75 kb)

High Resolution Image (EPS 2632 kb)

Online Resource 2

a Histogram of maximum wavelengths of surface dune bedforms associated with pyroclastic base surge deposits observed on the east side of Bogoslof Island observed in January 31, 2017 WorldView-3 satellite image. b Histogram of maximum wavelengths of surface dune bedforms associated with pyroclastic base surge deposits observed on the southeast side of Bogoslof Island observed in January 31, 2017 WorldView-3 satellite image. See Fig. 9 for location of features. (PNG 51 kb)

High Resolution Image (EPS 743 kb)

Online Resource 3

Map of deposits and features on Bogoslof Island, February 12, 2017 based on interpretation of WorldView-2 satellite image. (PNG 347 kb)

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Online Resource 4

Map of deposits and features on Bogoslof Island, March 21, 2017 based on interpretation of WorldView-3 satellite image. (PNG 598 kb)

High Resolution Image (EPS 4184 kb)

Online Resource 5

Timeline of detected eruptive events at Bogoslof volcano, May through August 2017. Also shown are the dates and type of high-resolution satellite data analyzed for eruption-caused changes to Bogoslof Island. (PNG 79 kb)

High Resolution Image (EPS 2653 kb)

Online Resource 6

Landsat 8 band 8 image of Bogoslof Island, June 5, 2017 showing faintly visible steam-enveloped lava dome in northern sector of island. (PNG 221 kb)

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Online Resource 7

Interpretive map of deposits and features on Bogoslof Island, June 10, 2017. Much of the WorldView-3 image used to make this map was obscured by cloud cover and it was not possible to identify very many features in the image. Lava dome absent in this image and was destroyed by the June 10, 2017 eruption. (PNG 182 kb)

High Resolution Image (EPS 3127 kb)

Online Resource 8

Changes in island area versus time throughout the duration of the 2016–2017 Bogoslof eruption. (PNG 54 kb)

High Resolution Image (EPS 1246 kb)

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Waythomas, C.F., Angeli, K. & Wessels, R.L. Evolution of the submarine–subaerial edifice of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska, during its 2016–2017 eruption based on analysis of satellite imagery. Bull Volcanol 82, 21 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-020-1363-0

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