Abstract
WATER-RICH silicic magmas may erupt explosively, giving rise to massive columns of fragmented ash1–5, or effusively as viscous, bubbly lavas to form lava domes6–8. Complex cycles of explosive and effusive eruptions are often observed8–12. Although these two eruption mechanisms have been modelled independently1,8, the conditions under which a volcano exhibits a particular style of eruption are not known and the transitions between eruption styles are poorly understood. By modelling the ascent of magma along a permeable conduit, we show here that, for small magma-chamber overpressures, the style of eruption—explosive or effusive—is dependent on the magma flow rate. We also identify a critical overpressure above which only explosive eruptions occur. Complex eruption sequences follow naturally. For example, if a shallow magmatic system is supplied with magma at an intermediate flow rate, the eruption will be slow and effusive until the chamber over-pressure becomes too large. An explosive eruption then relieves the overpressure and an effusive eruption style resumes. We suggest that monitoring of temporal variations in chamber overpressure (for example, by measuring ground deformation) can be used to assess whether a passively effusing volcano has the potential to erupt explosively.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Wilson, L., Sparks, R. S. J. & Walker, G. P. L. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 63, 117–148 (1980).
Giberti, G. & Wilson, L. Bull volcan. 52, 515–521 (1987).
Dobran, F. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res. 49, 285–311 (1992).
Wilson, L., Sparks, R. S. J., Huang, T. C. & Watkins, N. D. J. geophys. Res. 83, 1829–1836 (1978).
Woods, A. W. Bull. volcan. 50, 69–91 (1988).
Eichelberger, J. C., Carrigan, C. R. Westrich, H. R. & Price, R. H. Nature 323, 598–602 (1986).
Newhall, C. & Melson, W. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res. 17, 111–131 (1983).
Jaupart, C. & Allegre, C. J. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 102, 413–429 (1991).
Bursik, M. I. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res. 57, 57–70 (1993).
Scandone, R. & Malone, S. D. J. Volcan. Geotherm. Res. 23, 239–262 (1984).
Moore, J. G., Lipman, P., Swanson, D. & Alpha, T. R. US Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 1250, 541–548 (1981).
Christianson, R. L. & Peterson, D. W. US Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 1250, 17–30 (1981).
Attewell, P. & Farmer, I. Principles of Engineering Geology (Chapman & Hall, New York, 1976).
Heiken G., Wohletz, K. & Eichelberger, J. C. J. geophys. Res. 93, 4335–4350 (1988).
Sparks, R. S. J. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res. 3, 1–17 (1978).
Wadge, G. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res. 11, 139–168 (1981).
Barker, S. E. & Malone, S. D. J. geophys. Res. 96, 11883–11894, (1991).
Blake, S. Nature 289, 783–785 (1981).
Tait, S. R., Jaupart, C. & Vergniolle, S. Earth planet. Sci Lett. 92, 107–123 (1989).
Stasuik, M., Jaupart, C. & Sparks, R. S. J. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 114, 505–516 (1993).
Fisher, R. V., Smith, A. L. & Robool, M. J. Geology 8, 472–176 (1980).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Woods, A., Koyaguchi, T. Transitions between explosive and effusive eruptions of silicic magmas. Nature 370, 641–644 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/370641a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/370641a0
This article is cited by
-
Constraints on magma storage conditions based on geodetic volume change and erupted magma volume and application to the 2011 and 2018 eruptions at Kirishima Shinmoe-dake volcano, Japan
Earth, Planets and Space (2023)
-
Long-term volcano evolution controlled by lateral collapse at Antuco volcano, southern Andes, Chile
Communications Earth & Environment (2023)
-
Water in clinopyroxene from the 2021 Geldingadalir eruption of the Fagradalsfjall Fires, SW-Iceland
Bulletin of Volcanology (2023)
-
Historical accounts provide insight on the geological evolution of the 20th century eruptions at Santorini volcano, Greece
Bulletin of Volcanology (2023)
-
Basaltic Plinian eruptions at Las Sierras-Masaya volcano driven by cool storage of crystal-rich magmas
Communications Earth & Environment (2022)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.