Randomized trial assesses external water's impact on volcanic column collapse conditions, indicating safety considerations for eruptions.
Key Points
This study aims to understand how external water influences the critical conditions for volcanic column collapse during eruptions.
Used the 1-D plume model, Plumeria, to simulate conditions of volcanic eruptions with varying external water content (0–60 wt%) and vent exit velocity (75–125 m/s).
Conducted over 150,000 simulations to analyze the effects on column collapse conditions based on mass eruption rates and water contents.
Examined the role of the Richardson number in defining collapse conditions during eruptions involving external water.
Found that small amounts of external water (≤25 wt.%) suppress column collapse, while larger amounts encourage it.
Mapped a non-linear relationship of column collapse conditions based on varying mass eruption rates and water contents.
Demonstrated that recent submarine eruptions highlighted the need for understanding external water's influence on volcanic dynamics.