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Explosion dynamics of pyroclastic eruptions at Santiaguito Volcano
Author(s) -
Johnson Jeffrey B.,
Harris Andrew J. L.,
SahetapyEngel Steve T. M.,
Wolf Rudiger,
Rose William I.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl019079
Subject(s) - fumarole , volcano , thermal , geology , plume , induced seismicity , seismology , heat flux , geophysics , radiance , thermal energy , strombolian eruption , pyroclastic rock , impact crater , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , heat transfer , mechanics , astrobiology , physics , thermodynamics , remote sensing
In Jan. 2003 we monitored explosions at Santiaguito Volcano (Guatemala) with thermal, infrasonic, and seismic sensors. Thermal data from 2 infrared thermometers allowed computation of plume rise speeds, which ranged from 8 to 20 m/s. Rise rates correlated with cumulative thermal radiance, indicating that faster rising plumes correspond to explosions with greater thermal flux. The relationship between rise speeds and elastic energy is less clear. Seismic radiation may not scale well with thermal output and/or rise speed because some of the thermal component may be associated with passive degassing, which does not induce significant seismicity. But non‐impulsive gas release is still able to produce a high thermal flux, which is the primary control on buoyant rise speed.