Open AccessStability of volcanic ash aggregates and break-up processes
Author(s) -
S. Mueller,
Ulrich Kueppers,
Jonathan Ametsbichler,
Corrado Cimarelli,
J. Merrison,
Matthieu Poret,
Fabian B. Wadsworth,
Donald B. Dingwell
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/s41598-017-07927-w
Subject(s) - tephra , volcanic ash , biological dispersal , volcanism , aggregate (composite) , explosive material , volcano , plume , environmental science , sedimentation , particle (ecology) , geology , earth science , materials science , meteorology , geochemistry , chemistry , geomorphology , tectonics , geography , population , nanotechnology , oceanography , sediment , paleontology , demography , organic chemistry , sociology
Numerical modeling of ash plume dispersal is an important tool for forecasting and mitigating potential hazards from volcanic ash erupted during explosive volcanism. Recent tephra dispersal models have been expanded to account for dynamic ash aggregation processes. However, there are very few studies on rates of disaggregation during transport. It follows that current models regard ash aggregation as irrevocable and may therefore overestimate aggregation-enhanced sedimentation. In this experimental study, we use industrial granulation techniques to artificially produce aggregates. We subject these to impact tests and evaluate their resistance to break-up processes. We find a dependence of aggregate stability on primary particle size distribution and solid particle binder concentration. We posit that our findings could be combined with eruption source parameters and implemented in future tephra dispersal models.