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Underwater terraced deposits chronicle volcanic eruptions

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Analogue experiments show that powerful eruption columns deliver material to the sea surface and seabed in periodic annular sedimentation waves. Depending on the water depth, the impact and spread of these waves at the sea surface and seabed can excite tsunamis, drive radial pyroclastic density currents, and build concentric terraces.

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Fig. 1: Analogue experiments on the formation of terraced deposits around calderas.

References

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This is a summary of: Gilchrist, J. T. et al. Submarine terraced deposits linked to periodic collapse of caldera-forming eruption columns. Nat. Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01160-z (2023).

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Underwater terraced deposits chronicle volcanic eruptions. Nat. Geosci. 16, 397–398 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01168-5

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