Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relationship between size of pyroclast flow eruptions and duration of the preceding dormancy period

  • Published:
Bulletin Volcanologique Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The techniques of simple correlation and simple linear regression were used to as certain whether there is a relationship between the length of the period of dormancy of a volcano and the maximum distance travelled by pyroclast flow in the subsequent eruption. A positive correlation coefficient of 0.48 was obtained for a data set of 35 eruptions in various parts of the world. This is significant at the 1% level.

Correlation and regression were also performed on the cube root of the total volume of pyroclast flow material emitted and the length of the preceding dormancy period. The correlation coefficient of 0.42, for 20 eruptions, was significant at the 10% level.

However, when only eruptions for which the dormancy period is less than 200 years are considered, neither the maximum distance travelled by the pyroclast flows, nor their total volume, has a statistically significant linear relationship with dormancy. This suggests that there may be a tendency for large eruptions from volcanoes, which have been apparently quiescent for centuries, to be reported, where as small eruptions from such volcanoes may go unremarked. Inclusion of such biassed data may give misleadingly high positive correlations between pyroclast flow size and dormancy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, T., andFlett, J.S., 1903,Report on the Eruptions of the Soufriere in St. Vincent. in 1902, and on a Visit to Montagne Pelée in Martinique. Part 1. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., Ser. A,200, p. 353–553.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aramaki, S., 1956,The 1783 Activity of Asama Volcano. Part. I. Jap. J. Geol. & Geog.,17, p. 211–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————— andYamasaki, M., 1963,Pyroclastic Flows in Japan. Bull. Volcanol.,XXVI, p. 89–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, J.W., andNairn, I.A. 1975,Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes and Solfatara Fields of New Zealand. I.A.V.C.E.I., Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faustino, L.A. 1929,Mayon Volcano and Its Eruptions. Philippine Journ. Sci.40, p. 1–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedlaender, I., 1927,Uber einige Vulkane Columbiens. I. Teil. Zeit. für Vulkan.,X, p. 159–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorshkov, G.S. andDubik, Y.M., 1970,Gigantic Directed Blast at Shiveluch Volcano (Kamchatka). Bull. Volcanol.,34-1, pp. 261–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregg, D.R., 1961,Volcanoes of Tongariro Nation Park. N.Z.G.S. Handbook. Information Series, No. 28, 82 pp.

  • Hantke, G., andParodi I.A., 1966,Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes and Solfatara Fields of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Int. Assoc. Volc., I.A.V.C.E.I., Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henning, R.A., Rosenthal, C.H., Olds, B., andReading, G., (eds.), 1976,Alaska’s Volcanoes. Alaska Geographic,4, no. 1, 88 pp.

  • Katsui, Y., andAramaki, S. (eds.), 1975,Bulletin of Volcanic Eruptions. No. 13, (for 1973). Volc. Soc. Japan.

  • Katsui, Y., andAramaki, S., 1976,Bulletin of Volcanic Eruptions, no. 14, Volc. Soc. Japan.

  • Kienle, J., andForbes, R.B., 1976,Augustine — Evolution of a Volcano. Annual Rep., Geophys. Inst. Univ. of Alaska, College, Alaska.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacroix, A., 1904,La montagne Pelés et ses eruptions. Paris, Masson et Cie, 662 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Latter, J.H., 1968,Active Volcanoes and Fumarole Fields on Punched Cards. Bull. Volcanol.,33-1, pp. 299–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loomis, B.F., 1948,A Pictorial History of the Lassen Volcano. Loomis Museum Assoc., Mineral, California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, G.A., 1972,Volcanoes. Prentice-Hall, Inc., New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————, andAlcaraz, A., 1956,Nuées Ardentes of the 1948–1953 Eruptions of Hibok-Hibok. Bull. Volcanol.,XVIII, p. 169–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melson, W.G. andSaenz, R., 1973,Volume, Energy and Cyclicity of Eruptions of Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica. Bull. Volcanol.,37, p. 416–437.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ----- and -----, 1968,The 1968 Eruption of Volcan Arenal, Costa Rica: Preliminary Summary of Field and Laboratory Studies. Smithsonian Institution, Center for Short-Lived Phenomena, 7 Nov. 1968.

  • Moore, J.G. andMelson, W.G., 1969,Nuées Ardentes of the 1968 Eruption of Mayon Volcano, Philippines. Bull. Volcanol., Tome33-2, pp. 600–620.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murai, I., 1960,On the Mudflows of the 1926 Eruption of Volcano Tokachi-dake, Central Hokkaido, Japan. Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst.,38, pp. 55–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————, 1960,Pumice Flow Deposits of Komagatake Volcano, Southern Hokkaido, Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst.,38, pp. 451–466.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nairn, I.A., 1974–5, Unpublished Immediate Report on the Eruptions of Mt. Ngauruhoe. N.Z. Geol. Surv.

  • Perret, F.A., 1937,The Eruption of Mt. Pelée 1929–32. Publ. Carnegie Inst. Wash.,458, 126 pp.

  • Smithsonian Institution, Center for Short-Lived Phenomena, 1968,Mt. Arenal Volcanic Eruption. Costa Rica, 29 July – 14 August 1968. Event Report 7 October 1968.

  • -----, 1971,Annual Report 1970, 296 pp.

  • Tada andTsuya, 1927,The Eruption of Tokachidake Volcano, Hokkaido, on May 24th, 1926. (In Japanese, with English Abstract). Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst.,2, pp. 49–84. (see p. 82 — in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, G.A., 1958,The 1951 Eruption of Mt. Lamington, Papua. Bur. Min. Res. Aust. Bull.,38, 117 pp.

  • -----, 1958a, Notes on the Current Eruption at Manam. Bur. Min. Res. Aust. Rec. 1958/67, 6 pp. (unpubl.).

  • UNESCO, 1972,Annual Summary of Information on Natural Disasters 1970. Unesco Press.

  • -----, 1975,Annual Summary of Information on Natural Disasters 1973. Unesco Press.

  • Van Bemmelen, R.W., 1949,The Geology of Indonesia, v. IA General Geology of Indonesia, ch. III. Gov’t. Printing Office, The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————, 1949,Report on the Volcanic Activity and Volcanological Research in Indonesia during the Period 1936–1948. Bull. Volcanol.,IX, pp. 3–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Padang, M. Neumann, 1936,Die Tatigkeit des Merapi-Vulkans (Mittel-Java) in den Jahren 1883–1888. Zeits. Vulk.XVII, Heft 1/2, pp. 93–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waitz, P. 1915,Der gegenwartige Stand der mexikanischen Vulkane und die letzte Eruption des Vulkans von Colima (1913). Zeitsch. Vulk,1, pp. 247–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westermann, R., 1933,Vulcanische Ereignisse. Des Ausbruch des Fuego in Guatemala im Januar 1932. Zeitsch. Vulk.XIV, pp. 297–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, C.E., andCurtis, R., 1964,The Eruption of Lopevi, New Hebrides, July 1960. Bull. Volcanol.,XXVII, pp. 423–433.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, H., 1952,The Great Eruption of Coseguina, Nicaragua in 1835. Uni. Calif. Publ. in Geol. Sci.,29, no. 2, pp. 21–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zen, M.T., andHadikusumo, D., 1964,Preliminary Report of the 1963 Eruption of Mt. Agung in Bali (Indonesia). Bull. Volcanol.,XXVII, pp. 269–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zobin, V.M., 1971,Mechanism of Volcanic Earthquakes at Sheveluch Volcano, Kamchatka. Bull. Volcanol.,35-1, pp. 225–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Seismic Research Unit, University of the West Indies. St. Augustine, Trinidad, WI

    M. Michael

Authors
  1. M. Michael
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Michael, M. Relationship between size of pyroclast flow eruptions and duration of the preceding dormancy period. Bull Volcanol 43, 413–418 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02598042

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02598042

Keywords

Search

Navigation