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Tsunamis generated by subaqueous volcanic explosions in Taal Caldera Lake, Philippines

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Abstract

Volcanic subaqueous explosions can generate hazardous tsunamis, especially in lakes. In this paper, we simulate different scenarios of subaqueous explosions and related tsunamis in Taal Caldera Lake (Luzon, Philippines). Taal volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Southeast Asia, and eruptive processes are mostly explosive. We test different energies of explosions at eight different explosion sites in the lake. The initial water surface displacement (ƞ0) generated by the explosion is estimated as a function of explosion energy at a given depth. We estimate the tsunami travel times, maximum wave heights, and wave periods at the shoreline. This type of hazard is typically neglected and our work has important implications for hazard assessment around Taal Lake. Due to fast propagation of tsunamis in the lake (waves typically crossing the lake in less than 10 min), there is only a short time available for issuing a warning. For ƞ0 ≤ 50 m, wave heights at the shoreline are less than 2 m with a non-dispersive numerical model, and less than 0.5 m with a dispersive model, whatever the explosion depth and location. Powerful explosions with ƞ0 > > 100 m generate wave heights greater than 2 m all around the lake and local peaks higher than 10 m.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge three anonymous reviewers for their relevant comments. This is Laboratory of Excellence ClerVolc contribution no. 328.

Funding

This research was financed by the French Government Laboratory of Excellence initiative no. ANR-10-LABX-0006, by the Region Auvergne and the European Regional Development Fund, and by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska Curie grant agreement no. 753755.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNRS, IRD, OPGC, Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Raphaël Paris

  2. Institute of Geophysics, Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Martina Ulvrova

Authors
  1. Raphaël Paris
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  2. Martina Ulvrova
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Correspondence to Raphaël Paris.

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Editorial responsibility: M.I. Bursik; Deputy Executive Editor: J. Tadeucci

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Paris, R., Ulvrova, M. Tsunamis generated by subaqueous volcanic explosions in Taal Caldera Lake, Philippines. Bull Volcanol 81, 14 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-019-1272-2

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