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Volcanological Features of Terceira Island (Azores): A Field Approach Around Hazards

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Advances in Natural Hazards and Volcanic Risks: Shaping a Sustainable Future (NATHAZ 2022)

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Abstract

Terceira Island (400 km2 area and the second most inhabited of the archipelago) comprises four polygenetic volcanoes with caldera (Cinco Picos, Guilherme Moniz, Santa Bárbara and Pico Alto central volcanoes) and an area of active fissural basaltic volcanism, split into two main sectors of the island, on its central and southeast zones. Impressive siliceous effusive volcanism products mark the island's geology and landscape as numerous domes and coulees: a total of about 160 eruptive centres of this type can be observed on the island, especially on the Santa Bárbara and Pico Alto volcanoes, with a clear morphological signature. Historical volcanism dates back to the eighteenth century, with land eruptions in 1761 (the “Mistérios Negros” and the “Mistério Novo” areas) and submarine eruptions in 1867 and 1998–2001, the latter in the Serreta submarine ridge. This work outlines a field trip on Terceira Island, emphasising its geological characteristics and geohazards.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geosciences Department, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Azores, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal

    João Carlos Nunes

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  1. João Carlos Nunes
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Correspondence to João Carlos Nunes .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory (LREC), Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal

    Ana Malheiro

  2. Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory (LREC), Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal

    Francisco Fernandes

  3. Department of Geotechnical Engineering, School of Engineering–ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Laboratory of Cartography and Applied Geology, Porto, Portugal

    Helder I. Chaminé

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Nunes, J.C. (2023). Volcanological Features of Terceira Island (Azores): A Field Approach Around Hazards. In: Malheiro, A., Fernandes, F., Chaminé, H.I. (eds) Advances in Natural Hazards and Volcanic Risks: Shaping a Sustainable Future. NATHAZ 2022. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25042-2_37

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