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A note on maar eruption energetics: current models and their application

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Abstract

Hydromagmatic eruptions convert thermal into mechanical energy via the expansion of ground- and/or surface-water. Several models address the energetics of these eruptions based on different physical-volcanological approaches. Here we test different models with two case studies in the Colli Albani Volcanic District (central Italy): the monogenetic Prata Porci and the polygenetic Albano maars. Test results are mutually consistent, and show cumulative mechanical energy releases on the order of 1015–1017 J for single maars. The fraction of thermal energy turned into mechanical ranges from 0.45 (as calculated from the theoretical maximum mechanical energy), through 0.1 (calculated from country rock fragmentation, crater formation and ballistic ejection), to 0.03 (derived from magma fragmentation by thermohydraulic explosions). It appears that the energy released during the most intense hydromagmatic events may account for a dominant fraction of the total mechanical energy released during the whole maar eruptive histories. Finally, we consider the role of magmatic explosive activity intervening during maar eruptions in causing departures from predictions of the models evaluated.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Italian Dipartimento della Protezione Civile, in the frame of the 2004–2006 Agreement with Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia—INGV, project V3_1, and by the Progetto FIRB-MIUR “Sviluppo Nuove Tecnologie per la Protezione e Difesa del Territorio dai Rischi Naturali”. Danke schoen to B. Zimanowski for useful comments on an early version of the manuscript. We thank P. Dellino and L. Mastin for helpful reviews, and Associated Editor J.D.L. White for additional, precious suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143, Rome, Italy

    Jacopo Taddeucci, Guido Ventura & Piergiorgio Scarlato

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Gianluca Sottili & Danilo M. Palladino

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  1. Jacopo Taddeucci
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  2. Gianluca Sottili
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  3. Danilo M. Palladino
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  4. Guido Ventura
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  5. Piergiorgio Scarlato
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Correspondence to Jacopo Taddeucci.

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Editorial responsibility: J. White

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Taddeucci, J., Sottili, G., Palladino, D.M. et al. A note on maar eruption energetics: current models and their application. Bull Volcanol 72, 75–83 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-009-0298-2

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