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Constraining tephra dispersion and deposition from three subplinian explosions in 2011 at Shinmoedake volcano, Kyushu, Japan

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Abstract

Constraining physical parameters of tephra dispersion and deposition from explosive volcanic eruptions is a significant challenge, because of both the complexity of the relationship between tephra distribution and distance from the vent and the difficulties associated with direct and comprehensive real-time observations. Three andesitic subplinian explosions in January 2011 at Shinmoedake volcano, Japan, are used as a case study to validate selected empirical and theoretical models using observations and field data. Tephra volumes are estimated using relationships between dispersal area and tephra thickness or mass/area. A new cubic B-spline interpolation method is also examined. Magma discharge rate is estimated using theoretical plume models incorporating the effect of wind. Results are consistent with observed plume heights (6.4–7.3 km above the vent) and eruption durations. Estimated tephra volumes were 15–34 × 106 m3 for explosions on the afternoon of 26 January and morning of 27 January, and 5.0–7.6 × 106 m3 for the afternoon of 27 January; magma discharge rates were in the range 1–2 × 106 kg/s for all three explosions. Clast dispersal models estimated plume height at 7.1 ± 1 km above the vent for each explosion. The three subplinian explosions occurred with approximately 12-h reposes and had similar mass discharge rates and plume heights but decreasing erupted magma volumes and durations.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Japan Meteorological Agency (Headquarters, Meteorological Research Institute, Kagoshima Local Meteorological Observatory, and Fukuoka District Meteorological Observatory) for providing distal tephra, geophysical observation, and meteorological data. We also acknowledge the city of Kirishima. This study was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (No. 22900001) from MEXT, Japan. Comments and suggestions on an early version of the draft from R. S. J. Sparks were helpful. The manuscript was improved by constructive suggestions from C. Bonadonna and an anonymous reviewer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan

    Fukashi Maeno, Setsuya Nakada, Yuki Suzuki & Takayuki Kaneko

  2. National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, 3-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0006, Japan

    Masashi Nagai

  3. School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queen’s Road, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, UK

    Rose E. Burden & Samantha Engwell

  4. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Pisa, Via della Faggiola 32, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    Samantha Engwell

  5. Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences, Waseda University, 1-6-1, Nishiwaseda, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8050, Japan

    Yuki Suzuki

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  1. Fukashi Maeno
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  2. Masashi Nagai
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  3. Setsuya Nakada
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  4. Rose E. Burden
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  5. Samantha Engwell
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  6. Yuki Suzuki
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  7. Takayuki Kaneko
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Correspondence to Fukashi Maeno.

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Editorial responsibility: E.S. Calder

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Maeno, F., Nagai, M., Nakada, S. et al. Constraining tephra dispersion and deposition from three subplinian explosions in 2011 at Shinmoedake volcano, Kyushu, Japan. Bull Volcanol 76, 823 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-014-0823-9

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