Hydrogeomorphic responses to explosive volcanic eruptions – a significant but underappreciated aspect of volcanic eruptions. By J.J. Major

Hydrogeomorphic responses to explosive volcanic eruptions – a significant but underappreciated aspect of volcanic eruptions. By J.J. Major

Explosive volcanic eruptions can perturb the hydrology of landscapes downwind and downstream of volcanoes by damaging vegetation and depositing large amounts of volcaniclastic sediment. Fluxes of water and sediment from volcanically perturbed landscapes can increase substantially, prompting hazardous geomorphic responses that can extend far downstream and persist for years to decades or longer.

The severity of the geomorphic response depends on the specific volcanic processes affecting a drainage basin, the magnitude of the eruption, and the distance from the volcano. Exceptional downstream sediment transport can exacerbate the direct effects of eruptions on some communities or impact communities not otherwise affected by the eruption itself. In some instances, the geomorphic responses to an eruption can result in socioeconomic consequences that are more damaging than the direct impacts of the eruption. This presentation discusses the hydrogeomorphic impacts of volcanic eruptions and consequent geomorphic responses. A list of resources and references is provided to direct viewers to further relevant work.

We thank Gordon Grant and Kyoko Kataoka for providing comments that improved this lecture.

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