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G-Cubed: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems

 

Keywords

  • plinian cloud
  • granular gravity currents
  • pyroclastic flows
  • granular rheologies
  • depositional process
  • turbulence

Index Terms

  • Mathematical Geophysics: Modeling
  • Mathematical Geophysics: Nonlinear dynamics
  • Volcanology: Eruption mechanisms
Abstract
Cited By (22)
 

Abstract

GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS, VOL. 5, Q08004, 36 PP., 2004
doi:10.1029/2003GC000637 [Citation]

Numerical modeling of geophysical granular flows: 2. Computer simulations of plinian clouds and pyroclastic flows and surges

Sébastien Dartevelle

Department of Geological and Mining Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 630 Dow Building, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan, 49931, USA

William I. Rose

Department of Geological and Mining Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 630 Dow Building, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan, 49931, USA

John Stix

Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2A7 Canada

Karim Kelfoun

Laboratoire des Magmas et Volcans, OPGC, Blaise-Pascal Université, 5, rue Kessler, Clermont-Ferrand, 63038 France

James W. Vallance

Cascade Volcano Observatory, 1300 SE Cardinal Court, Building 10, Suite 100, Vancouver, Washington, 98683, USA

Geophysical granular flows display complex nonlinear, nonuniform, and unsteady rheologies, depending on the volumetric grain concentration within the flow: kinetic, kinetic-collisional, and frictional. To account for the whole spectrum of granular rheologies (and hence concentrations), we have used and further developed for geophysical-atmospheric applications a multiphase computer model initially developed by U.S. Department of Energy laboratories: (Geophysical) Multiphase Flow with Interphase Exchange. As demonstrated in this manuscript, (G)MFIX can successfully simulate a large span of pyroclastic phenomena and related processes: plinian clouds, pyroclastic flows and surges, flow transformations, and depositional processes. Plinian cloud simulations agree well with the classical plume theory and historical eruptions in the upper altitude of the cloud (HT) versus mass flux diagram. At high mass flux (>107 kg/s), plinian clouds pulsate periodically with time because of the vertical propagations of acoustic-gravity waves within the clouds. The lowest undercooled temperature anomalies measured within the upper part of the column can be as low as −18 K, which agrees well with El Chichón and Mt. St. Helens eruptions. Vertical and horizontal speed profiles within the plinian cloud compare well with those inferred from simple plume models and from umbrella experiments. Pyroclastic flow and surge simulations show that both end-members are closely tight together; e.g., an initially diluted flow may generate a denser basal underflow, which will eventually outrun the expanded head of the flow. We further illustrate evidence of vertical and lateral flow transformation processes between diluted and concentrated flows, particularly laterally from a turbulent “maintained over time fluidized zone” near source. Our comprehensive granular rheological model and our simulations demonstrate that the main depositional process is mainly a progressive vertical aggradation.

Received 17 September 2003; accepted 21 June 2004; published 18 August 2004.

Citation: Dartevelle, S., W. I. Rose, J. Stix, K. Kelfoun, and J. W. Vallance (2004), Numerical modeling of geophysical granular flows: 2. Computer simulations of plinian clouds and pyroclastic flows and surges, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 5, Q08004, doi:10.1029/2003GC000637.

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