Effects of topography on facies and compositional zonation in caldera-related ignimbrites

Abstract

Large-scale fluid dynamical processes during explosive eruptions within calderas are examined numerically by solving the full set of two-phase hydrodynamic equations with a topographic barrier, representing the rim of a caldera. The effect of the caldera rim on eruption dynamics depends on the relative locations of the rim and the impact zone where tephra collapsing from the eruption column strikes the ground. The distance of the impact zone from the vent is proportional to the collapse (fountain) height of the eruption column. Three significantly different eruption patterns have been observed in the simulations: (1) If the impact zone is outside the caldera rim, relatively continuous pyroclastic flow occurs outside the caldera. (2) If the impact zone is on or near the caldera rim, an initial pyroclastic current flow out of the caldera and is followed by a lapse in outflow during which the cladera fills up with ash. (3) If the impact zone is inside the rim, all initial pyroclastic flows are contained within the caldera unless the flows have sufficiently high initial densities and velocities to carry them over the rim. In most cases, recirculation of pyroclasts into the base of the column causes fountain height to decrease dramaticallymore » with time due to the {open_quotes}choking{close_quotes} effect of the ash. This recycling of ash in turn reduces the ability of pyroclastic flows to surmount the rim. The numerical models suggest several processes that cause the formation of multiple cooling and flow units in deposits outside a caldera from a single eruption of steady discharge. Compositional gaps may occur in outflow ignimbrite due entirely to interaction of eruption and emplacement dynamics with topography; sharp compositional gradients within a magma chamber are not necessarily implied by compositional gaps in outflow units. 35 refs., 10 figs., 1 tab.« less