Tsunamis of volcanic origin: Summary of causes, with particular reference to Krakatoa, 1883

Abstract

Known tsunamis of volcanic origin are reviewed and classified according to their causes. Earthquakes accompanying eruptions (excluding tectonic events which apparently triggered eruptions), pyroclastic flows, and submarine explosions have each accounted for about 20% of cases. Ten causes of volcanic tsunamis are discussed. From the risk point of view, those due to landslides are particularly dangerous. Eruptions at calderas are more likely to generate tsunamis than eruptions elsewhere. Of those killed directly by volcanic eruptions, nearly a quarter have died as a result of tsunamis. By transfer of energy to sea waves, a violent eruption, which would be comparatively harmless on land, extends greatly the radius over which destruction occurs. Krakatoa, 1883, is the only eruption sequence for which sufficient data exist for a detailed study of tsunamis. The times at which air and water waves generated by this sequence were recorded have been reread, and new origin times have been calculated and compared with observations made at the time. Origin times of successive pairs of air and water waves agree closely, except in some cases in which the tsunami arrived up to 15 minutes early, thus giving an apparent origin time 15 minutes before that of the corresponding air wave. This is explained by postulating that these tsunamis did not originate at the focus of the explosions, but at distances along the path towards the tide gauge, equivalent to those which would be covered by a tsunami in the time interval observed. The calculated point at which the largest recorded tsunami originated coincides with the outer edge of a bank of volcanic debris laid down during the eruption. This is interpreted as part of an unwelded ignimbrite deposit, the violent emplacement of which, within a minute or so of the explosion, generated the tsunami. A satisfactory correlation is established between explosions and deposits laid down by the eruptions, as described from a geological section close to the source vent. An outline is given of a proposed numerical index to define tsunamigenic potential at a given volcano. Such an index could be used to calculate the expected amplitudes of tsunamis at particular places in the vicinity, and hence could serve as a basis for tsunami risk contingency planning.