Papers Published

1. Mattioli, G.S. and Voight, B. and Linde, A.T. and Sacks, I.S. and Watts, P. and Widwijayanti, C. and Young, S.R. and Hidayat, D. and Elsworth, D. and Malin, P.E. and Shalev, E. and Van Boskirk, E. and Johnston, W. and Sparks, R.S.J. and Neuberg, J. and Bass, V. and Dunkley, P. and Herd, R. and Syers, T. and Williams, P. and Williams, D., Unique and remarkable dilatometer measurements of pyroclastic flow-generated tsunamis, Geology, vol. 35 no. 1 (2007), pp. 25 - 28 [1] .
   (last updated on 2007/04/09)

   Abstract:
   Pyroclastic flows entering the sea may cause tsunamis at coastal volcanoes worldwide, hut geophysically monitored field occurrences are rare. We document the process of tsunami generation during a prolonged gigantic collapse of the Soufriere Hills volcano lava dome on Montserrat on 12-13 July 2003. Tsunamis were initiated by large-volume pyroclastic flows entering the ocean. We reconstruct the collapse from seismic records and report unique and remarkable borehole dilatometer observations, which recorded clearly the passage of wave packets at periods of 250-500 s over several hours. Strain signals are consistent in period and amplitude with water loading from passing tsunamis; each wave packet can be correlated with individual pyroclastic flow packages recorded by seismic data, proving that multiple tsunamis were initiated by pyroclastic flows. Any volcano within a few kilometers of water and capable of generating hot pyroclastic flows or cold debris flows with volumes greater than 5 × 10⁶ m³ may generate significant and possibly damaging tsunamis during future eruptions. © 2007 Geological Society of America.

   Keywords:
   Dilatometers;Oceanography;Seismic waves;Tsunamis;Volcanoes;