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8 - Dynamics of Volcanic Eruptions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 April 2020

Agust Gudmundsson
Agust Gudmundsson
Affiliation:
Royal Holloway, University of London
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Summary

When a magma-filled fracture reaches the surface, a volcanic eruption occurs. In Chapters 5 and 7 we have discussed the conditions under which this may happen. Here, the focus is on the likely course of events once an eruption has started. Among the main questions facing scientists and civil authorities during a beginning eruption are: (1) What is the likely size or magnitude of the eruption? (2) What is its likely duration? (3) Is it going to be primarily effusive or explosive or both? All these questions ultimately relate to the hazards and associated risks posed by the particular volcano. For a more reliable assessment of the hazards associated with volcanoes, the frequencies and sizes of their eruptions need to be known and related to a general understanding of the dynamics of eruptions.

Type
Chapter
Information
Volcanotectonics
Understanding the Structure, Deformation and Dynamics of Volcanoes
 , pp. 379 - 423
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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References

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