Research

Dynamics of Water-Rich Volcanic Columns

Volcanic plumes are columns of ash, gas, and particles released during explosive eruptions. They can affect climate, spread volcanic material over large distances, and pose serious hazards to aviation. When eruption columns collapse, they can generate pyroclastic density currents, which are among the most dangerous volcanic hazards. I investigated how external water, such as seawater or surface water interacting with magma, influences volcanic column height and collapse. Using the 1D steady-state plume model Plumeria, we simulated eruption scenarios with varying external water content, vent exit velocity, initial magma temperature, and mass eruption rate. Our results show that small amounts of external water can suppress column collapse and help buoyant plumes form, while larger amounts of water can promote collapse by cooling and densifying the eruptive mixture. We also found that the Richardson number remains useful for interpreting collapse behavior even when external water is present. This work improves our understanding of how water influences explosive eruption dynamics and is especially relevant for water-rich eruptions such as the 2022 Hunga eruption. Corresponding author: Edgar Carrillo, University of Oregon. Principal Investigator: Kristen Fauria, Vanderbilt University.