Multidisciplinary constraints of hydrothermal explosions based on the 2013 Gengissig lake events, Kverkfjöll volcano, Iceland
Hydrothermal explosions frequently occur in geothermal areas showing various mechanisms and energies of explosivity. Their deposits, though generally hardly recognised or badly preserved, provide important insights to quantify the dynamics and energy of these poorly understood explosive events. Furt...
Published in: | Earth and Planetary Science Letters |
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Language: | English |
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2016
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Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/1983/7b7fffca-1143-48d8-98ea-a2cf3bf43f77 https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/7b7fffca-1143-48d8-98ea-a2cf3bf43f77 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2015.11.043 https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/files/75923705/1_s2.0_S0012821X15007475_main.pdf |
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ftubristolcris:oai:research-information.bris.ac.uk:publications/7b7fffca-1143-48d8-98ea-a2cf3bf43f77 2024-01-28T10:06:48+01:00 Multidisciplinary constraints of hydrothermal explosions based on the 2013 Gengissig lake events, Kverkfjöll volcano, Iceland Montanaro, Cristian Scheu, Bettina Gudmundsson, Magnus Tumi Vogfjörd, Kristin Reynolds, Hannah Iona Dürig, Tobias Strehlow, Karen Rott, Stefanie Reuschle, Thierry Dingwell, Donald Bruce 2016-01-15 application/pdf https://hdl.handle.net/1983/7b7fffca-1143-48d8-98ea-a2cf3bf43f77 https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/7b7fffca-1143-48d8-98ea-a2cf3bf43f77 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2015.11.043 https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/files/75923705/1_s2.0_S0012821X15007475_main.pdf eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Montanaro , C , Scheu , B , Gudmundsson , M T , Vogfjörd , K , Reynolds , H I , Dürig , T , Strehlow , K , Rott , S , Reuschle , T & Dingwell , D B 2016 , ' Multidisciplinary constraints of hydrothermal explosions based on the 2013 Gengissig lake events, Kverkfjöll volcano, Iceland ' , Earth and Planetary Science Letters , vol. 434 , pp. 308-319 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2015.11.043 hydrothermal explosions lake drainage multidisciplinary deposits volume energy partitioning article 2016 ftubristolcris https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2015.11.043 2024-01-04T23:47:56Z Hydrothermal explosions frequently occur in geothermal areas showing various mechanisms and energies of explosivity. Their deposits, though generally hardly recognised or badly preserved, provide important insights to quantify the dynamics and energy of these poorly understood explosive events. Furthermore the host rock lithology of the geothermal system adds a control on the efficiency in the energy release during an explosion. We present results from a detailed study of recent hydrothermal explosion deposits within an active geothermal area at Kverkfjöll, a central volcano at the northern edge of Vatnajökull. On August 15th 2013, a small jökulhlaup occurred when the Gengissig ice-dammed lake drained at Kverkfjöll. The lake level dropped by approximately 30 m, decreasing pressure on the lake bed and triggering several hydrothermal explosions on the 16th. Here, a multidisciplinary approach combining detailed field work, laboratory studies, and models of the energetics of explosions with information on duration and amplitudes of seismic signals, has been used to analyse the mechanisms and characteristics of these hydrothermal explosions. Field and laboratory studies were also carried out to help constrain the sedimentary sequence involved in the event. The explosions lasted for 40–50 s and involved the surficial part of an unconsolidated and hydrothermally altered glacio-lacustrine deposit composed of pyroclasts, lavas, scoriaceous fragments, and fine-grained welded or loosely consolidated aggregates, interbedded with clay-rich levels. Several small fans of ejecta were formed, reaching a distance of 1 km north of the lake and covering an area of approximately 0.3 km 2 , with a maximum thickness of 40 cm at the crater walls. The material (volume of approximately 10 4 m 3 ) has been ejected by the expanding boiling fluid, generated by a pressure failure affecting the surficial geothermal reservoir. The maximum thermal, craterisation and ejection energies, calculated for the explosion areas, are on the order of 10 ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Iceland Vatnajökull University of Bristol: Bristol Research Dammed Lake ENVELOPE(-68.258,-68.258,68.496,68.496) Kverkfjöll ENVELOPE(-16.700,-16.700,64.650,64.650) Vatnajökull ENVELOPE(-16.823,-16.823,64.420,64.420) Earth and Planetary Science Letters 434 308 319 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Bristol: Bristol Research |
op_collection_id |
ftubristolcris |
language |
English |
topic |
hydrothermal explosions lake drainage multidisciplinary deposits volume energy partitioning |
spellingShingle |
hydrothermal explosions lake drainage multidisciplinary deposits volume energy partitioning Montanaro, Cristian Scheu, Bettina Gudmundsson, Magnus Tumi Vogfjörd, Kristin Reynolds, Hannah Iona Dürig, Tobias Strehlow, Karen Rott, Stefanie Reuschle, Thierry Dingwell, Donald Bruce Multidisciplinary constraints of hydrothermal explosions based on the 2013 Gengissig lake events, Kverkfjöll volcano, Iceland |
topic_facet |
hydrothermal explosions lake drainage multidisciplinary deposits volume energy partitioning |
description |
Hydrothermal explosions frequently occur in geothermal areas showing various mechanisms and energies of explosivity. Their deposits, though generally hardly recognised or badly preserved, provide important insights to quantify the dynamics and energy of these poorly understood explosive events. Furthermore the host rock lithology of the geothermal system adds a control on the efficiency in the energy release during an explosion. We present results from a detailed study of recent hydrothermal explosion deposits within an active geothermal area at Kverkfjöll, a central volcano at the northern edge of Vatnajökull. On August 15th 2013, a small jökulhlaup occurred when the Gengissig ice-dammed lake drained at Kverkfjöll. The lake level dropped by approximately 30 m, decreasing pressure on the lake bed and triggering several hydrothermal explosions on the 16th. Here, a multidisciplinary approach combining detailed field work, laboratory studies, and models of the energetics of explosions with information on duration and amplitudes of seismic signals, has been used to analyse the mechanisms and characteristics of these hydrothermal explosions. Field and laboratory studies were also carried out to help constrain the sedimentary sequence involved in the event. The explosions lasted for 40–50 s and involved the surficial part of an unconsolidated and hydrothermally altered glacio-lacustrine deposit composed of pyroclasts, lavas, scoriaceous fragments, and fine-grained welded or loosely consolidated aggregates, interbedded with clay-rich levels. Several small fans of ejecta were formed, reaching a distance of 1 km north of the lake and covering an area of approximately 0.3 km 2 , with a maximum thickness of 40 cm at the crater walls. The material (volume of approximately 10 4 m 3 ) has been ejected by the expanding boiling fluid, generated by a pressure failure affecting the surficial geothermal reservoir. The maximum thermal, craterisation and ejection energies, calculated for the explosion areas, are on the order of 10 ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Montanaro, Cristian Scheu, Bettina Gudmundsson, Magnus Tumi Vogfjörd, Kristin Reynolds, Hannah Iona Dürig, Tobias Strehlow, Karen Rott, Stefanie Reuschle, Thierry Dingwell, Donald Bruce |
author_facet |
Montanaro, Cristian Scheu, Bettina Gudmundsson, Magnus Tumi Vogfjörd, Kristin Reynolds, Hannah Iona Dürig, Tobias Strehlow, Karen Rott, Stefanie Reuschle, Thierry Dingwell, Donald Bruce |
author_sort |
Montanaro, Cristian |
title |
Multidisciplinary constraints of hydrothermal explosions based on the 2013 Gengissig lake events, Kverkfjöll volcano, Iceland |
title_short |
Multidisciplinary constraints of hydrothermal explosions based on the 2013 Gengissig lake events, Kverkfjöll volcano, Iceland |
title_full |
Multidisciplinary constraints of hydrothermal explosions based on the 2013 Gengissig lake events, Kverkfjöll volcano, Iceland |
title_fullStr |
Multidisciplinary constraints of hydrothermal explosions based on the 2013 Gengissig lake events, Kverkfjöll volcano, Iceland |
title_full_unstemmed |
Multidisciplinary constraints of hydrothermal explosions based on the 2013 Gengissig lake events, Kverkfjöll volcano, Iceland |
title_sort |
multidisciplinary constraints of hydrothermal explosions based on the 2013 gengissig lake events, kverkfjöll volcano, iceland |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/1983/7b7fffca-1143-48d8-98ea-a2cf3bf43f77 https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/7b7fffca-1143-48d8-98ea-a2cf3bf43f77 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2015.11.043 https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/files/75923705/1_s2.0_S0012821X15007475_main.pdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-68.258,-68.258,68.496,68.496) ENVELOPE(-16.700,-16.700,64.650,64.650) ENVELOPE(-16.823,-16.823,64.420,64.420) |
geographic |
Dammed Lake Kverkfjöll Vatnajökull |
geographic_facet |
Dammed Lake Kverkfjöll Vatnajökull |
genre |
Iceland Vatnajökull |
genre_facet |
Iceland Vatnajökull |
op_source |
Montanaro , C , Scheu , B , Gudmundsson , M T , Vogfjörd , K , Reynolds , H I , Dürig , T , Strehlow , K , Rott , S , Reuschle , T & Dingwell , D B 2016 , ' Multidisciplinary constraints of hydrothermal explosions based on the 2013 Gengissig lake events, Kverkfjöll volcano, Iceland ' , Earth and Planetary Science Letters , vol. 434 , pp. 308-319 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2015.11.043 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2015.11.043 |
container_title |
Earth and Planetary Science Letters |
container_volume |
434 |
container_start_page |
308 |
op_container_end_page |
319 |
_version_ |
1789333945743048704 |