Explosive eruptions can generate large volumes of juvenile and lithic material (tephra), which can be transported vast distances from the volcano. Depending upon the eruption style and/or the interaction with external factors (e.g., water), the processes involved in the generation and dispersion of the tephra can be varied, and this diversity can enhance, and/or preclude, its effective preservation in the geological record – a key input for hazard assessments. By better understanding the syn- and post-eruptive processes involved in tephra-generating eruptions, our ability to prepare for and mitigate against a wide range of hazards (e.g., impacts on health, infrastructure and the economy) vastly improves, in turn in turn reducing the impact of explosive eruptions on society.
Advancements in volcanology since the early 2000’s have seen a steady increase in our understanding of the way tephra is generated, transported and deposited, and has facilitated a much more comprehensive understanding of (1) how frequently explosive eruptions occur on a global scale, (2) how different volcanic systems behave, and (3) the timescales upon which different hazards may emerge across different regions. Coupled with advances in numerical/computational tephra dispersion modelling, we are becoming increasingly informed of past eruptions and their processes, as well as the tracking and forecasting of current and real-time explosive eruptions.
We invite contributions that continue to improve our understanding of explosive eruption dynamics through the study of tephra emission, dispersal, and preservation; encouraging submissions from a variety of research themes including (but not limited to) physical volcanology, tephrochronology, geochemistry/petrology, stratigraphy, computer modelling, environmental management, and hazard forecasting. This session runs in parallel with an open call for paper submissions to a Geological Society of London and AGU GeoHorizons book volume titled “Tephra: from reconstructing past volcanic eruptions to modelling and forecasting future hazards” edited by Hodgetts et al. Thus, we particularly encourage submissions that demonstrate interdisciplinary science to further expand our knowledge of tephra-generating eruptions and their processes.
This session is sponsored by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI) Commission on Tephra Hazard Modelling (THM) and Commission on Tephrochronology (COT).