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Item The complexities of assessing volcanic hazards along the Cameroon Volcanic Line using spatial distribution of monogenetic volcanoes(Elsevier B V, Amsterdam, 2022-07) Schmidt C; Laag C; Whitehead M; Profe J; Tongwa Aka F; Hasegawa T; Kereszturi GVolcanic eruptions represent hazards for local communities and infrastructure. Monogenetic volcanoes (usually) erupt only once, and then volcanic activity moves to another location, making quantitative assessment of eruptive hazards challenging. Spatio-temporal patterns in the occurrence of these eruptions may provide valuable information on locations more likely to host future eruptions within monogenetic volcanic fields. While the eruption histories of many stratovolcanoes along the Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL) are relatively well studied, only fragmentary data exist on the distribution and timing of this region's extensive monogenetic volcanism (scoria cones, tuff rings, maars). Here, we present for the first time a catalog of monogenetic vents on the CVL. These were identified by their characteristic morphologies using field knowledge, the global SRTM Digital Elevation Model (30 m resolution), and satellite imagery. More than ~1100 scoria cones and 50 maars/tuff rings were identified and divided into eight monogenetic volcanic fields based on the visual assessment of clustering and geological information. Spatial analyses show a large range of areal densities between the volcanic fields from >0.2 km−2 to 0.02 km−2 from the southwest towards the northeast. This finding is in general agreement with previous observations, indicating closely spaced and smaller edifices typical of fissure-fed eruptions on the flanks of Bioko and Mt. Cameroon in the southwest, and a more focused plumbing system resulting in larger edifices of lower spatial density towards the northeast. Spatial patterns were smoothed via kernel density estimates (KDE) using the Summed Asymptotic Mean Squared Error (SAMSE) bandwidth estimator, the results of which may provide an uncertainty range for a first-order hazard assessment of vent opening probability along the CVL. Due to the scarce chronological data and the complex structural controls across the region, it was not possible to estimate the number of vents formed during the same eruptive events. Similarly, the percentage of hidden (buried, eroded) vents could not be assessed with any acceptable statistical certainty. Furthermore, the impact of different approaches (convex hull, minimum area rectangle and ellipse, KDE isopaches) to define volcanic field boundaries on the spatial distribution of vents was tested. While the KDE boundary definition appears to reflect the structure of a monogenetic volcanic field better than other approaches, no ideal boundary definition was found. Finally, the dimension of scoria cones (approximated by their basal diameters) across the CVL was contrasted to the specific geodynamic setting. This region presents a complex problem for volcanic hazard analysis that cannot be solved through basic statistical methods and, thus, provides a potential testbed for novel, multi-disciplinary approaches.Item Pitfalls in erosion level calculation based on remnants of maar and diatreme volcanoes (Les pièges de la reconstitution des topographies d'érosion initiales fondée sur les vestiges des maars et diatrèmes volcaniques)(Massey University., 2007-01-01) Nemeth, Karoly; Martin, Ulrike; Csillag, GaborAbstract Erosion estimates based on geometrical dimension measurements of eroded maar/diatreme volcanoes are useful methods to determine syn-volcanic surface level and syn-volcanic bedrock stratigraphy. However, such considerations on volcanic architecture should only be employed as a first-order approach to determine the state of erosion. We demonstrate, on both young and eroded maar/diatreme volcanoes, that establishing the volcanic facies architecture gives vital information on the environment in which the volcano erupted. In 'soft' rocks, maar volcanoes are broad and underlain by 'champagne glass'-shaped diatremes. In contrast, the crater wall of maar volcanoes that erupted through "hard rocks" will be steep, filled with lacustrine volcaniclastic deposits and underlain by deep diatremes. Résumé L'estimation de l'érosion fondée sur la géométrie des volcans de type maar-diatrème est une méthode applicable à la reconstruction de la surface syn-volcanique et de la stratigraphie de la série sous-jacente. Toutefois les considérations relatives à l'architecture volcanique doivent seulement être utilisées comme une première approche pour déterminer le niveau initial de la surface aujourd'hui érodée. Nous démontrons que la détermination des faciès volcaniques, tant dans les maars-diatrèmes récents que dans les systèmes érodés de ce type, donne des informations fondamentales sur la nature des roches encaissantes au sein desquelles l'éruption volcanique s'est produite. Dans les roches encaissantes meubles, les maars sont larges avec un diatrème sous-jacent en forme de « coupe de champagne». Au contraire, au sein de roches plus résistantes, les cratères de maars sont entourés de parois raides et bien souvent remplis de dépôts lacustres d'origine volcanoclastique qui masquent des diatrèmes profonds.Item Understanding the evolution of maar craters(Massey University., 2006-01-01) Haller, Miguel J.; de Wall, Helga; Martin, Ulrike; Nemeth, KarolyNo abstract availableItem Cenozoic diatreme field in Chubut (Argentina) as evidence of phreatomagmatic volcanism accompanied with extensive Patagonian plateau basalt volcanism?(International Union of Geological Sciences, 2007) Nemeth K; Martin U; Haller MJ; Alric VIIn Patagonia, Argentina, at the northern border of the Patagonian Cenozoic mafic plateau lava fields, newly discovered diatremes stand about 100 m above the surrounding plain. These diatremes document phreatomagmatic episodes associated with the formation of the volcanic fields. The identified pyroclastic and intrusive rocks are exposed lower diatremes of former phreatomagmatic volcanoes and their feeding dyke systems. These remotely located erosional remnants cut through Paleozoic granitoids and Jurassic/Cretaceous alternating siliciclastic continental successions that are relatively easily eroded. Plateau lava fields are generally located a few hundreds of metres above the highest level of the present tops of the preserved diatremes suggesting a complex erosional history and potential interrelationships between the newly identified diatremes and the surrounding lava fields. Uprising magma from the underlying feeder dyke into the diatreme root zone intruded the clastic debris in the diatremes, inflated them and mingled with the debris to form subterranean peperite. The significance of identifying diatremes in Patagonia are twofold: 1) in the syn-eruptive paleoenvironment, water was available in various "soft-sediments", commonly porous, media aquifer sources, and 2) the identified abundant diatremes that form diatreme fields are good source candidates for the extensive lava fields with phreatomagmatism facilitating magma rise with effective opening of fissures before major lava effusions.Item MAAR conference in Hungary(Massey University., 2005-01-01) Martin, Ulrike; Nemeth, KarolyNo abstract availableItem Mio/Pliocene phreatomagmatic volcanism in the Western Pannonian Basin(Massey University., 2004-01-01) Martin, Ulrike; Nemeth, KarolyNo abstract availableItem Syn- and post-eruptive erosion, gully formation, and morphological evolution of a tephra ring in tropical climate erupted in 1913 in West Ambrym, Vanuatu(Elsevier, 2007) Nemeth K; Cronin SJSyn- and post-eruptive erosion of volcanic cones plays an important role in mass redistribution of tephra over short periods. Descriptions of the early stages of erosion of tephra from monogenetic volcanic cones are rare, particularly those with a well-constrained timing of events. In spite of this lack of data, cone morphologies and erosion features are commonly used for long-term erosion-rate calculations and relative age determinations in volcanic fields. This paper offers new observations which suggest differing constraints on the timing of erosion of a tephra ring may be operating than those conventionally cited. In 1913 a tephra ring was formed as part of an eruption in west Ambrym Island, Vanuatu and is now exposed along a continuous 2.5 km long coastal section. The ring surrounds an oval shaped depression filled by water. It is composed of a succession of a phreatomagmatic fall and base-surge beds, interbedded with thin scoriaceous lapilli units. Toward the outer edges of the ring, base-surge beds are gradually replaced in the succession by fine ash-dominated debris flows and hyperconcentrated flow deposits. The inter-fingering of phreatomagmatic deposits with syn-volcanic reworked volcaniclastic sediments indicates that an ongoing remobilisation of freshly deposited tephra was already occurring during the eruption. Gullies cut into the un-weathered tephra are up to 4 m deep and commonly have c. 1 m of debris flow deposit fill in their bases. There is no indication of weathering, vegetation fragments or soil development between the gully bases and the basal debris flow fills. Gully walls are steep and superficial fans of collapsed sediment are common. Most gullies are heavily vegetated although some active (ephemeral) channels occur. These observations suggest that the majority of the erosion of such tephra rings in tropical climates takes place directly during eruption and possibly for only a period of days to weeks afterward. After establishment of the gully network, tephra remobilisation is concentrated only within them. Therefore the shape of the erosion-modified volcanic landform is predominantly developed shortly after the eruption ceases. This observation indicates that gully erosion morphology may not necessarily relate to age of such a landform. Different intensities of erosion during eruption (related to water supply or rainfall) are probably the major influence on gully spacing, modal depth and form. Longer-term post-eruption processes that could be indicators of relative age may include internal gully deepening (below basal debris flow fill sediments) and possibly widening and side-slope lowering due to undercutting and side-collapse. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Item Large hydrovolcanic field in the Pannonian Basin: general characteristics of the Bakony- Balaton Highland Volcanic Field, Hungary.(Massey University., 1999-01-01) Nemeth, Karoly; Martin, UlrikeNo abstract availableItem Pliocene crater lake deposits and soft sediment deformation structures associated with a phreatomagmatic volcano, Pula maar, western Hungary.(Massey University., 2002-01-01) Nemeth, Karoly; Martin, Ulrike; Csillag, GaborNo abstract availableItem Eroded porous-media aquifer controlled hydrovolcanic centers in the South Lake Balaton region, Hungary: The Boglar volcano(Akad�miai Kiad�, 1999) Nemeth K; Martin U; Philippe MThe volcanic centers next to Balatonboglar township represent 3.5 Ma old products of post-extensional alkaline basaltic volcanism in the Pannonian Basin (eastern Central Europe). They are small, eroded volcanic centers located on the southern shore of Lake Balaton and genetically related to the Bakony-Balaton Highland Volcanic Field eruptive centers. The relatively small area (500 m x 500 m) contains at least 2 eruptive centers, which are probably related to each other and have built up a complex volcano, called the Boglar Volcano. The volcanic rocks overlie the older Pannonian clastic sedimentary sequence and represent the topographic highs in this area. The areas of lower elevation around the eruptive centers are covered by Pleistocene to Holocene swamp, lake and river clastic sediments, which strongly suggest intense erosion during the last few million years. All volcanic rocks around Balatonboglar are volcaniclastic. There is no evidence of lava flow occurrence. The volcaniclastic sediments have been divided into two lithofacies associations. The largest amount of volcaniclastic rocks is located in the center of the local hills and has been interpreted as a phreatomagmatic crater fill lapilli tuff. They contain large amphibole megacrysts and small olivine crystals. The second lithofacies association is interpreted as lahar deposits. This sequence contains an unusually large amount of fossil tree trunks, which are identified as Abies species. Within a small area in the western hills small outcrops show evidence of maar-lake clastic sediment occurrence. On the hilltops debris shows intimate interaction processes between clastic sediments and basaltic melt. We interpret this to mean that the eruptive centers of Boglar Volcano were formed under subaerial conditions, with explosions fueled by intensive interaction between water-saturated Pannonian sand and uprising basaltic magma.