Exceptional mobility of an advancing rhyolitic obsidian flow at Cordón Caulle volcano in Chile

Hugh Tuffen (), Mike R. James, Jonathan M. Castro and C. Ian Schipper
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Hugh Tuffen: Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University
Mike R. James: Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University
Jonathan M. Castro: University of Mainz, Institute of Geosciences, Becherweg 21, 55099 Mainz, Germany
C. Ian Schipper: School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract The emplacement mechanisms of rhyolitic lava flows are enigmatic and, despite high lava viscosities and low inferred effusion rates, can result in remarkably, laterally extensive (>30 km) flow fields. Here we present the first observations of an active, extensive rhyolitic lava flow field from the 2011–2012 eruption at Cordón Caulle, Chile. We combine high-resolution four-dimensional flow front models, created using automated photo reconstruction techniques, with sequential satellite imagery. Late-stage evolution greatly extended the compound lava flow field, with localized extrusion from stalled, ~35 m-thick flow margins creating >80 breakout lobes. In January 2013, flow front advance continued ~3.6 km from the vent, despite detectable lava supply ceasing 6–8 months earlier. This illustrates how efficient thermal insulation by the lava carapace promotes prolonged within-flow horizontal lava transport, boosting the extent of the flow. The unexpected similarities with compound basaltic lava flow fields point towards a unifying model of lava emplacement.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3709

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