Gravitational spreading and formation of new rift zones on overlapping volcanoes.

Walter, Thomas R., Klügel, Andreas and Münn, Sebastian (2006) Gravitational spreading and formation of new rift zones on overlapping volcanoes. Terra Nova, 18 (1). pp. 26-33. DOI 10.1111/j.1365-3121.2005.00656.x.

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Abstract

Large volcanic edifices are often shaped by the coalescence of adjacent volcanoes as well as intrusive rift zones and gravitational spreading. To better understand the structure of such volcanoes we designed analogue experiments simulating gravitational spreading of an edifice made by overlapping cones of different age, and examined the formation of rift zones. The results allow distinction of two main rift geometries. (i) Spreading edifices of similar age that partly overlap, tend to develop a rift zone approximately perpendicular to the boundary of both volcanoes. Such a rift zone causes two volcanoes to grow together and form an elongated topographic ridge. (ii) Partly overlapping volcanoes of different age are spreading at different rates and thus form a rift zone parallel to the boundary of both volcanoes. Such a rift zone causes two volcanoes to structurally separate. The results are widely applicable for large volcanoes subject to rifting and flank spreading, which we demonstrate for Réunion Island and for southern Hawaii.

Document Type: Article
Keywords: Gravitational spreading, new rift zones, overlapping volcanoes, Réunion Island, southern Hawaii
Research affiliation: OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB4 Dynamics of the Ocean Floor > FB4-MUHS
HGF-GFZ
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: Wiley
Date Deposited: 03 Dec 2008 16:51
Last Modified: 23 Sep 2019 16:53
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/7571

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