Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 5 of 5

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Exploring Links Between Physical And Probabilistic Models Of Volcanic Eruptions: The Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat, Charles B. Connor, R. S. J. Sparks, R. M. Mason, Costanza Bonadonna, S. R. Young Jul 2003

Exploring Links Between Physical And Probabilistic Models Of Volcanic Eruptions: The Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat, Charles B. Connor, R. S. J. Sparks, R. M. Mason, Costanza Bonadonna, S. R. Young

Geology Faculty Publications

Probabilistic methods play an increasingly important role in volcanic hazards forecasts. Here we show that a probability distribution characterized by competing processes provides an excellent statistical fit (>99% confidence) to repose intervals between 75 vulcanian explosions of Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat in September–October, 1997. The excellent fit is explained by a physical model in which there are competing processes operating in the upper volcano conduit on different time scales: pressurization due to rheological stiffening and gas exsolution, and depressurization due to development of permeability and gas escape. Our experience with the Soufrière Hills Volcano eruption sequence suggests that volcanic …


Hydrogeologic Principles Useful In Predicting The Effects Of Stream Flow Alterations On Shallow Groundwater And Associated Riparian Vegetation, Mark Cable Rains Jul 2003

Hydrogeologic Principles Useful In Predicting The Effects Of Stream Flow Alterations On Shallow Groundwater And Associated Riparian Vegetation, Mark Cable Rains

Geology Faculty Publications

Numerous studies have shown that stream water and shallow groundwater are tightly linked in alluvial settings, and that changes in stream stage are propagated rapidly across alluvial aquifers (Castro and Hornberger 1991, Sophocleous 1991). Thus, many researchers have assumed that stream stages approximate water tables in alluvial aquifers (Auble et al. 1994, Stromberg and Patten 1996). This assumption is valid in some cases but invalid in other cases, particularly in arid basin terrain and more humid mountain terrain. Even when this assumption is valid, this relationship only implies correlation and not causation so the potential effects of stream flow alterations …


Melting Processes And Fluid And Sediment Transport Rates Along The Alaska-Aleutian Arc From An Integrated U-Th-Ra-Be Isotope Study, Rhiannon George, Simon Turner, Chris Hawkesworth, Julie Morris, Chris Nye, Jeffrey G. Ryan, Shu-Hui Zheng May 2003

Melting Processes And Fluid And Sediment Transport Rates Along The Alaska-Aleutian Arc From An Integrated U-Th-Ra-Be Isotope Study, Rhiannon George, Simon Turner, Chris Hawkesworth, Julie Morris, Chris Nye, Jeffrey G. Ryan, Shu-Hui Zheng

Geology Faculty Publications

A comprehensive data set for young lavas erupted along the Alaska-Aleutian arc is used to examine how fluid and sediment transport rates and melting processes vary in response to systematic changes in subduction rate and dip along the arc and across the ocean-continent boundary. Positive correlations between convergence rate, volcano volume, and 238U excesses suggest that magmatic output is closely linked to the size of the fluid flux which occurred <10 kyr prior to eruption. Sediment-sensitive tracers like Th/Nb, Ce/Ce*, and 10Be/9Be also increase with convergence rate. However, the inferred 10Be/9Be ratio of this component is low relative to that in the incoming sediments, …


Beach Profile Evolution Under Plunging And Spilling Breakers, Ping Wang, Bruce A. Ebersole, Ernest R. Smith Jan 2003

Beach Profile Evolution Under Plunging And Spilling Breakers, Ping Wang, Bruce A. Ebersole, Ernest R. Smith

Geology Faculty Publications

Beach-profile evolution, along with measurements of waves, currents, and sediment concentration, under spilling and plunging breakers of similar height were studied in the three-dimensional Large-Scale Sediment Transport Facility at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. Unidirectional irregular waves were generated over a fine-sand beach. Beach-profile shape reached equilibrium after 1,330 and 280 min of spilling and plunging wave actions, respectively. Near the main breaker line, the profile evolved differently under plunging and spilling breakers. Across most of the midsurf zone dominated by surf bores, the equilibrium profile shapes were similar. Uniform energy dissipation per unit volume at equilibrium, …


Evaluation Of The Cerc Formula Using Large-Scale Laboratory Data, Ernest R. Smith, Ping Wang, Jun Zhang Jan 2003

Evaluation Of The Cerc Formula Using Large-Scale Laboratory Data, Ernest R. Smith, Ping Wang, Jun Zhang

Geology Faculty Publications

Longshore transport experiments were conducted in a large-scale physical model to evaluate predictions of the CERC formula with measured longshore sediment transport rates. It was found that the CERC formula produced reasonable estimates if the coefficient K was calibrated and applied to waves with similar breaker type. The calibrated K values are much smaller than values that are commonly used, and there appears to be a strong dependency of transport rate on breaker type. Additional comparisons were made with the formula proposed by Kamphuis (1991). The Kamphuis equation, which includes wave period, a factor that influences breaking, gave good estimates. …