Magma degassing during subglacial eruptions and its use to reconstruct palaeo-ice thicknesses.

Tuffen, Hugh and Owen, Jacqueline and Denton, Joanna (2010) Magma degassing during subglacial eruptions and its use to reconstruct palaeo-ice thicknesses. Earth-Science Reviews, 99 (1-2). pp. 1-18. ISSN 0012-8252

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Abstract

The degassing of magmatic volatiles during eruptions beneath ice sheets and glaciers, as recorded by the dissolved volatile content quenched in volcanic rocks, could provide powerful new constraints on former ice thicknesses in volcanic areas. As volcanic rocks are readily dateable using radiometric methods, subglacial volcanoes may therefore provide crucial information on the timing of palaeo-environmental fluctuations in the Quaternary. Volatile degassing is also likely to control the mechanisms of subglacial eruptions and their associated hazards. In this paper we lay out a number of criteria that must be satisfied for degassing to potentially record palaeo-ice thicknesses, using a variety of new datasets and calculations to highlight existing problems with the technique. These include uncertainties about volatile solubilities, non-equilibrium degassing, sample heterogeneity, hydration, post-quenching movement and whether subglacial pressures deviated significantly from glaciostatic. We propose new strategies for improvement of the technique and discuss how magmatic volatiles may control the style of subglacial eruptions.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Earth-Science Reviews
Additional Information:
The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Earth-Science Reviews 99 (1-2), 2010, © ELSEVIER.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900
Subjects:
?? subglacial eruptionsglaciovolcanismice sheetpalaeoenvironmentsmagmadegassingicelandbritish columbiahyaloclastitepillow lavatuyatindarearth and planetary sciences(all)ge environmental sciences ??
ID Code:
27301
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
16 Oct 2009 12:08
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
31 Dec 2023 00:16