The influence of vegetation cover on the grain-size distributions and thicknesses of two Icelandic tephra layers

Conner Morison*, Richard Streeter

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Grain-size distributions and thicknesses of tephra layers are used to reconstruct characteristics, dynamics, and hazards of explosive volcanic eruptions, but the extent to which the preservation of tephra is influenced by depositional environments is unclear. This paper analyses grain-size distributions and thicknesses of tephra layers produced by the Eyjafjallajökull (2010) and Grímsvötn (2011) eruptions. We collected 110 tephra samples and layer thickness measurements from 86 sites at two locations in southern Iceland. Areas of different vegetation cover have varying capacities to affect rates of tephra erosion, retain fallout, or capture remobilised tephra. The Grímsvötn tephra was somewhat coarser-grained and thicker in areas of birch woodland than in adjacent moss heath, but no comparable differences in the Eyjafjallajökull tephra were observed. The spatial variability (over tens of metres) of median particle-size and layer thickness is low, providing confidence that relatively few samples and measurements may be required to capture fallout characteristics.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)227-248
JournalVolcanica
Volume5
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Aug 2022

Keywords

  • Eyjafjallajökull
  • Grímsvötn
  • Volcanic ash
  • Granulometry
  • Eruption source parameters
  • Remobilisation
  • Tephrovolcanology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The influence of vegetation cover on the grain-size distributions and thicknesses of two Icelandic tephra layers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this