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Are Plinian type eruptions possible on Venus?Calculations of dynamics of eruption plumes in the Venusian atmosphere reveal the following results: (1) conditions for a convective eruption column are very limited on Venus with required magma temperatures higher than 1100 K; otherwise pyroclastic flows form; (2) once a convective eruption column is established, it may extend as high as about the tropopause (approximately 60 km); and (3) critical eruption velocities for a convective eruption column as a function of temperature and gas content of magma may provide a useful tool for estimating interior condition of Venus, including its volatile inventory. Volcanism is a major process to transport volatile from mantle of a planet to its surface (degassing) as well as heat and mass, all of which affect planetary evolution. For example, after completion of planetary accretion, volcanism is the dominant continuous degassing process for all the terrestrial planets. Explosive volcanism is a very important process for mantle degassing due to its high magma gas content. Consequently, eruption styles and the controlling physical processes need to be understood. Recent satellite and terrestrial ground-based observations suggest existence of explosive volcanism on Venus even though explosive volcanism is very difficult to occur on Venus due to its high atmospheric pressure. The purpose is to investigate dynamics of explosive eruption on Venus and the relation between eruption conditions such as gas content and temperature of magma and eruption velocity, and eruption styles such as Plinian type and pyroclastic flow type.
Document ID
19940016330
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Sugita, Seiji
(Brown Univ. Providence, RI, United States)
Matsui, Takafumi
(Tokyo Univ. Japan)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Lunar and Planetary Inst., Twenty-Fourth Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Part 3: N-Z
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
94N20803
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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