sthiele_thesis_revised_unsigned.pdf (18.58 MB)
Drones, dykes and discontinuities: the role of intrusions in the construction and destruction of ocean island volcanoes
thesis
posted on 2019-11-22, 00:05 authored by SAMUEL THOMAS THIELEDuring volcanic eruptions, magma flows from an underground magma chamber to the Earth’s
surface. Some of this magma solidifies before erupting, forming sheets of strong rock called
dykes. The distribution of dykes in a volcano on the island of La Palma was mapped using
drone-mounted cameras, and their orientation and geometry quantified. The dykes appear to
form a rigid framework that stabilizes the volcano, but can rapidly collapse to cause volcanic
landslides. Older dykes also deflect younger ones, affecting the location of future eruptions.
These findings have the potential to help predict future volcanic activity and manage associated
risks.