Modelling Deposition of Hydrothermal Eruption Ejecta

Abstract

Analytic solutions of the advection-dispersion equation that may be used to describe airborne concentrations after a release of small particles at some height are used to model the deposits from hydrothermal eruption events. The dynamics of the eruption jet are used to estimate the height to which rock particles are lifted, while wind velocity and turbulence parameters allow calculation of the dispersion and deposit profiles of the aerosols and liquid droplets.

The method can also be used for modelling other wind-dispersed particles (e.g. sand, dust, pollen, spray droplets) and can be also be continued below water surfaces to predict seabed or lakebed deposits of land-based solid-particle ejecta.