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Caldera geometry determined by the depth of the magma chamber

Earth, Planets and Space volume 57, pages e17–e20 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

The depth of the magma chamber is shown to be an important factor governing the initial type, scale, and collapse of a caldera. The collapse of the magma chamber is approximated by the contraction of a sphere in an elastic medium, and the distribution of plastic and/or rupturing area on the surface is calculated using the Coulomb failure criterion under the assumption of an elastic-perfectly plastic material. It is found that the necessary contraction for the formation of a caldera is described by fifth-power polynomial expression of the depth of the magma chamber, and that the radius and geometry of the caldera are dependent on the depth of the magma chamber.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, 3-20-1 Shimizu-ku, Orido, Shizuoka, 424-8610, Japan

    Shigekazu Kusumoto

  2. Institute for Geothermal Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Noguchibaru, Beppu, Oita, 874-0903, Japan

    Keiji Takemura

Authors
  1. Shigekazu Kusumoto
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  2. Keiji Takemura
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Correspondence to Shigekazu Kusumoto.

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Kusumoto, S., Takemura, K. Caldera geometry determined by the depth of the magma chamber. Earth Planet Sp 57, e17–e20 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03351879

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Key words

  • Caldera
  • magma chamber
  • caldera geometry
  • depth of magma chamber
  • numerical simulation