Geometrical evolution of volcanoes: a theoretical approach

Abstract

Shape ofmany volcanic edifices depend on different phenomena, such as parasitic cones, erosion or coral growth. A nonlinear model proposed in 1981 proves that the shape of volcanoes is determined by the hydraulic resistance to the flow of magma, along a line, through the porous edifice. This model was later extended to include the shape of aseismic and submarine ridges. In this paperwe propose a modification of the above mentionedmodels in order to simulate the more realistic case of volcanoes growth assuming they have a limited base. We present the 3D extension and a generalization of the model. We formulate a new model including the case of a possible outpointing flow.