TITAN2D Simulations of Pyroclastic Flows from Small Scale Eruption at Mt. Baekdusan

Abstract

Many eruptions of Mt. Baekdusan volcano have been recorded in the historical literatures, and there were unrest precursors in 2002. Based on the geological survey results, it has been recognized that Mt. Baekdusan’s Plinian eruptions had caused ashfall, followed by the occurrence of pyroclastic flows, which were caused by the collapse of eruption column. Therefore, we simulated the range of the impacts of pyroclastic flows, which were caused by small eruptions from a specific crater. Based on the simulation results, it can be interpreted that, when the pyroclastic flows are caused by the eruption column collapse from an eruption with less than VEI 3, the impacts will range from the outer rim of the caldera to the mountain slope 7 km at the maximum distance. Furthermore, it is interpreted that, when the eruption column occurs by the crater located inside the caldera, most will be deposited inside the caldera and what overflows will be deposited thickly mostly in the north valley, the upper stream region of Erdaobaihe.