The Independent Volcanic Eruption Source Parameter Archive (IVESPA, version 1.0): A new observational database to support explosive eruptive column model validation and development

Eruptive columnmodels are powerful tools for investigating the transport of volcanic gas and ash, reconstructing
past explosive eruptions, and simulating future hazards. However, the evaluation of these models is challenging
as it requires independent estimates of themainmodel inputs (e.g.mass eruption rate) and outputs (e.g. column
height). There exists no database of independently estimated eruption source parameters (ESPs) that is extensive,
standardized, maintained, and consensus-based. This paper introduces the Independent Volcanic Eruption
Source Parameter Archive (IVESPA, ivespa.co.uk), a community effort endorsed by the International Association
of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI) Commission on Tephra HazardModelling.We compiled
data for 134 explosive eruptive events, spanning the 1902-2016 period, with independent estimates of:
i) total erupted mass of fall deposits; ii) duration; iii) eruption column height; and iv) atmospheric conditions.
Crucially, we distinguish plume top versus umbrella spreading height, and the height of ash versus sulphur dioxide
injection. All parameter values provided have been vetted independently by at least two experts. Uncertainties
are quantified systematically, including flags to describe the degree of interpretation of the literature
required for each estimate. IVESPA also includes a range of additional parameters such as total grain size distribution,
eruption style, morphology of the plume (weak versus strong), and mass contribution from pyroclastic
density currents, where available. We discuss the future developments and potential applications of IVESPA
and make recommendations for reporting ESPs to maximize their usability across different applications.
IVESPA covers an unprecedented range of ESPs and can therefore be used to evaluate and develop eruptive column models across a wide range of conditions using a standardized dataset.