A stress-controlled mechanism for the intensity of very large magnitude explosive eruptions

Large magnitude explosive eruptions are the result of the rapid and large-scale transport of silicic magma
stored in the Earth's crust, but the mechanics of erupting teratonnes of silicic magma remain poorly
understood. Here, we demonstrate that the combined effect of local crustal extension and magma chamber
overpressure can sustain linear dyke-fed explosive eruptions with mass fluxes in excess of 1010 kg/s from
shallow-seated (4–6 km depth) chambers during moderate extensional stresses. Early eruption column
collapse is facilitated with eruption duration of the order of few days with an intensity of at least one order of
magnitude greater than the largest eruptions in the 20th century. The conditions explored in this study are
one way in which high mass eruption rates can be achieved to feed large explosive eruptions. Our results
corroborate geological and volcanological evidences from volcano-tectonic complexes such as the Sierra
Madre Occidental (Mexico) and the Taupo Volcanic Zone (New Zealand).