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Geomorphological reconstruction and morphometric modelling applied to past volcanism

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Abstract

Accurate and precise morphometric modelling can be extended to past eruptions after a careful palaeogeomorphological reconstruction of volcanic landforms in an oceanic island. This reconstruction was used to derive the pre-, post-eruption and present-day digital elevation models (DEM). The correct pixel size, interpolation method and quality of these DEMs are discussed. The process in a Geographical Information System framework of the geological information of cone, lava flow and tephra fall deposits together and the aforementioned DEMs allowed the determination of main morphological features of these volcanic landforms and their derivatives. The calibration and validation of morphometric modelling were performed on simulated volcanic landforms, and verified by a case study: a typical Holocene monogenetic basaltic eruption at Gran Canaria Island (Spain).

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for their support through the pre-doctoral grant of A. Rodriguez-Gonzalez. This work was partially funded by Project PI2002/148 of the Canary Government and by Project GRANCA, Spanish Commission CICYT, Ministry of Education and Science (Ref. CGL2004-04039/BTE). The research was carried out in the framework of the Research Consolidated Group SGR-2005-795 PEGEFA (Applied and Basic Petrology and Geochemistry), funded by AGAUR-DURSI, Generalitat de Catalunya. The English of the final draft of the manuscript was improved by Frances Luttikhuizen and Pauline Agnew. Dr. Carracedo and an anonymous referee improved the manuscript with their helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Física-Geología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Campus de Tafira, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

    A. Rodriguez-Gonzalez & F. J. Perez-Torrado

  2. Institute of Earth Sciences J. Almera, CSIC, Sole i Sabaris s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    J. L. Fernandez-Turiel

  3. Faculty of Geology, University of Barcelona, Marti i Franques s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    D. Gimeno & M. Aulinas

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  1. A. Rodriguez-Gonzalez
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  2. J. L. Fernandez-Turiel
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  3. F. J. Perez-Torrado
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  4. D. Gimeno
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  5. M. Aulinas
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Correspondence to A. Rodriguez-Gonzalez.

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Rodriguez-Gonzalez, A., Fernandez-Turiel, J.L., Perez-Torrado, F.J. et al. Geomorphological reconstruction and morphometric modelling applied to past volcanism. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 99, 645–660 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-008-0413-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-008-0413-1

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