Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/A/S/2003/00444
Eruption rate, frequency and environmental impact of flood basalt super-eruptions in the Columbia River Basalt Province
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor S Self, The Open University, Environment, Earth & Ecosystems
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr M Widdowson, University of Hull, Geology
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor DW Jolley, University of Aberdeen, Geology and Petroleum Geology
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor SP Kelley, University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment
- Grant held at:
- The Open University, Environment, Earth & Ecosystems
- Science Area:
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Science Topics:
- Earth Surface Processes
- Land - Atmosphere Interactions
- Volcanic Processes
- Properties Of Earth Materials
- Palaeoenvironments
- Abstract:
- We propose to quantify the style and duration of the environmental impact of continental flood basalt (CRB) magmatism using the Miocene Columbia River Basalt (CRB) province as a model. We will use high precision 40Ar/39Ar dating of plagioclase and high-K material to date the lava flows, combined with palynological and palaeofloral evidence from inter-flow sediments, in order to characterise inter-eruption periods between selected flows. The aims of this study are to: ? Identify and temporally quantify the major eruptive episodes in a typical CRB province. ? Examine the degree and type of plant recolonization between major flood lava eruptions using paleofloral and paleosol evidence. ? Determine magma eruption and degassing rates during the eruptive acme of a CRB province. If our age data reveal that there are long periods of continuous release of high eruption-rate, huge-volume lava fields, then the environmental impact of these prolonged eruptions is likely to be severe and we will expect to see an associated floral response (e.g. reduction in diversity). Moreover, if the eruption of the whole, main CRB volcanic pulse proves to be even shorter in duration than the small errors on our high-precision age dates, this then would unequivocally demonstrate extremely high lava output rates. This finding would have wide ranging implications for environmental impact, but also for models of flood basalt petrogenesis and efficiency of melt extraction and transfer. Conversely, if our results demonstrate long hiatuses between eruptions, then the environmental impact of this and similar CRBs may be limited to occasional large gas-release events with considerable time for substantial environmental recovery between eruptions. Such a recovery scenario will be apparent from our associated paleofloral studies. Consequently, our results will be important in determining the wider environmental impact of CRB volcanism, and for assessing rates of lava production in other major flood basalt provinces.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/A/S/2003/00444
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £162,215
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £91,362 | £8,356 | £20,471 | £42,026 |
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