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Post-eruptive development of the Ukinrek East Maar since its eruption in 1977 A.D. in the periglacial area of south-west Alaska |
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| Authors: | MICHAEL PIRRUNG GEORG BÜCHEL VOLKER LORENZ† HANNS-CHRISTIAN TREUTLER‡ |
| Institution: | Institute for Geosciences, University of Jena, Burgweg 11, D-07749 Jena, Germany (E-mail: ); Institute for Geology, University of Würzburg, Pleicherwall 1, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany; UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Permoserstr. 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany Associate Editor: Adrian Immenhauser |
| Abstract: | Maar eruptions form small initially steep‐walled basins that contain important archives for the climatic and palaeoenvironmental history in continental areas. The two Ukinrek Maars in south‐western Alaska erupted between 30 March and 9 April 1977 and are the best‐documented maars that have erupted in historical time. This study presents a preliminary analysis of geomorphology, hydrology, magnetic susceptibility, geochemistry and sedimentology data of a field study in August 2004. These results, photographs and topographic surveys are combined for reconstructing the post‐eruptive evolution of Ukinrek East Maar. Within less than 30 years the initially polygonal shape of the crater with nearly vertical crater walls has developed into an almost elliptic form with slopes of 35° inclination on debris fans between a few escarpments. The water table and the crater floor have risen significantly and the crater diameter:depth ratio increased from 3·4 to 5·7, whereas the average height of the crater rim remained almost constant. The main sub‐aerial resedimentation process is formation of rock falls, rock slumps and scree resulting in debris flows and turbidites within the lake that is ice‐covered throughout about half of the year. Distal lake sediments consist of laminated minerogenic clayey‐sandy silts that document frequent turbidity currents. From the linear sedimentation rate of only ca 5 mm year?1 in 17 cm long cores it may be concluded that the largest portion of the crater sediments formed within the first few months of the maar history, however, this has to be confirmed by future studies. |
| Keywords: | Alaska crater sediments maar lake morphology Ukinrek Maars |