| Abstract: | Augustine Volcano has been a prolific producer of large debris avalanches during the Holocene. Originating as landslides from the steep upper edifice, these avalanches typically slide into the surrounding ocean. At least one debris avalanche that occurred in 1883 during an eruption initiated a far-traveled tsunami. The possible occurrence of another edifice collapse and ensuing tsunami was a concern during the 2006 eruption of Augustine. To aid in hazard assessments, we have evaluated the slope stability of Augustine‘s edifice, using a quasi-three-dimensional, geotechnically based slope-stability model implemented in the computer program SCOOPS. We analyzed the effects of topography, variations in rock strength, and earthquake-induced strong ground motion on the relative stability of millions of potential large (>0.1 km3 volume) slope failures throughout the edifice.
Preliminary results from pre-2006 topography provide three insights. First, the predicted stability of all parts of the upper edifice is approximately the same, suggesting an equal likelihood of slope failure, in agreement with geologic observations that debris avalanches have swept all sectors of the volcano. Second, the least stable (by a small amount) sector is on the east flank where a debris avalanche would flow into deeper ocean water and a resulting tsunami would be directed toward the southwestern part of the Kenai Peninsula. Third, most model scenarios predict stable edifice slopes, and only scenarios assuming extensive weak rocks and moderate to strong ground shaking predict potential large collapses. Because other transient triggering mechanisms, such as shallow magma intrusion, may be needed to instigate slope instability, monitoring ground deformation and seismicity could |
| Genre: | USGS Numbered Series |
| ProdID: | 98943 |
| Citation Author: | Reid, Mark E.; Brien, Dianne L.; Waythomas, Christopher F. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Alaska Volcano Observatory |
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| Citation Language: | ENGLISH |
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| Citation No Pagination: | N |
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| Citation Online Only Flag: | Y |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | 12 p.; p. 321-332 |
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| Citation Public Comments: | Chapter 14 of Power, J.A., Coombs, M.L., and Freymueller, J.T., ed., The 2006 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska |
| Citation Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Citation Series: | Professional Paper |
| Citation Series Code: | PP |
| Citation Series Number: | 1769-14 |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Preliminary Slope-Stability Analysis of Augustine Volcano; 2010; PP; 1769-14; Reid, Mark E.; Brien, Dianne L.; Waythomas, Christopher F. |
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| Citation Year: | 2010 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Preliminary Slope-Stability Analysis of Augustine Volcano; 2010; PP; 1769-14; Reid, Mark E.; Brien, Dianne L.; Waythomas, Christopher F. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/usgs_thumb.jpg |
| URL (INDEX PAGE): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1769/ |
| Date Other: | Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey |
