Location: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Web: http://www.geomorphology2009.com/
Includes the following sessions:
Volcanic Geomorphology
Convenors: Karoly Nemeth (k.nemeth@massey.ac.nz), Jean-Claude Thouret (j.c.thouret@opgc.univ-bpclermont.fr), Bernie Joyce (ebj@unimelb.edu.au)
Volcanic processes are inherently complex and diverse resulting in extreme variations in morphology and the volcanoes effect on the surrounding environment. Volcanoes resulting from either a single event or longer lasting volcanic processes have the ability to alter their surrounding environment. In addition, volcanic activity is considered to be significant factor in climate change both locally and globally. These changes can alter human social evolution, and therefore volcanism can play an important role in human communities on the daily basis. This multidisciplinary session calls for papers dealing with every aspect of volcanism, both physical and social geographically.
Classical studies in geomorphology, such as morphological evolution and geochronology of volcanic reliefs, as well as morphotectonics, morphometry, have demonstrated to be vitally important in understanding many aspects of volcanic processes. The use of new techniques (morphometry, DEM, fractal, regoliths and soils analyses) to date volcanic landforms have proven to be powerful tools to the understanding of volcanic impact in landscape evolution, and short- and long-term erosion of volcanoes and/or their environment. Geoarchaeology and social study methods, including the collection of oral traditions, illustrate the affect volcanism has on human societies. The evolution of sub-oceanic and oceanic volcanoes, and their morphological evolution and submarine sedimentation, are considered to be new trends in volcanic geomorphology research. Detailed studies of eruptive history from sedimentology, physical volcanology geochronology, and geochemistry have also led to the development of realistic, probabilistic models for future eruption activity. Erosion on volcanic slopes and in watersheds has also recently acquired extensive research interest. Quantitative sediment budget and erosion rates in watersheds on active volcanoes have helped refine short term erosion processes. Repeated patterns in volcanic flank instability, mass flows (debris avalanches, debris flows, and mudflows) and resulting natural hazards such as tsunamis may be controlled by external factors. These volcanic events greatly impact the natural and human environment. Interaction of the hydrosphere (glacier, subsurface and surface water) and volcanic activity resulting in phreatomagmatism is considered to be highly hazardous phenomena and generate unique depositional record and volcanic landforms. Hazard-mapping methods and advanced hazard and risk assessment in populated areas on and around active volcanoes have significant social geography aspects and therefore those researches are also welcome in this session.
The session will focus and call contributions centred around four major aspects: