Depressurisation from edifice collapse events can impact the subvolcanic plumbing system as a propagation wave moves down through the system shifting the fragmentation zone. Understanding how this influences the eruptive behaviour at a volcano is important for understanding changes in hazards following a large edifice collapse event. Mt. Taranaki has experienced at least 16 collapse events within its > 200 kyr history. Two of the largest collapse events the 27.3 ka Ngaere and 24.8 ka Pungarehu debris avalanches occurred in close succession and were encompassed by the Poto and Paetahi tephra formations, made up of 28 subplinian eruptions over ~ 4,000 years. This eruptive period provides a unique opportunity to examine and understand the influence that edifice collapse events have on the subvolcanic plumbing system. Using 3D Micro-Computed Tomography at the Australian Synchrotron bubble textural analysis was undertaken to investigate the changes in pyroclastic textures from large explosive eruptions and how these change following an edifice collapse event. The high-resolution 3D scans indicate that the eruptive products from the Poto and Paetahi Formations are dominated by small bubbles (2.7 x 10-7 mm3) with high bubble number densities ranging from 2.56 x 1015 cm-3 to 1.74 x 1016 cm-3. Bubble size distributions for the Poto and Paetahi Formations indicate a range of bubble nucleation and growth processes occurring within the subvolcanic plumbing system below Mt. Taranaki initiating at different depths. Early onset of bubble nucleation and periods of magma stalling are indicated by the presence of large, coalesced bubbles within the eruptive products, while the dominance of smaller bubbles indicates a fast ascent of magma within the system with nucleation occurring higher up in the system. Changes are seen in the textural characteristics of pyroclasts produced following the 27.3 ka 5.85 km3 Ngaere collapse which depressurized the shallow magmatic system and shifted the fragmentation zone. Following the 24.8 ka 7.5 km3 Pungarehu collapse ~2,500 years later the same influence is not seen, due to the cone not having enough time to rebuild between edifice collapse events. The results from this study show that the depressurisation and subsequent propagation wave are dependent on the height above the plumbing system not just the mass removed and therefore two major collapses in close proximity do not show the same systematic impact on the fragmentation zone.

The sudden removal of large portions of a volcanic edifice through collapse can cause depressurisation in the subvolcanic magmatic system, influencing the nature of subsequent eruptions. At Mt. Taranaki, edifice failure has occurred frequently and at different timescales throughout the volcanic history, forming a broad pattern of cyclic collapse and regrowth. About 20-30,000 years ago, Mt. Taranaki experienced two such cycles in short succession, emplacing the 27.3 ka Ngaere and the 24.8 ka Pungarehu debris-avalanche deposits, which were preceded and followed by a sequence of twenty-eight closely spaced tephra deposits known as the Poto and Paetahi Formations. Here, we reconstruct the tephrastratigraphic framework of the Poto and Paetahi Formations, revealing a minimum total eruptive volume of 3 km3. While eruptions directly following edifice failure were larger compared to those prior to collapse, this 4,000-year long eruptive period was characterised by consistently large subplinian eruptions. In contrast, large explosive events within the Holocene sequence are less frequent, with more multi-phase periods of effusive and explosive activity recorded. Our new data highlights the need to include longer-term eruptive records in volcanic hazard modelling since the most recent volcanic history might not cover the full nature of volcanic processes occurring at long-lived stratovolcanoes.

Volcanic communities near long-lived stratovolcanoes are susceptible to the significant threat associated with edifice collapse events which produce volcanic debris avalanches. These events can have runout distances > 100 km and are the largest mass flows on Earth with volumes ranging from 0.1 to 100 km3 which have the potential to bury large sectors of the landscape posing a severe risk to people and infrastructure. However, the emplacement mechanisms of these large destructive phenomena are still poorly understood with the inability to accurately quantify the physical parameters such as frictional regimes, velocity, and temperature which contribute to the extreme runout. The internal structure and minerology of the avalanche deposits hold the key to understanding the transportation mechanisms. During transportation inter-particle collision and shearing occurs reducing grainsize and generating new minerals such as Pseudotachylytes, Frictionites and Silica polymorphs along shear zones between larger clasts and along the base of the flow. Twenty-five volcanic debris avalanches and rock avalanches of varying sizes were sampled from New Zealand and the USA to provide a representative variety of flow types to better understand transportation mechanisms. Using 3D Micro-Computed Tomography at the Australian Synchrotron the internal structure of the avalanche deposits were analysed to identify different minerals and structures present. Analysis of the microstructures of the samples show a variety of different fracture patterns that can be categorized based on the different source lithologies sampled as well as the different rheological emplacement conditions from the collapse and flow. Features seen at the micro-scale mimic larger centimeter to meter scale features traditionally observed in the flow. Investigating the formation of new minerals along collision and shear zones can provide insights on the physical constraints of the flow e.g., velocity and temperature. Data from this study will provide quantitative input parameters forming the foundation for developing a model for transportation and emplacement of long-runout volcanic debris avalanches. Data from these models can be used to assess the volcanic debris avalanche hazards from volcanoes globally, better informing risk assessments.

ABSTRACT Many stratovolcanoes are characterised by cycles of edifice growth interrupted by collapse events. The long-term record of the evolution of such magmatic systems is mainly preserved in the deposits of the volcanic apron surrounding the active cone. Taranaki Volcano in New Zealand provides an unusually detailed example of these processes due to excellent coastal ring-plain and young cone exposures. In this study, we investigate the magmatic system of this volcano through three consecutive growth phases by sampling a detailed, stratigraphically controlled selection of volcanic clasts from volcaniclastic mass-flow deposits in the medial ring-plain. The clasts from three growth phases (GP1, 65–55 ka; GP2, 55–40 ka; GP3, 40–34 ka) differ in bulk composition and form geochemically distinct trends on variation diagrams. These trends can be modelled by mainly dacitic melt mixing with gabbroic and ultramafic xenolith compositions representing the plutonic assemblages beneath the edifice. Within short-term growth cycles (104 years), the geochemical differences between lower and upper sequences of GP units indicate that closer to an edifice collapse, both whole-rock major and trace element compositions display more evolved and scattered trends compared to post-collapse stages. Considering the long-term magmatic evolution of Taranaki Volcano, it is apparent that the pre-collapse compositions are more evolved than bulk rock compositions of the growth phases, indicating active upper-crustal reservoir conditions in pre-collapse states. Furthermore, the volume losses caused by sector collapses prior to GP2 and GP3 could decrease the pressure in the upper-crustal reservoir. Overall, the data obtained from the mid-age Taranaki volcanic system elucidate the mid- to upper-crustal magmatic processes and reservoir conditions throughout growth cycles. Further, it demonstrates the top-down control of volcanic edifice load change on the magmatic plumbing system expressed by the evolvement of whole-rock compositions towards the end of a growth cycle.

Long‐lived stratovolcanoes display a thick volcanic apron surrounding the edifice. This sedimentary succession incorporates the majority of the deposits from both growth and destruction phases of a volcanic massif. The ring plain of Taranaki Volcano (>200 ka) is composed of volcaniclastic mass‐flow deposits that are exceptionally well‐exposed along its coastal‐cliff shoreline, at 20 to 30 km distance from the edifice. Overall, the volcaniclastic deposits in the southern and south‐western sector record three growth phases (65 to 34 ka) which can be investigated due to access and stratigraphic control of the ring‐plain section. Each cyclic growth phase is represented by a sequence of mass‐flow deposits. Lithostratigraphic units or repeated packages with similar properties were identified in order to understand the depositional sequences. The mass‐flow units within these growth phases can be described by three criteria subdivided into nine distinct sedimentological textural types (for example, massive, graded, etc.), five different lithological types (for example, lithic‐dominated, polylithological, etc.) and three main physiographic facies types (sheet, overbank and channel). The mass‐flow deposits can then be further categorized through a classification scheme by assigning these three criteria. Widely distributed lithic‐dominated hyperconcentrated‐flow deposits were recognized, which are thought to be directly or indirectly associated with eruption‐fed events (remobilized from 'block and ash' flows) providing evidence for eruptive activity occurring on a 4 to 10 kyr cycle. Therefore, this study proposes classification criteria for mass‐flow deposits in volcanic ring‐plains using a developed three‐part coding system. The study also aims to clarify the order of sedimentary and volcanic events by establishing a stratigraphic model for the investigated time‐period offering a better understanding for future research.

Over the past-2 Ma, volcanic activity in the western North Island of New Zealand has been focused along the NW to SE-younging Taranaki volcanic lineament (TVL). Geophysical imaging of the convergent boundary between the Pacific and Indo-Australian plates shows that the subducted slab lies at least-200 km below the present TVL and the <200 ka andesitic Mt. Taranaki. Pouakai is the second youngest (-0.25 Ma) volcanic edifice of the TVL and lies immediately NW of Mt. Taranaki. It is deeply eroded with limited exposure, but it has been sampled by a major collapse event that generated the 0.21-0.24 Ma Maitahi debris avalanche deposit. The Pouakai lavas sampled by the Maitahi deposit are medium-K, pyroxene-bearing basalts and amphiboleand pyroxenebearing basaltic andesites and andesites. Plagioclase, clinopyroxene and amphibole are the dominant phenocryst phases. Olivine and orthopyroxene are rare. Compared to younger Mt. Taranaki lavas, the Pouakai volcanic rocks have lower K, P, Ba, Rb, Sr and Zr and higher Sc and V abundances, and they define subtly different trends on TiO2, MgO and K2O versus SiO2 variation diagrams. Most Pouakai eruptives are similar to the older ring plain debris avalanche deposits of Mt. Taranaki, but Pouakai summit lavas are compositionally similar to younger Mt. Taranaki eruptives. For the Pouakai sample suite, the geochemical trends and patterns are broadly consistent with control by fractional crystallisation (FC), or assimilation fractional crystallisation (AFC). However, textural and geochemical evidence indicates that the rocks are not representative of simple magmas related by a common liquid line of descent. Pouakai basaltic andesites and andesites are highly porphyritic and phenocrysts show complex zoning and disequilibrium reaction textures. Mg# [mol. MgO/(MgO + FeO)] of amphibole and clinopyroxene compositions vary beyond the range expected if the minerals had equilibrated with melts having bulk whole rock compositions. Furthermore, geothermobarometry based on amphibole and pyroxene compositions indicates that mafic phenocrysts in all rock types, as well as in individual samples, equilibrated with comparatively felsic melts over a wide range of pressures. Therefore, each lava sample represents a mixed magma, comprising felsic melts derived from a range of crustal and mantle sources hosting a complex, polybaric phenocryst assemblage. The whole rock compositions were derived through varying degrees of bulk fractionation of phenocryst phases with net removal of amphibole and clinopyroxene and consequent concentration of plagioclase phenocrysts. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mt. Taranaki is an andesitic stratovolcano in the western North Island of New Zealand. Its magmas show slab-dehydration signatures and over the last 200 kyr they show gradually increasing incompatible element concentrations. Source basaltic melts from the upper mantle lithosphere pond at the base of the crust (similar to 25 km), interacting with other stalled melts rich in amphibole. Evolved hydrous magmas rise and pause in the mid crust (14-6 km), before taking separate pathways to eruption. Over 228 tephras erupted over the last 30 kyr display a 1000-1500 yr-periodic cycle with a five-fold variation in eruption frequency. Magmatic supply and/or tectonic regime could control this rate-variability. The volcano has collapsed and re-grown 16 times, producing large (2 to >7.5 km(3)) debris avalanches. Magma intrusion along N-S striking faults below the edifice are the most likely trigger for its failure. The largest Mt. Taranaki Plinian eruption columns reach similar to 27 km high, dispersing 0.1 to 0.6 km(3) falls throughout the North Island. Smaller explosive eruptions, or dome-growth and collapse episodes were more frequent. Block-and-ash flows reached up to 13 km from the vent, while the largest pumice pyroclastic density currents travelled >23 km. Mt. Taranaki last erupted in AD1790 and the present annual probability of eruption is 1-1.3%.

Volcaniclastic diamictons, while found in all ancient and modern volcanic settings across New Zealand, are most commonly associated with stratovolcanoes. Lahar refers to a volcanic mass flow that consists of variable amounts of water and particles of different-sized volcanic lithologies; such flows can exhibit a range of rheologies that rapidly change at temporal and spatial scales. At Mt. Taranaki time packages of lahar deposits were originally grouped into chronostratigraphic formations, such as the 22,500-11,000 yrs B.P. Warea Formation, which consists of lahar deposits that display a range of sediment-water interactions reflecting variable rheological regimes. In historic times, lahars have been rare at Mt. Taranaki with the most recent events occurring in 1999 and 2008. In contrast, Mt. Ruapehu has been extremely active over the last 170 years with regular small-volume eruption-induced events and larger, more significant Crater-Lake breakout lahars. The Onetapu Formation comprises flows of the last 2,000 years that are 1-2 orders of magnitude greater in volume, stage and discharge. To better understand the hazard potential of such events, a range of numerical modelling and simulations have been created, with computational simulations being applied to hindcast and forecast the potential hazards of lahars from New Zealand's stratovolcanoes.

The large VEI= 6 explosive eruption of the Laacher See volcano dated to c. 13,000 yrs BP (Reinig et al., 2020) marks the end of explosive volcanism in the East Eifel volcanic zone (Germany). It has previously been argued that this eruption temporarily impacted Northern Hemisphere climate (Graf and Timmreck, 2001), environments (Baales et al., 2002) and human communities (e.g. Blong et al., 2018). It has also recently been suggested again that the eruption may in fact be implicated in the onset of the Younger Dryas. Recent advances in the modelling of volcanically-induced climatic forcing warrant renewed attention to the eruption’s potential influence on Northern Hemisphere climate. Detailed reconstructions of its eruption dynamics have been proposed. The eruption might have lasted several weeks, most likely with a short (~10h) intense initial phase. A bipartite NE- and S- plume deposited tephra to the north-east the volcano towards the Baltic Sea and to the south towards Italy (Riede et al., 2011). In revisiting the eruption’s potential influence on Northern Hemisphere climate, we here present revised model simulations of the radiative impacts of the LSE using a global stratospheric aerosol model and new sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission estimates. The simulations were performed with the general circulation model MAECHAM5-HAM, which is coupled to an aerosol microphysical model. This allows us to simulate the evolution of the volcanic sulfur cloud and the transport of the ash cloud. The position of the observed deposits of the LSE depend on the weather and the wind direction during the eruption, demanding specific weather conditions to simulate similar locations of the observed deposits. Our models provide significantly improved insights into the meteorological situation during the eruption event as well as its impacts on Northern Hemisphere climate, with attendant implications for ecological and cultural impacts. References Baales, M., Jöris, O., Street, M., Bittmann, F., Weninger, B. and Wiethold, J.: Impact of the Late Glacial Eruption of the Laacher See Volcano, Central Rhineland, Germany, Quaternary Research, 58(3), 273–288, doi:10.1006/qres.2002.2379, 2002. Blong, R. J., Riede, F. and Chen, Q.: A fuzzy logic methodology for assessing the resilience of past communities to tephra fall: a Laacher See eruption 13,000 year BP case, Volcanica, 1(1), 63–84, doi:https://doi.org/10.30909/vol.01.01.6384, 2018. Graf, H.-F. and Timmreck, C.: A general climate model simulation of the aerosol radiative effects of the Laacher See eruption (10,900 B.C.), Journal of Geophysical Research, 106(14), 14747–14756, doi:0148-0227/01/2001JD900152, 2001. Reinig, F., Cherubini, P., Engels, S., Esper, J., Guidobaldi, G., Jöris, O., Lane, C., Nievergelt, D., Oppenheimer, C., Park, C., Pfanz, H., Riede, F., Schmincke, H.-U., Street, M., Wacker, L. and Büntgen, U.: Towards a dendrochronologically refined date of the Laacher See eruption around 13,000 years ago, Quaternary Science Reviews, 229, 106128, doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.106128, 2020. Riede, F., Bazely, O., Newton, A. J. and Lane, C. S.: A Laacher See-eruption supplement to Tephrabase: Investigating distal tephra fallout dynamics, Quaternary International, 246(1–2), 134–144, doi:doi: 10.1016/j.quaint.2011.06.029, 2011.

More than 14 unconfined volcanic debris avalanche deposits are recorded in the last 210,000 years within the Mt. Taranaki ring plain demonstrating a high-magnitude but low-frequency hazard facing the surrounding community. The ~7000 yr B.P. Opua Formation is the youngest of these events and exhibits the typical chaotic, polymodal, polylithologic and extremely poorly sorted characteristics of DADs. Despite the apparent invariance of these large-scale properties within the Opua deposit, the proportion of clay and sand dominated matrix to gravel/boulders clasts gradually changes from proximal to distal areas (>30 km from source) with the finer fractions, including clay contents, increasing with distance from the source. Scanning Electron Microscope analyses of 4 micron-grains show typical hackly textures and micro-cracks are common. There is no variation in the crack distribution or frequency in grains from different parts of the deposit, suggesting the cracking process occurred during the initiation phase of the debris avalanche. Analysis of the surface features of the deposit morphology shows consistent variation with distance, in particular its mounds and hummocky surface. A near-source, initially chaotic surface gives way with distance to ridges of hummocks in flow-parallel direction. These eventually break-down into clusters of mounds and further to more widely spaced fields of individual mounds in distal areas. The Opua debris avalanche was generated by the gravitational collapse of a sector of the volcanic edifice that fragmented and flowed down a single catchment. Rapid changes in topography and slope resulted in the transformation of the flow into a more cohesive mobile body, which formed two major lobes marked by mound/hummock ridges. The granular flow model Titan2D was applied to evaluate possible emplacement conditions and collapse parameters. Titan2D, while useful for defining initial collapse parameters and major flow paths, could not adequately simulate the complex rheological transformations from a collapsing/sliding pile through a granular flow into a cohesive clay-rich flow with long runout and high apparent fluidity. It is also difficult to adequately define simulation parameters for this rapidly changing flow from the resulting geological deposits. Hence computer simulations of major flow paths must be used alongside insights from geological mapping to provide future-focussed hazard zones for debris avalanches.

The deposits of volcanic debris avalanches (VDAs) contain diagnostic features that distinguish them from those of other landslides. In this chapter, we summarize the sedimentary characteristics and the different (litho-)facies described over the past four decades, and how findings from individual case studies can be adapted as globally applicable sedimentological tools. A plethora of descriptive terms and partially conflicting definitions emerged in the ever-growing literature on VDA deposits (VDADs). These we summarize and make recommendations for future use. Different facies models that were developed at different volcanoes might point to unique emplacement conditions (e.g. dry versus wet; confined versus unconfined) and, if confirmed, the apparent 'conflict' of terminology might help identify the paleo-settings of ancient VDAs. General observations of large unsaturated landslides of different origin show that preservation of source stratigraphy, (mega-)clasts, jigsaw-fractured clasts, and incorporation of runout path material are common features. Their unique composition, grain sizes, and abundance of matrix sets VDADs apart from deposits of large rockslides and debris flows. The latter can be associated with VDAs, and whether they formed syn- or post-VDAD emplacement is reflected in forensic evidence within the depositional sequences. Recent case studies illustrate the advances in analytical techniques and in understanding the processes of debris avalanche transport and deposition forty years after the eruption and lateral collapse of Mount St. Helens volcano.

The 232 CE Hatepe Eruption of Taupo Volcano, New Zealand (also referred to as Taupo Eruption), was one of the most violent and complex silicic eruptions worldwide in the last 5,000 years. The pyroclastic sequence was subdivided into 7 distinct stratigraphic units that reflect diverse eruption mechanisms with pumice fallout unit 5 (Taupo Plinian) and unit 6 (Taupo Ignimbrite) contributing the largest volumes, an estimated 5.8 km3 and 12.1 km3 DRE respectively. The non-welded Taupo Ignimbrite was emplaced by a highly energetic flow over a near-circular area of 20,000 km2 around the vent, reaching distances of 80±10 km. It consists of an irregular basal layer and a thicker pumice-dominated main unit containing varying proportions of pumice clasts, vitric ash and dense components, overlain by a thin co-ignimbrite ash bed. The main ignimbrite unit shows two distinct facies, a landscape-mantling veneer deposit that gradually decreases from 10 m proximal thickness to 15-30 cm distally and a more voluminous, up to 70-m thick valley-ponded ignimbrite that filled depressions and smoothed out the landscape. The sudden influx of vast volumes of loose pyroclastic material choked the drainage systems around the volcano, resulting in a large-scale geomorphic and sedimentary response. While previous work focused on major river catchments north to southeast of the volcano, we aim at characterising and quantifying landscape adjustment and remobilisation processes to the west, using stratigraphic, sedimentologic and geomorphic field studies of the volcaniclastic sequences along the Ongarue and Whanganui River valleys. Our working hypothesis involves a four-stage landscape response model based on previously described mass-wasting processes in the aftermath of large explosive eruptions: 1) large-scale remobilisation of ignimbrite veneer material from sloping surfaces by series of debris and hyperconcentrated flows, emplacing lahar deposits across the ignimbrite dispersal area and beyond, 2) cutting of steep channels into valley-ponded ignimbrite and resedimentation as lahar deposits downstream, 3) gradual widening of channels leading to establishment of an active channel with adjacent floodplains as sediment yields decrease and the landscape restabilises, represented by normal stream flow and flood deposits in the ignimbrite dispersal area and a shift from lahar to fluvial- dominated sequences downstream, and 4) return to pre-eruption sediment yields resulting in further downward incision to the original bedrock channel bed and prevailing fluvial sedimentation processes with remnants of primary and reworked deposits preserved as terraces along the valley walls. Here we present initial results on the stratigraphy of the volcaniclastic sequence and the sedimentary characteristics and dispersal of the identified lithofacies associations, which range from debris-flow and hyperconcentrated-flow to pumiceous fluvial deposits. Tempo-spatial variations in deposit characteristics are due to differences in source material, flow type, and nature of the source area and depositional environment.

Large-scale edifice failure is a common process during the long lifespans of volcanoes worldwide with many experiencing repeated collapse. Here we use six well-studied stratovolcanoes and dome-complexes with evidence of multiple edifice failures to discuss the driving forces behind their cyclic growth and destruction as well as the frequency and nature of these processes. We evaluate the influence of magmatic, climatic and tectonic factors on the unstable nature of frequently collapsing volcanoes to highlight our current understanding of the relationship between long-term volcanic behaviour, sedimentation and magmatic evolution. While a range of interactions between magmatic processes and edifice failures have been recognised, climate conditions only show overprinting effects on deposit characteristics and type of sedimentation. Variation in failure frequencies at the investigated volcanoes reflect differences in collapse volume and long-term edifice growth rates. Persistently active lava-dome complexes often experience small failures with high return intervals, while episodic activity and larger edifice dimensions of stratovolcanoes typically lead to lower-frequency, larger-scale collapse cycles. Ultimately, the potential for failure to occur and its maximum possible size depend on the physical properties of the edifice while the nature and timing of trigger events in relation to edifice preconditioning determine the eventual size of collapse.

Volcaniclastic successions represent valuable archives that hold a detailed record of volcanic and other landscape-shaping events and often provide the only way to reconstruct the long-term volcanic history of a region. The ability to accurately interpret the origin, transport and emplacement processes of such deposits is thus crucial to better understand the nature, magnitude and frequency of future volcanic and secondary hazards, including the potential for catastrophic edifice failure. Recognising the sedimentary characteristics of different lithofacies associations in modern ring plain successions also helps evaluate the processes that shaped ancient successions, which often lack a wider depositional context. Continuous coastal erosion of the tectonically uplifted Taranaki Peninsula, New Zealand, has exposed an almost complete stratigraphic record of medial-distal ring plain successions. These unique coastal cross-sections make Mt. Taranaki an ideal case study to assess typical lithofacies associations and sedimentary processes occurring in an unconfined ring plain depositional system around a long-lived andesite stratovolcano. This chapter presents the sedimentary characteristics of the wide spectrum of volcaniclastic and reworked sedimentary facies observed at Mt. Taranaki and the frequency of volcanic mass flows. Factors influencing ring plain accumulation and landscape evolution are then put into global context and discussed in the light of modern and ancient volcaniclastic successions elsewhere.

Denne artikel bringer læseren ind i geofysikkens og klimafysikkens verden gennem studiet af et dramatisk vulkanudbrud for ca. 13.000 år siden. Forfatterne analyserer, hvordan udbruddet ved Laacher See påvirkede klimaet via udledning af aerosoler og askepartikler i atmosfæren. Artiklen kombinerer geologiske data med klimamodeller og demonstrerer, hvordan selv enkeltstående begivenheder kan have globale konsekvenser. Der gives indsigt i de fysiske mekanismer bag strålingspåvirkning og temperaturændringer. Samtidig diskuteres usikkerheder og metodiske udfordringer i rekonstruktionen af fortidens klima. Artiklen er et stærkt eksempel på tværdisciplinær fysik, hvor geologi, atmosfærefysik og modellering mødes.

In the changing environment of the Late Glacial Interstadial Complex, the cataclysmic eruption of Laacher See volcano (c. 13,000 BP) in the Eifel in Western Germany had a dramatic effect on the daily life of Late Palaeolithic foragers (Riede, 2017). Large proportions of the Laacher See Tephra (LST) settled east of the basin in the area which today is circumscribed by the Federal States of the Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse in central Germany. Due to massive tephra cover, several well-documented Late Palaeolithic sites are preserved in the proximal zone, which give insight into the interaction of foragers and the Late Glacial environment there. In contrast, in the medial zone in Hesse only a small number of surface scatters of lithic artefacts are known. No Late Glacial sites, particularly not rock shelter and cave locations, have been excavated in this region. Yet, it is precisely such locations that offer favourable conditions for the preservation of both tephra and the remains of human settlement. Therefore, these features are the best locations to investigate the influence of the volcanic event on hunter-gatherer land use.