Destruction of St. Pierre, Martinique, by ash-cloud surges, May 8 and 20, 1902

Abstract

Research Article| October 01, 1980 Destruction of St. Pierre, Martinique, by ash-cloud surges, May 8 and 20, 1902 Richard V. Fisher; Richard V. Fisher 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alan L. Smith; Alan L. Smith 2Department of Geology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 00708 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. John Roobol M. John Roobol 2Department of Geology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 00708 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Richard V. Fisher 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 Alan L. Smith 2Department of Geology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 00708 M. John Roobol 2Department of Geology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 00708 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1980) 8 (10): 472–476. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1980)82.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Richard V. Fisher, Alan L. Smith, M. John Roobol; Destruction of St. Pierre, Martinique, by ash-cloud surges, May 8 and 20, 1902. Geology 1980;; 8 (10): 472–476. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1980)82.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract St. Pierre, Martinique, was destroyed by ash-cloud surges on May 8 and 20, 1902, that developed from the tops of block and ash flows derived from Mount Pelée. The dome was small during these eruptions, and eyewitness accounts indicate that the eruptive sequence started with vertical eruption columns followed by pyroclastic flows. The flows were topographically controlled and moved down the valley of the Rivière Blanche. Their associated ash clouds expanded to several times the width of the associated flows, and it was these expanding ash clouds that overwhelmed St. Pierre on May 8 and 20. It is our conclusion that the early nuees ardentes of the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée were formed by column collapse into the crater and not, as commonly stated, by dome collapse or directed blast. The resultant mass poured through a cleft in the southwest side of Pelée, thereby heading the flows in that direction. It was only the later nuees ardentes that appear to have been directly affected by the presence of a dome. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.