CEV: Who we are and what we do

Aims

The primary aims of the Commission are
  1. to foster modern, process-oriented studies of pyroclastic rocks,
  2. to encourage communication between scientists from the various branches of research directed to such studies,
  3. to provide input into other areas such as volcanic hazards and atmospheric impacts, and
  4. to promote interest in explosive volcanism and its products. Research interests focus on the processes of explosive eruptions, volcano evolution, and magmatic influences on eruption dynamics.

Thus there is significant thematic overlap with all other IAVCEI commissions and task groups; joint activities are performed with CVS and CMVH.

Membership

CEV presently has 261 members from 31 countries (see breakdown of members from different countries), who actively work on aspects of explosive volcanism in various disciplines: physical volcanology, igneous petrology and geochemistry, gas chemistry, thermo-fluid dynamics, remote sensing and monitoring, tephrochronology. Membership is open to scientists whose research interests and activities are consistent with the stated aims. An annual contribution of US$5 is levied to cover the costs of producing the newsletter. Membership applications should be submitted to one of the leaders (Valentine or Ort). Since CEV is an IAVCEI organization, we recommend that our members should become personal IAVCEI members as well. For general and subscription information check the IAVCEI home page.

Newsletter

The newsletter is intended to provide communication to, and among, members. It includes announcement of future activities, reports on past meetings and workshops, a membership directory, and any articles submitted by members who wish to informally communicate ideas or information regarding CEV topics. The newsletter is distributed on demand, commonly twice a year.

Activities over the past two years

Field workshops are the principal activities of the Commission, providing the opportunity to informally exchange ideas and discuss processes in the context of detailed case studies. During the last two years, CEV workshops have been held on "Explosive eruptions in phonolite magmas" (Tenerife, Canary Islands, April 1995), "Volcaniclastic sequences around andesitic stratovolcanoes, East Carpathians, Romania" (joint CEV-CVS workshop, Aug.25 - Sept.1, 1996), "Santorini field workshop" (Sept., 1996), and "Vesuvius Decade Volcano" (joint CEV - CMVD workshop, Sept., 1996). In addition, a short course on "Explosive volcanism: Processes and products" was run by B.F. Houghton and J. McPhie during the Canberra meeting (Sept. 1993). CEV symposia at the IAVCEI General Assembly in Mexico (Jan.19-24, 1997) were "Eruption of magma from shallow chambers" and "Volcanic particle flows". Immediately preceding this conference was a CEV short course "The physics of explosive volcanism".

Future activities

Plans for the future include workshops in the Andes (ignimbrites and debris avalanches), in SE Australia (water-magma interaction), and in Italy (shallow submarine volcanism). Plans for activities at the IAVCEI International Volcanological Congress 1998 in South Africa are presently being developed, with a planned symposium on the relationship between kimberlites, maars, and diatremes.

Announcement of CEV Symposium at South Africa IVC Meeting

Kimberlites, Maars, and Diatremes

For decades, there has been considerable debate about the relationship between kimberlites, maars, and diatremes. Evidence of the involvement of phreatic water in maars became quite strong by the early 1970's, but do kimberlites and diatremes all form through phreatic and phreatomagmatic explosions? Also, what about the common association of CO2-rich magmas with maars and diatremes? This symposium is proposed to provide the opportunity for workers in this area to debate the processes involved in these volcanoes, and the similarities and differences between them. We intend to allow time for general discussion of the issues at the end of each session.

Co-Leaders of CEV

Greg Valentine
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Mail Stop F665
Los Alamos, NM 87544
USA
Phone (1) 505-665-0259
Fax (1) 505-665-3687
gav@vega.lanl.gov
http://ees-www.lanl.gov/EES5/mag_planet.html

Michael Ort
Department of Geology
PO Box 4099
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
USA
Phone (1) 520-523-9363
Fax (1) 520-523-9220
michael.ort@nau.edu

Leaders are elected every four years.

Return to CEV Home Page
CEV Pages
created by Michael Ort, michael.ort@nau.edu
Dept. of Geology and Center for Environmental Sciences and Education, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 USA

last modified: July 28, 1997

URL: http://vishnu.glg.nau.edu/cev