Volcano geomorphology. Landforms, processes and hazards / Геоморфология вулканов. Формы рельефа, процессы и природные опасности

Volcano geomorphology sparks interest across the geoscience disciplines. Volcanoes are one of the most fascinating landforms as their formation operates over an unusual timescale in comparison to other geological processes. Volcanic eruptions can occur as a single explosion, while long lasting lava effusions may take years. These time frames are several magnitudes shorter in comparison to any other geological processes, leaving behind material built into the rock record of Earth. Volcanoes also appear as a very diverse spectrum of edifice structures ranging from very small volume monogenetic volcano types to massive volcanic edifices of lava shields that commonly occupy areas up to several thousands of km2. Volcanoes also not only represented by constructional features in the landscape but can also form negative edifices cut into the syn-eruptive surface. Such volcanoes range from a few hundred metres to tens of kilometres across, with a hole-in-the-ground appearance, making them the perfect depocenters for sediments in continental terrains. The resultant maars or caldera volcanoes are thus excellent sedimentary record keepers of continental geological processes, which often represent the only evidence of past climate conditions and the physiography of large landmasses.
Volcanoes are also a source of fascination and have been part of human culture from the dawn of humanity. Volcanoes disperse material as fragmented tephra which fertilise the landscape to provide good soils with high agricultural potential. However, they are also geological phenomena that can impact large areas in an exceptionally rapid and destructive way. Eruptive products of volcanoes vary from small to vast volumes that can create new landscapes and remain for a long time as part of the evolving landscape, including extensive lava fields and continental-scale ignimbrite sheets. In addition, submarine volcanic landforms have recently drawn scientists’ attention as there is an overwhelmingly large number of such volcanoes, and their eruptive mechanism is complex due to their extreme environments from deep to shallow subaqueous settings. The huge diversity of volcanic landforms has also recently been considered as part of Earth’s geoheritage. <...>