New paper published on the timing of small-volume eruptions and related volcanic hazards at Valles caldera

A recently published paper by former Kottlowski Fellow Morgan Nasholds (now at the USGS) and bureau geologist Matt Zimmerer discusses new insight into the eruptive history of Valles caldera, New Mexico’s supervolcano. By comprehensively dating all the eruptions since the last caldera collapse, the study was able to determine that most of postcaldera domes were emplaced by multiple eruptions, rather than just a single eruption. By combining the dating with volume estimates, the study also shows the eruptions are progressively getting larger with time, but that the period of time between eruptions is also getting longer. Lastly, the paper provides new constraints on the duration of caldera resurgence. The work has important implications for volcanic hazards in the southwestern US.