Research Article| July 01, 2009 Morphometry and evolution of arc volcanoes Pablo Grosse; Pablo Grosse 1CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas) and Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 205, (4000) San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Benjamin van Wyk de Vries; Benjamin van Wyk de Vries 2Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, Centre National de la Recherche scientifique-Unité Mixte de Recherche (CNRS-UMR6524), Université Blaise Pascal, 5 Rue Kessler, 63038 Clermont-Ferrand, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Iván A. Petrinovic; Iván A. Petrinovic 3CONICET–IBIGEO (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas–Instituto de Bio y Geociencias), Universidad Nacional de Salta, Mendoza 2, (4400) Salta, Argentina Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Pablo A. Euillades; Pablo A. Euillades 4Instituto CEDIAC (Capacitación Especial y Desarrollo de la Ingeniería Asistida por Computadora), Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Ciudad Universitaria, (5500) Mendoza, Argentina Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Guillermo E. Alvarado Guillermo E. Alvarado 5Área de Amenazas y Auscultación Sísmica y Volcánica, Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, Apartado 10032-1000, Costa Rica Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Pablo Grosse 1CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas) and Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 205, (4000) San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina Benjamin van Wyk de Vries 2Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, Centre National de la Recherche scientifique-Unité Mixte de Recherche (CNRS-UMR6524), Université Blaise Pascal, 5 Rue Kessler, 63038 Clermont-Ferrand, France Iván A. Petrinovic 3CONICET–IBIGEO (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas–Instituto de Bio y Geociencias), Universidad Nacional de Salta, Mendoza 2, (4400) Salta, Argentina Pablo A. Euillades 4Instituto CEDIAC (Capacitación Especial y Desarrollo de la Ingeniería Asistida por Computadora), Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Ciudad Universitaria, (5500) Mendoza, Argentina Guillermo E. Alvarado 5Área de Amenazas y Auscultación Sísmica y Volcánica, Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, Apartado 10032-1000, Costa Rica Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 09 Dec 2008 Revision Received: 11 Mar 2009 Accepted: 12 Mar 2009 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2009 Geological Society of America Geology (2009) 37 (7): 651–654. https://doi.org/10.1130/G25734A.1 Article history Received: 09 Dec 2008 Revision Received: 11 Mar 2009 Accepted: 12 Mar 2009 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Pablo Grosse, Benjamin van Wyk de Vries, Iván A. Petrinovic, Pablo A. Euillades, Guillermo E. Alvarado; Morphometry and evolution of arc volcanoes. Geology 2009;; 37 (7): 651–654. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G25734A.1 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 Volcanoes change shape as they grow through eruption, intrusion, erosion, and deformation. To study volcano shape evolution we apply a comprehensive morphometric analysis to two contrasting arcs, Central America and the southern Central Andes. Using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation models, we compute and define parameters for plan (ellipticity, irregularity) and profile (height/width, summit/basal width, slope) shape, as well as size (height, width, volume). We classify volcanoes as cones, sub-cones, and massifs, and recognize several evolutionary trends. Many cones grow to a critical height (~1200 m) and volume (~10 km3), after which most widen into sub-cones or massifs, but some grow into large cones. Large cones undergo sector collapse and/or gravitational spreading, without significant morphometry change. Other smaller cones evolve by vent migration to elliptical subcones and massifs before reaching the critical height. The evolutionary trends can be related to magma flux, edifice strength, structure, and tectonics. In particular, trends may be controlled by two balancing factors: magma pressure versus lithostatic pressure, and conduit resistance versus edifice resistance. Morphometric analysis allows for the long-term state of individual or volcano groups to be assessed. Morphological trends can be integrated with geological, geophysical, and geochemical data to better define volcano evolution models. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.