Vesiculation process and bubble size distributions in ascending magmas with constant velocities

The vesiculation of magmas is the most important process which controls eruption style on terrestrial planets and physical and geological characteristics of volcanoes. This paper, focusing on the evolution of bubble size distribution, investigates the vesiculation behavior in ascending magmas with constant velocities. Taking into account homogeneous nucleation, growth by diffusion of volatile components, expansion by depressurization, and depletion of volatile components in a silicate melt by progressive vesiculation, the governing equations describing the vesiculation of magma and the evolution of bubble size distribution are formulated. Derived relationships provide the important basis for estimating eruption parameters such as the nucleation depth or the hypothetical ascent velocity as well as the vesiculation history of erupted magma from the morphological analysis (determination of bubble size distribution) of vesiculated rocks. -from Author