Preface

摘要

Explosive eruption of mafic magmas, ranging in intensity from mild Strombolian to Plinian, possibly represents the most frequent type of volcanic activity worldwide. In fact, mafic magmas, occurring in a broad range of tectonic settings, are characterized by specific physico-chemical properties that give rise to a large and complex spectrum of explosive scenarios. On the one hand, mafic explosive activity often shares with its more felsic counterparts many eruptive processes, such as the rapid expansion of magma driven by volatile exsolution, or the overpressurization of cooling magma plugs. On the other hand, the fast internal kinetics and the extended range of ductile deformation of mafic magmas open the way to more distinctive dynamic processes, including the surface bursting of buoyant gas slugs, annular gas flow, simultaneous effusive and explosive activity, and multifarious interactions of magma with external fluids.