Hydrothermal eruptions at unstable crater lakes: Insights from the Boiling Lake, Dominica, Lesser Antilles

A study of the Boiling Lake in Dominica's Morne Trois Pitons National Park reveals that small hydrothermal eruptions and toxic gas emissions, previously thought non-eruptive, can occur during lake drainage events. The research demonstrates that the petrophysical state of crater wall materials—such as porosity, permeability, and alteration-related strength—controls the style and energy of these explosive events, as well as landslide risks. Using experimental simulations of decompression under slightly elevated pressure (mimicking post-drainage eruptions) and rapidly enhanced pressure (simulating landslide-induced overpressurization), scientists calculated ejection velocities to estimate potential debris impact areas. This work advances the understanding of hydrothermal eruption hazards at unstable crater lakes, offering critical insights for risk assessment in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Rott, S., Scheu, B., Montanaro, C., Mayer, K., Joseph, E. P., & Dingwell, D. B. (2019). Hydrothermal eruptions at unstable crater lakes: Insights from the Boiling Lake, Dominica, Lesser Antilles. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 381, 101–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2019.05.020