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Studying monogenetic volcanoes with a terrestrial laser scanner: case study at Croscat volcano (Garrotxa Volcanic Field, Spain)

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Abstract

Erosional processes (natural or anthropogenic) may partly destroy the relatively small-sized volcanic edifices characteristic of monogenetic volcanic zones, leaving their internal structure well exposed. Nevertheless, the study of these outcrops may be extremely challenging due to restricted accessibility or safety issues. Digital representations of the outcrop surface have been lately used to overcome such difficulties. Data acquired with terrestrial laser scanning instruments using Light Detection and Ranging technology enables the construction of such digital outcrops. The obtained high-precision 3-D terrain models are of greater coverage and accuracy than conventional methods and, when taken at different times, allow description of geological processes in time and space. Despite its intrinsic advantages and the proven satisfactory results, this technique has been little applied in volcanology-related studies. Here, we want to introduce it to the volcanological community together with a new and user-friendly digital outcrop analysis methodology for inexperienced users. This tool may be useful, not only for volcano monitoring purposes, but also to describe the internal structure of exposed volcanic edifices or to estimate outcrop erosion rates that may be helpful in terms of hazard assessment or preservation of volcanic landscapes. We apply it to the Croscat volcano, a monogenetic cone in the La Garrotxa Volcanic Field (Catalan Volcanic Zone, NE Spain), quarrying of which leads to a perfect view of its interior but restricts access to its uppermost parts. Croscat is additionally one of the most emblematic symbols of the La Garrotxa Volcanic Field Natural Park, and its preservation is a main target of the park administration.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Natural Park of the La Garrotxa Volcanic Field and its staff for permission to undertake this research and for all their support that we have always received from them. AG is grateful for her Juan de la Cierva post-doctoral grant (JCI-2010-06092) and her Ramón y Cajal contract (RYC-2012-11024). SBC acknowledges the JAE-Doc postdoctoral personal grant program of CSIC (JAEDoc_09_01319). This work was partly financed by projects CGL2010-21968-C02-01, CGL2010-18609 and CGL2013-40828-R of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. The editor Vern Manville and the reviewers Gabor Kereszturi and Laurent Michon are thanked for their thorough and constructive reviews, which resulted in substantial improvements to this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Group of Volcanology, SIMGEO (UB-CSIC), Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera, ICTJA-CSIC, Lluis Sole i Sabaris s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    A. Geyer, D. Pedrazzi, S. Barde-Cabusson & J. Marti

  2. Institut de Recerca Geomodels, Departament de Geodinàmica i Geofísica, Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí Franqués s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    D. García-Sellés & J.A. Muñoz

  3. Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, 76230, Querétaro, QRO, Mexico

    D. Pedrazzi

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  1. A. Geyer
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  2. D. García-Sellés
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  3. D. Pedrazzi
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  4. S. Barde-Cabusson
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  5. J. Marti
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  6. J.A. Muñoz
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Correspondence to A. Geyer.

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Editorial responsibility: V. Manville

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Geyer, A., García-Sellés, D., Pedrazzi, D. et al. Studying monogenetic volcanoes with a terrestrial laser scanner: case study at Croscat volcano (Garrotxa Volcanic Field, Spain). Bull Volcanol 77, 22 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-015-0909-z

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