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This paper describes experiments and numerical simulations of a gravity current flowing down a ramp in a tank stratified in two layers. We study the dynamics of the configuration for different densities of the gravity current and different ramp angles. The experiments show that waves of large amplitude can be generated easily and that, depending on the density of the gravity current, the initial gravity current splits into a gravity current along the interface of the stratified layers, and a gravity current along the bottom of the tank. We also describe numerical simulations which give results in agreement with the results of the experiments and enable us to study three-fluid configurations with wider ranges of density than is possible in the laboratory.

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Explosive volcanism has dominated the large phonolitic shield volcano of Tenerife, the Las Cañadas edifice, for the last 1.5 m.y. Pyroclastic deposits of the Bandas del Sur Formation are exposed along the southern flanks, and record the last two of at least three long-term cycles of caldera-forming explosive eruptions. Each cycle began with flank fissure eruptions of alkali basalt lava, followed by minor eruptions of basanite to phonotephrite lavas. Minor phonotephritic to phonolitic lava effusions also occurred on the flanks of the edifice during the latter stages of the second explosive cycle. Nonwelded plinian fall deposits and ignimbrites are the dominant explosive products preserved on the southern flanks. Of these, a significant volume has been dispersed offshore. Many pyroclastic units of the second explosive cycle exhibit compositional zonation. Banded pumice occurs in most units of the third (youngest) explosive cycle, and ignimbrites typically contain mixed phenocryst assemblages, indicating the role of magma mixing/mingling prior to eruption. At least four major eruptions of the third cycle began with phreatomagmatic activity, producing lithic-poor, accretionary lapilli-bearing fallout and/or surge deposits. The repeated, brief phase of phreatomagmatism at the onset of these eruptions is interpreted as reflecting an exhaustive water supply, probably a small caldera lake that was periodically established during the third cycle. Accidental syenite becomes an increasingly important lithic clast type in ignimbrites up-sequence, and is interpreted as recording the progressive development of a plutonic complex beneath the summit caldera.Successive eruptions during each explosive cycle increased in volume, with the largest eruption occurring at the end of the cycle. More than ten major explosive eruptions vented moderately large volumes (1-≥10 km 3 ) of phonolitic magma during the last two cycles. Culminating each explosive cycle was the emplacement of relatively large volume (> 5-10 km 3 ) ignimbrites with coarse, ventderived lithic breccias, interpreted to record a major phase of caldera collapse. In the extracaldera record, explosive cycles are separated by ~0.2 m.y. periods of non-explosive activity. Repose periods were characterized by erosion, remobilization of pyroclastic deposits by discharge events, and pedogenesis. The current period of non-explosive activity is characterized by the construction of the TeidePico Viejo stratovolcanic complex within the summit caldera. This suggests that eruptive hiatuses in the extracaldera record may reflect effusive activity and stratovolcano or shield-building phases within the summit caldera. Alternating effusive and explosive cycles have thus been important in the volcanic evolution of the Las Cañadas edifice. †

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The 2.08-Ma Cerro Galán Ignimbrite (CGI) represents a >630-km 3 dense rock equivalent (VEI 8) eruption from the long-lived Cerro Galán magma system (∼6 Ma). It is a crystal-rich (35-60%), pumice (<10% generally) and lithic-poor (<5% generally) rhyodacitic ignimbrite, lacking a preceding plinian fallout deposit.

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