Volcanoes and Forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons of Northern Martinique

Distal ash hurricane (pyroclastic density current) deposits from a ca. 2000 yr B.P. Plinian-style eruption of Mount Pelée, Martinique: Distribution, grain-size characteristics, and implications for future hazard

A Plinian-style eruption of Mount Pelée approximately 2000 years ago produced pyroclastic density currents that extended at least 20 km from the crater, with distal deposits showing progressive depletion of fines and enrichment in crystals. This study suggests these were dilute, inertia-dominated overcurrents that decoupled from their underflows due to topography and interaction with tropical vegetation, significantly expanding their distribution. The findings imply severe devastation across northern Martinique, potentially reaching Fort-de-France, and highlight modern hazards such as ash dispersion affecting aviation.