Volcanic Geomorphology and Morphometry Classification of Cinder Cone in Harrat Lunayyir Saudi Arabia by Using GIS and Remote Sensing
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Harrat Lunayyir, a volcanic field in western Saudi Arabia, exhibits diverse geomorphological and topographical features shaped by volcanic, tectonic, and climatic processes. This study integrates field observations, remote sensing, and GIS analysis to investigate the spatial distribution and relationships between volcanic landforms, lava flows, and topographical variation result obtained is a morphological classification of the cinder cones of Harrat Lunayyir, which can be sub-divided into four types: tephra rings, horseshoe-shaped volcanoes, multiple volcanoes and volcanoes without craters.All of these are monogenetic volcanoes, unlike central volcanoes (stratovolcanoes) which live for tens or hundreds of thousands of years and erupt numerous times. In Harrat Lunayyir, there is a clear dominance of arched horseshoe-shaped volcanoes (58) over ring-shaped cinder cones (10), A1_symmetric cones (circular, uniform cinder cones with a single crater) (32), A2_asymmetric cones (elongated, irregular cones and may feature one or more craters) (8), volcanoes without craters (55) and multiple volcanoes (20). The classification presented in this paper makes it possible to include all morphological types of volcanoes found in the region. This fact also renders the present classification a useful tool to apply in other, both insular and continental volcanic areas to eventually analyze and systematize the study of eruptive edifices with similar traits. Hence, this research will explore the standard physical volcanology literature so as to follow accepted definitions.
Author: Azizah Aziz al Shehri
Institution: Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University
Language: English
Subfield: Geochemistry and Petrology
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410188683