N. I. Seliverstov

Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Far East Division, Russian Academy of Sciences,
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskii, 683006, Russia

Time associations have been examined between periods of global and regional increases in explosive volcanic activity during Late Cenozoic time and eustatic cycles of various orders. We show a close association to exist between major Pleistocene volcanic events and regressive phases of 4th order glacioeustatic cycles and demonstrate a correlation between major Holocene volcanic eruptions in Kamchatka and 5th order eustatic cycles. Possible mechanisms are examined responsible for the effects of global hydrospheric processes on explosive volcanic activity. It is hypothesized that activation of caldera-generating movements and related major manifestations of explosive volcanism during Pleistocene glacial periods was caused by pressure drops in magmatic systems as a result of glacioeustatic sea level lowerings during these periods.