The Interpretation of Gravity Changes and Crustal Deformation in Active Volcanic Areas

Simple models, like the well-known point source of dilation (Mogis source) in an elastic, homogeneous and isotropic half-space, are widely used to interpret geodetic and gravity data in active volcanic areas. This approach appears at odds with the real geology of volcanic regions, since the crust is not a homogeneous medium and magma chambers are not spheres. In this paper, we evaluate several more realistic source models that take into account the influence of self-gravitation effects, vertical discontinuities in the Earths density and elastic parameters, and non-spherical source geometries. Our results indicate that self-gravitation effects are second order over the distance and time scales normally associated with volcano monitoring. For an elastic model appropriate to Long Valley caldera, we find only minor differences between modeling the 1982–1999 caldera unrest using a point source in elastic, homogeneous half-spaces, or in elasto-gravitational, layered half-spaces. A simple experiment of matching deformation and gravity data from an ellipsoidal source using a spherical source shows that the standard approach of fitting a center of dilation to gravity and uplift data only, excluding the horizontal displacements, may yield estimates of the source parameters that are not reliable. The spherical source successfully fits the uplift and gravity changes, overestimating the depth and density of the intrusion, but is not able to fit the radial displacements.     

青藏高原东缘岩石圈结构对现今地表垂向运动影响的数值分析

参考青藏高原东缘松潘-甘孜地块至四川盆地陡变地形起伏和地壳密度结构的横向差异,本文建立了二维牛顿黏性流体有限元模型,计算分析构造加载、陡变地形和重力效应控制下青藏高原东缘岩石圈变形特征,探讨横向不均匀的地壳密度结构、陡变地形和岩石圈流变性质对区域现今垂向运动的影响.计算结果显示：在构造加载作用下,松潘-甘孜地块至四川盆地地表抬升微弱.区域横向不均匀的地壳密度结构驱使松潘-甘孜地块地壳整体抬升,速率高达2 mm·a^-1,四川盆地整体下沉,速率约1 mm·a^-1,与龙门山两侧现今观测到的地表垂向变形模式相近.龙门山地区陡变地形驱使柔性地壳流动,调整区域地壳局部变形;岩石圈流变结构影响重力驱动作用下的模型变形量值和岩石圈变形耦合程度,松潘-甘孜地块较低的中地壳黏滞系数引起上、下地壳的变形解耦;模型较高的岩石圈地幔黏滞系数使重力驱动作用下区域垂向变形量降低.因此,青藏高原东缘地壳密度结构差异、地形起伏和岩石圈流变性质是现今区域垂向变形的重要动力学控制因素.     

采用有限元等效体力方法数值分析火山区岩浆压力变形源——以长白山火山为例

火山区岩浆压力变形源的反演计算采用解析方法存在难以考虑地形的限制,采用传统有限元方法则存在网格依赖和计算量大的问题,反演过程中每一次正演由于岩浆房位置和大小变化都需要重新生成一次网格,耗费巨大的计算量和网格生成时间.为了克服上述问题,首次在长白山火山区使用"有限元等效体力"方法考虑地形影响反演地下岩浆压力变形源,计算岩浆应力扰动对周边断层稳定性的影响.在火山区地下压力变形源引起的地表形变计算中,地表地形影响不可忽略.埋深越浅,地表最大径向位移u_r所在的位置越靠近岩浆囊中心.当坡度达到30°时,最大垂向位移u_z所在位置不再位于岩浆囊正上方.椭球状岩浆囊压力源可以较好地模拟长白山火山地区2002—2003年间的GPS和水准测量.岩浆房扰动应力场和区域构造应力场的叠加有可能造成天池西部近EW向,天池北部以NW-NNW向为主的现今应力方向.岩浆房压力源引起的库仑应力变化有利于天池火山口NW向震群在空间上主要分布于火山口的西南和东北部.     

Geodetic methods for detecting volcanic unrest: a theoretical approach

In this paper we study the application of different geodetic techniques to volcanic activity monitoring, using theoretical analysis. This methodology is very useful for obtaining an idea of the most appropriate (and efficient) monitoring method, mainly when there are no records of geodetic changes previous to volcanic activity. The analysis takes into account the crustal structure of the area, its geology, and its known volcanic activity to estimate the deformation and gravity changes that might precede eruptions. The deformation model used includes the existing gravity field and vertical changes in the crustal properties. Both factors can have a considerable effect on computed deformation and gravity changes. Topography should be considered when there is a steep slope (greater than 10°). The case study of Teide stratovolcano (Tenerife, Canary Islands), for which no deformation or gravity changes are available, is used as a test. To avoid considering topography, we worked at the lowest level of Las Cañadas and examined a smaller area than the whole caldera or island. Therefore, the results are only a first approach to the most adequate geodetic monitoring system. The methodology can also be applied to active areas where volcanic risk is not associated with a stratovolcano but instead with monogenetic scattered centers, especially when sites must be chosen in terms of detection efficiency or existing facilities. The Canary Islands provide a good example of this type of active volcanic areas, and we apply our model to the island of Lanzarote to evaluate the efficiency of the monitoring system installed at the existing geodynamic station. On this island topography is not important. The results of our study show clearly that the most appropriate geodetic volcano monitoring system is not the same for all different volcanic zones and types, and the particular properties of each volcano/zone must be taken into account when designing each system.     

基于变差函数的插值方法计算华北地区重力场变化

定点重复重力测量是获取区域重力场变化的主要手段之一, 重力场特征与地形起伏、 构造走向等因素相关。 以华北地区为例, 考虑区域内地形和构造的北东向分布规律, 从EGM2008重力模型中拟合各向异性变差函数参数, 利用变差函数网格化插值, 对华北地区2009—2013年期间重力场观测数据进行网格化重建, 获取华北地区重力场时空变化结果。 研究结果表明基于区域地形、 构造特征的各向异性变差函数插值方法, 获得的空间重力场变化在重力异常梯级带上更加明显, 重力变化与活动构造分布具有更好的一致性。 本文研究方法对于恢复区域时空重力场异常具有重要意义, 有助于提高应用重力资料划分潜在地震危险区空间位置的精度, 为华北地区震情研判和构建地震预报定量指标体系提供可靠的地球物理场数据。     

Timescales and the role of inheritance in long-term landscape evolution,northern New England,Australia

Landscape evolution in northern New England is characterized by the persistence of landforms over long time periods. The topography in the study area was initiated by Paleozoic diapiric intrusion of granitic rocks as highs within metasedimentary and volcanic rocks. This framework was probably reinforced by differences in the resistance of the massive igneous and the fractured metasedimentary rocks to erosion. As a result, both the Tertiary and present-day relief of the area consists of uplands developed on granitic rocks partly overlain by Paleozoic volcanic rocks, and lowlands developed on Paleozoic metasediments. Extensive volcanism in the Tertiary had only a minimal effect on this relationship. A significant impact of Tertiary volcanism, however, was the diversion of major streams across topographic highs. Despite 19-35 Ma of incision, these streams are still far from establishing equilibrium profiles and dissecting the highs. The persistence of topography for a timescale of the same order of magnitude as that conventionally thought to be required for planation is due to reduced denudation rates in a passive tectonic setting and the presence of erosion-resistant Paleozoic igneous units. The latter influence is indicated by knickpoint persistence for 19-35 Ma on streams diverted across these rocks. Since it is generally considered that such disequilibria are short-lived features formed by Quaternary or ongoing deformation, this knickpoint persistence has important implications for landscape analyses that use disequilibria to assess recent tectonism in a landscape.     

蒙古及周边地区重力异常和地壳不均匀体分布

基于全球EGM2008自由空气重力异常模型,本文计算了蒙古及周边地区的布格重力异常和AiryHeiskanen均衡重力异常.在此基础上,本文采用Crust 1.0地壳模型为参考,通过重力正演方法,对蒙古及周边地区不同深度地壳密度结构模型的重力异常进行了计算,并对得到的正演布格重力异常与实际重力异常进行了对比和分析.研究结果表明:蒙古西部杭爱山地区与阿尔泰山地区的构造变形差异性明显,现今均衡重力异常中杭爱山周边没有明显的均衡异常高值区,而阿尔泰山地区西南方向存在均衡重力异常高值分布,分析与新构造运动密切相关;Crust 1.0模型给出的壳幔横向密度不均匀体分布对于计算Moho面起伏引起的重力异常作用明显;Crust 1.0给出的地壳内界面变形可以反映深大活动断裂的深部构造变形.研究结果对于认识蒙古东西部构造特征差异,以及现今西部活动断裂的地球物理场特征具有参考意义,也可以为进一步应用Crust 1.0模型为参考开展三维密度结构反演提供一定帮助.     

Numerical calculations of the perturbation of normal heat flow by topographic and local conductivity structure

A numerical method is used to investigate the effect of topographic and local thermal conductivity anomalies on near-surface heat flow for two-dimensional models. Heat flow associated with a sloping topographic structure is calculated. Also, the effects of a fault structure associated with the sloping topography are considered. Vertical and horizontal heat flow components are calculated alone; the surface of the earth as well as throughout the whole region of interest. The results indicate that surface heat flow is substantially affected by topographic relief and the horizontal heat flow component associated with topographic features can be large. Also, regional heat flow is greatly perturbed by local thermal conductivity anomalies and the effect of topographic features may be considerably modified by the subsurface structure.     

TOPOGRAPHIC REDUCTION OF GRAVITY MEASUREMENTS BY NUMERICAL INTEGRATION OF BOUNDARY INTEGRALS*

A numerical method for calculating the topographic reduction of gravity measurements is developed which follows the approximation of the topography by a single valued function. The method involves the conversion of the volume integral for the gravity effect into a two-dimensional definite integral. The definite integral is partly solved by explicit, and partly by numerical, integration, using the Gauss-Legendre quadrature formula. This method is well suited to calculating the topographic reduction of 50 to approximately 1000 m from the station–especially for microgravimetric surveys in areas of steeply sloping terrain. To test the method in practice it was applied in an area of rough relief in Keban (East Turkey).     

Effect of Near-fault Terrain upon Dislocation Modeling

—Coseismic surface deformation provides important information needed to determine source rupture geometry and slip distribution as well as to estimate seismic moment. In this study, numerical experiments were designed to analyze and classify how free-surface topography affects surface deformation. The investigation was performed by 3-D finite element modeling. Results of this study show that crustal deformation induced by near-fault terrain is significant and can be measured with present geodetic survey techniques. The characteristics of the terrain effects show that a hill structure produces more crustal deformation than a half-space model, and that the crustal deformation of a basin structure is less than that of the half-space model. The topographic correction is in the order of five percent of the fault dislocation. On the basis of the relationship between fault offset and earthquake magnitude, it is suggested that the terrain effects on the coseismic crustal deformation of shallow earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 5.6 should be considered as one of the major errors in coseismic deformation modeling which ignored the surface topography on the order of 300 meters.     

2.5维起伏地表条件下时间域航空电磁正演模拟

时间域航空电磁作为一种高效地球物理勘探技术特别适合我国地形复杂地区(沙漠、高山、湖泊、沼泽等)资源勘查.然而,这些地区地形起伏较大,对航空电磁响应有严重影响,忽略地形影响会给航空电磁数据解释造成很大误差.到目前为止人们对航空电磁地形效应特征研究十分有限.本文提出了基于非结构化网格的有限元法模拟带地形时间域航空电磁系统响应.该方法与基于结构化网格的有限差分相比能更好地模拟地形.首先通过傅里叶变换将2.5维问题转化成二维问题,利用伽辽金方法对二维问题进行离散.通过使用MUMPS求解器,得到波数域电磁响应.利用反傅里叶变换将波数域电磁响应变换到空间域,并利用正弦变换将其变换到时间域,得到2.5维时间域航空电磁响应.通过将本文的计算结果与半空间模型解析解及其他已发表的结果进行对比,检验了本文算法的精度.最后,我们系统分析了山峰和山谷地形对航空响应的影响特征.本文研究结果对航空电磁地形效应的识别和校正具有指导意义.     

The influence of tectonic subsidence on volcaniclastic sedimentation: The Cretaceous upper Daeri Member,Wido Island,Korea

The Daeri Member, a Cretaceous volcanic–sedimentary succession, can be divided into lower, middle, and upper parts based on vertical changes in its lithologic characters. The lower Daeri Member is composed of siliciclastic deposits formed in a semi‐arid floodplain environment, which is overlain by the middle Daeri Member consisting mainly of andesite lava flow. After the emplacement of the andesite, activities of intrabasinal normal faults created accommodation on hanging wall blocks together with the development of intrabasinal topographic relief. The upper Daeri Member occurs only in hanging wall blocks and is composed of rhyolitic volcaniclastic sediments formed during an explosive volcanic eruption. Following the eruption, owing to semi‐arid climatic conditions and the destruction of vegetation, the eruptive materials were easily remobilized and deposited by episodic sediment gravity flows, resulting in deposition of the resedimented volcaniclastic deposits with sheet‐like geometry. Away from the intrabasinal normal faults, the resedimented volcaniclastic deposits show a decrease in grain size together with changes in inferred depositional processes from debris flows to hyperconcentrated flows and supercritical sheetfloods. This suggests that the resedimented volcaniclastic deposits were stacked on alluvial fan environments induced by intrabasinal topographic relief associated with normal fault activities. In addition, episodic movement of the faults gave rise to periodic fluctuation of the accommodation and an increase in gradient of the alluvial fan surface, resulting in the development of coarsening‐upward trends in the resedimented volcaniclastic deposits. The development of the alluvial fan and the coarsening‐upward trends indicate that dynamic tectonic subsidence and concomitant changes in the intrabasinal physiographic relief influenced the depositional processes and sizes of the transported volcaniclastic sediments of the upper Daeri Member. Thus, it is necessary to carefully observe tectonic signatures in volcaniclastic successions, particularly the syneruptive lithofacies, in order to reconstruct the tectonic and volcanic histories of receiving basins.     

Modeling hydrothermal fluid circulation and gravity signals at the Phlegraean Fields caldera

The Phlegraean Fields caldera is an active volcanic system where episodes of ground deformation are accompanied by significant changes in geochemical and geophysical parameters monitored at the surface. These changes derive from a complex interaction between magmatic system and hydrothermal fluid circulation. We calculate the gravity changes associated with the variable density of hydrothermal fluids. We simulate the multi-phase and multi-component fluid circulation triggered by a pulsating magma degassing, periodically increasing the discharge of CO₂-enriched fluids into the shallow hydrothermal system. The simulated evolution of the hydrothermal system successfully reproduces the observed composition of gas discharged at the surface. At the same time, results indicate that changes in average fluid density generate a detectable gravity signal that is of the same order of magnitude of the observed changes. This contribution to gravity changes can explain the peculiar behavior of gravity data collected at Solfatara, where surface hydrothermal phenomena are present. Simultaneous fitting of two independent sets of monitoring data (gas composition and gravity changes) confirms the conceptual model proposed for the hydrothermal system at Solfatara, and it provides new insights for the interpretation of gravity data.     

Near-station topographic masses correction for high-accuracy gravimetric prospecting

The expanding role of gravity prospecting in mineral and hydrocarbon exploration as well as seismic and volcanic risk studies will be related to its ability to provide high-resolution anomalies. To achieve this goal it is necessary to consider the errors resulting from the topographic corrections, in particular near-station effects. Such errors are relevant not only for severe topographies but also for relatively flat surfaces involving microgravity applications and large-scale surveys.
Indeed, the errors introduced by low-resolution digital elevation models can be of the same order of magnitude as the anomalies of interest. This basic fact is demonstrated by tests on synthetic models. The results of this analysis are summarized in an intuitive graph that can be used to estimate what near-station topographic resolution is necessary for a specific survey. For the Vulcano Island test site (in Southern Italy), we also compare results obtained using three different representations of the topographic surface with different horizontal resolutions and vertical precisions: one from existing photogrammetric data, the second from a digitized map and the third from a very high-resolution laser scanning system. Among the three methods, laser scanning is shown to obtain the highest resolution topographic reconstructions in the shortest time. Some weaknesses of the laser scanning methodology are discussed and we suggest ways of overcoming them.     

Investigation of topographic reductions and aliasing effects on gravity and the geoid over Greece based on various digital terrain models

The reduction of gravity-field related quantities (e.g., gravity anomalies, geoid heights) due to the topography plays a crucial role in both geodetic and geophysical applications, since in the former it is an intermediate step towards geoid prediction and in the latter it reveals lateral as well as radial density contrasts and infers the geology of the area under study. The computations are usually carried out by employing a DTM and/or a DBM, which describe the topography and bathymetry, respectively. Errors in these DTMs/DBMs will introduce errors in the computed topographic effects, while poor spatial resolution of the topography and bathymetry models will result in aliasing effects to both gravity anomalies and geoid heights, both influencing the accuracy of the estimated solutions. The scope of this work is twofold. First, a validation and accuracy assessment of the SRTM 3″ (90 m) DTM over Greece is performed through comparisons with existing global models as well as with the Greek 450 m national DTMs. Whenever a misrepresentation of the topography is identified in the SRTM data, it is “corrected” using the local 450 m DTM. This process resulted in an improved SRTM DTM called SRTMGr, which was then used to determine terrain effects to gravity field quantities. From the fine-resolution SRTMGr DTMs, coarser models of 15″, 30″, 1′, 2′ and 5′ have been determined in order to investigate aliasing effects on both gravity anomalies and geoid heights by computing terrain effects at variable spatial resolutions. From the results acquired in two test areas, it was concluded that SRTMGr provides similar results to the local DTM making the use of other older global DTMs obsolete. The study for terrain aliasing effects proved that when high-resolution and accuracy gravity and geoid models are needed, then the highest possible resolution DTM should be employed to compute the respective terrain effects. Based on the results acquired from two the test areas a corrected SRTMGr DTM has been compiled for the entire Greek territory towards the development of a new gravimetric geoid model. Results from that analysis are presented based on the well-known remove-compute-restore method, employing land and marine gravity data, EGM08 as a reference geopotential model and the SRTMGr DTM for the computation of the RTM effects.     

Investigation on the relation between the gravity anomaly，crustal deformation and underground water

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Temporal gravity and elevation changes at Pacaya volcano, Guatemala

Repetitive gravity surveys at Pacaya Volcano from 1975 to 1979 revealed time-dependent changes in the gravity field, which although related to volcanic activity, could not be uniquely attributed to elevation changes or mass redistributions because elevation control was lacking. Elevation control was established in July 1979 using precision leveling. Relative elevation and gravity measurements in June and July of 1979, January 1980 and June 1980 indicate concurrent gravity and elevation changes contemporaneous with variations in eruptive activity. From June 1979 to January 1980, while fumarolic activity was dominant, relative to the most remote station, the volcano deflated by at least 195 mm and the gravity field increased by up to 221 μgal. From January 1980 to June 1980, preceding a Strombolian eruption beginning about June 1980, the volcano inflated by at least 19 mm and the gravity field decreased by up to 231 μgal. Gravity change maps for the intervals of January 1978 to June 1979, June 1979 to January 1980, and January 1980 to June 1980 show areas subject to repeated positive and negative gravity change. Some of those areas coincide with areas of maximum elevation change observed in the June 1979–January 1980 and January 1980–June 1980 intervals; however, gravity changes were observed in areas lacking elevation changes. Adjusting observed gravity changes for elevation changes using a free-air value of −3.086 μgal/cm does not substantially alter the pattern, position, or amplitude of the gravity changes. The relationship between gravity changes, elevation changes, and volcanic activity requires a mechanism producing gravity decreases with little inflation during times of increased eruptive activity, and producing gravity increases with subsidence during times of declining eruptive activity. Such a pattern of changes could be produced by a near-surface magma body in which high-density degassed magma is displaced volume for volume by low-density vesiculated magma during time of increased eruptive activity, and in which loss of gasses by fumarolic activity produces a density increase and a reduction in volume of the magma body during periods of declining eruptive activity. Such a pattern of changes could also be induced by a low-density, vesiculated magma body moving upward in the volcanic pile by piecemeal stoping where the high-density rocks of the volcano are replaced on a volume for volume basis by low-density magma during periods of increasing eruptive activity; and by later density increases and magma body volume reductions accompanying devolatilization and devesiculation during periods of declining eruptive activity. Simple density change and density contrast models involving shallow magma bodies at depths of 100 to 200 m indicate density changes or contrasts of about 0.4 g/cm³ could produce the gravity changes.     

Scattering of plane sh waves by a semi-cylindrical canyon

The two-dimensional scattering and diffraction of plane SH waves by a semi-cylindrical canyon is analysed for a general angle of wave incidence. The closed-form solution of the problem shows that the surface topography can have prominent effects on incident waves only when the wavelengths of incident motion are short compared to the radius of a canyon. The surface amplification of displacement amplitudes around and in the canyon changes rapidly from one point to another, but the amplification is always less than 2. The over-all trends of amplification pattern are determined by two principal parameters: (1) γ, the angle of incidence of plane SH waves, and (2) η, the ratio of radius of the canyon to one-half wave length of incident waves. The higher η leads to greater complexity of the pattern of surface displacement amplitudes characterized by more abrupt changes of amplification from one point to another, while γ mainly determines the over-all trends of displacement amplitudes. For grazing and nearly grazing incidences, for example, a strong shadow zone is developed behind the canyon. The qualitative analysis of the topographic effects on the Pacoima Dam accelerogram,¹ based on the semi-cylindrical canyon, suggests that this strong-motion record was not seriously affected by surface topography of the recording site.     

GRAVITY VARIATION BEFORE AND AFTER THE MS5.4 EARTHQUAKE IN CANGWU IN 2016

Based on the mobile gravity observation data in 2014-2016 in Guangxi and its adjacent areas, this paper systematically analyzed the changes of regional gravity field and its relation to the M_S5.4 Cangwu, Guangxi earthquake on July 31, 2016, and combined with GPS observation data and seismic geological survey results, discussed the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of the changes of regional gravity field and its mechanism. The results show that:(1) Before and after the M_S5.4 Cangwu earthquake, the gravity anomaly changes near the earthquake area were closely related to the major faults in space, which reflects the crustal deformation and tectonic activities that caused the surface gravity change along the seismogenic fault in the period of 2014-2016; (2) The gravity changes near the epicenter before and after the M_S5.4 Cangwu earthquake showed an evolution process in which the positive gravity anomaly zone changed to the negative gravity anomaly zone, a gravity gradient belt appeared along NNE direction and the earthquake occurred in its reverse change process; (3) The epicenter of the M_S5.4 Cangwu earthquake located both near the gravity gradient belt and in the zero transition zone of the surface strain gradient and the edge of the high maximum shear strain rate area, the observational fact further proved that the dynamic image of gravitational field and deformation field have important instruction significance to the location prediction of strong earthquakes; (4) in recent years, the gravity dynamic change in northwestern Guangxi presented a four-quadrant distribution pattern, and there is the risk of generating earthquake of magnitude about 5 in the center of the quadrants.     

Modeling of co- and post-seismic surface deformation and gravity changes of M W 6.9 Yushu,Qinghai,earthquake

Based on the elastic dislocation theory, multilayered crustal model, and rupture model obtained by seismic waveform inversion, we calculated the coand post-seismic surface deformation and gravity changes caused by the Yushu M W 6.9 earthquake occurred on April 14, 2010. The observed GPS velocity field and gravity field in Yushu areas are disturbed by the coand post-seismic effects induced by Yushu earthquake, thus the theoretical coand post-seismic deformation and gravity changes will provide important modi...