Migration of seismic activity during the 1998 volcanic unrest at Iwate volcano,northeastern Japan,with reference to P and S wave velocity anomaly and crustal deformation

We describe the seismicity at Iwate volcano, northeastern Japan, during the volcanic unrest of 1998 with reference to a three-dimensional P and S wave velocity model from tomographic analysis. The abnormal seismic activity beneath Iwate volcano started under the caldera in February, 1998 and migrated westward in the period February to August, 1998. Previous geodetic modeling [Sato and Hamaguchi, Chikyu Monthly 21 (1999) 312–317] suggested the growth of a dike in the time of the seismic activity. Comparing the seismicity and dike extension with the tomographic images of the P and S wave velocity structure, we find that the trace of the growing dike coincides with the region of the high V_p and high V_p/V_s ratio beneath the volcano. The seismic and geodetic data are consistent with an intrusion of magma or other fluid under the caldera in 1998. Another pressure source causing the predominant crustal deformation at Iwate volcano was detected from geodetic data, which was located in the region with high V_p/V_s ratio under the western end of the volcano through the period from February to August. It is suggested that the activation of the point pressure source probably associated with the inflation of a hot fluid reservoir relate to a geothermal region adjacent to the western edge of the volcano.     

Deposition temperature of some PDC deposits from the 1982 eruption of El Chichón volcano (Chiapas,Mexico) inferred from rock-magnetic data

Thermal remanent magnetization (TRM) analyses were carried out on lithic fragments from two different typologies of pyroclastic density current (PDC) deposits of the 1982 eruption of El Chichón volcano, in order to estimate their equilibrium temperature (T_dep) after deposition. The estimated T_dep range is 360–400 °C, which overlaps the direct measurements of temperature carried out four days after the eruption on the PDC deposits. This overlap demonstrates the reliability of the TRM method to estimate the T_dep of pyroclastic deposits and to approximate their depositional temperature. These results also constraint the time needed for reaching thermal equilibrium within four days for the studied PDC deposits, in agreement with predictions of theoretical models.     

Seismic events under vulcano,Aeolian Islands,Italy

This paper describes the seismic activity of Vulcano - an active volcano of the Aeolian Islands group - from 1977 to 1980. Two main swarms of low energy seismic events are recognizable on the basis of the entire set of data. The events, localized very near the crater of Vulcano where a fumarole field is present, have been classified into two classes:i) very shallow events (as far as 1 km in depth); andii) deeper events (as far as 3 km in depth). Double events and small earthquakes localized on the rim of the old caldera have also been recorded in a little percentage. The seismic events of Vulcano can be attributed to an intensive fumarolic activity.     

Base surge deposits,eruption history,and depositional processes of a wet phreatomagmatic volcano in Central Anatolia (Cora Maar)

Cora Maar is a Quaternary volcano located to the 20 km northwest of Mount Erciyes, the largest of the 19 polygenetic volcanic complexes of the Cappadocian Volcanic Province in central Anatolia. Cora Maar is a typical example of a maar-diatreme volcano with a nearly circular crater with a mean diameter of c.1.2 km, and a well-bedded base surge-dominated maar rim tephra sequence up to 40 m in thickness. Having a diameter/depth ratio (D/d) of 12, Cora is a relatively “mature” maar compared to recent maar craters in the world.Cora crater is excavated within the andesitic lava flows of Quaternary age. The tephra sequence is not indurated, and consists of juvenile clasts up to 70 cm, non-juvenile clasts up to 130 cm, accretionary lapilli up to 1.2 cm in diameter, and ash to lapilli-sized tephra. Base surge layers display well-developed antidune structures indicating the direction of the transport. Both progressive and regressive dune structures are present within the tephra sequence. Wavelength values increase with increasing wave height, and with large wavelength and height values. Cora tephra display similarities to Taal and Laacher See base surge deposits. Impact sags and small channel structures are also common. Lateral and vertical facies changes are observed for the dune bedded and planar bedsets.According to granulometric analyses, Cora Maar tephra samples display a bimodal distribution with a wide range of Md_φ values, characteristic for the surge deposits. Very poorly sorted, bimodal ash deposits generally vary from coarse tail to fine tail grading depending on the grain size distribution while very poorly sorted lapilli and block-rich deposits display a positive skewness due to fine tail grading.     

Diffuse CO2 efflux from Iwojima volcano,Izu-Ogasawara arc,Japan

Iwojima volcano, located on the southernmost part of the Izu-Ogasawara arc, is characterized by the extrusion of trachyte or trachy andesite lavas and pyroclastic rocks of Holocene and surface thermal manifestations. Small phreatic explosions have been recorded frequently during the last 100 years with the most recent in 1999 and 2001. In order to elucidate the behavior of volcanic volatiles and to assess the potential activity of this volcano, diffuse CO₂ efflux, CO₂ content and δ¹³C–CO₂ in soil gas, and soil temperature at 30 cm depth were measured at 272 sites in March 2000, 112 sites in December 2000 and 40 sites in December 2001. We found that high CO₂ efflux values, of more than 100 g m⁻² day⁻¹, occurred at several locations on Motoyama volcano corresponding with high soil temperatures (more than 60 °C at 30 cm depth) region and with areas where CO₂ with magmatic δ¹³C was observed. Here, the magmatic δ¹³C determined for fumarolic CO₂ data ranged from −2‰ to +3‰, which is clearly higher than magmatic gas values (−8‰ to −2‰) typically found in island arc settings around the world. However, this can be explained in terms of carbon-isotope fractionation between calcite and CO₂ under subsurface temperature and pressure conditions at Iwojima. A total efflux of CO₂ for Iwojima volcano is estimated to be 760 t day⁻¹, with a magmatic contribution of about 450 t day⁻¹. This value is rather high compared with other volcanoes in island arc settings. Since Iwojima has no visible plume, almost all volcanic CO₂ is released as diffuse efflux through the volcanic edifice.     

Stress field change around the Mount Fuji volcano magma system caused by the Tohoku megathrust earthquake, Japan

Crustal deformation by the M _w 9.0 megathrust Tohoku earthquake causes the extension over a wide region of the Japanese mainland. In addition, a triggered M _w 5.9 East Shizuoka earthquake on March 15 occurred beneath the south flank, just above the magma system of Mount Fuji. To access whether these earthquakes might trigger the eruption, we calculated the stress and pressure changes below Mount Fuji. Among the three plausible mechanisms of earthquake–volcano interactions, we calculate the static stress change around volcano using finite element method, based on the seismic fault models of Tohoku and East Shizuoka earthquakes. Both Japanese mainland and Mount Fuji region are modeled by seismic tomography result, and the topographic effect is also included. The differential stress given to Mount Fuji magma reservoir, which is assumed to be located to be in the hypocentral area of deep long period earthquakes at the depth of 15 km, is estimated to be the order of about 0.001–0.01 and 0.1–1 MPa at the boundary region between magma reservoir and surrounding medium. This pressure change is about 0.2 % of the lithostatic pressure (367.5 MPa at 15 km depth), but is enough to trigger an eruptions in case the magma is ready to erupt. For Mount Fuji, there is no evidence so far that these earthquakes and crustal deformations did reactivate the volcano, considering the seismicity of deep long period earthquakes.     

Styles of volcano-induced deformation: numerical models of substratum flexure, spreading and extrusion

The gravitational deformation of volcanoes is largely controlled by ductile layers of substrata. Using numerical finite-element modelling we investigate the role of ductile layer thickness and viscosity on such deformation. To characterise the deformation we introduce two dimensionless ratios; Π_a (volcano radius/ductile layer thickness) and Π_b (viscosity of ductile substratum/failure strength of volcano). We find that the volcanic edifice spreads laterally when underlain by thin ductile layers (Π_a>1), while thicker ductile layers lead to inward flexure (Π_a<1). The deformation style is related to the switch from predominantly horizontal to vertical flow in the ductile layer with increasing thickness (increasing Π_a). Structures produced by lateral spreading include concentric thrust belts around the volcano base and radial normal faulting in the cone itself. In contrast, flexure on thick ductile substrata leads to concentric normal faults around the base and compression in the cone. In addition, we show that lower viscosities in the ductile layer (low Π_b) lead to faster rates of movement, and also affect the deformation style. Considering a thin ductile layer, if viscosity is high compared to the failure strength of the volcano (high Π_b) then deformation is coupled and spreading is produced. However, if the viscosity is low (low Π_b) substratum is effectively decoupled from the volcano and extrudes from underneath it. In this latter case evidence is likely to be found for basement compression, but corresponding spreading features in the volcano will be absent, as the cone is subject to a compressive stress regime similar to that produced by flexure. At volcanoes where basement extrusion is operating, high volcano stresses and outward substratum movement may combine to produce catastrophic sector collapse. An analysis of deformation features at a volcano can provide information about the type of basement below it, a useful tool for remote sensing and planetary geology. Also, knowledge of substratum geology can be used to predict styles of deformation operating at volcanoes, where features have not yet become well developed, or are obscured.     

The ground-based InSAR monitoring system at Stromboli volcano: linking changes in displacement rate and intensity of persistent volcanic activity

Stromboli volcano (Aeolian Archipelago, Southern Italy) experienced an increase in its volcanic activity from late December 2012 to March 2013, when it produced several lava overflows, major Strombolian explosions, crater-wall collapses pyroclastic density currents and intense spatter activity. An analysis of the displacement of the NE portion of the summit crater terrace and the unstable NW flank of the volcano (Sciara del Fuoco depression) has been performed with a ground-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar (GBInSAR) by dividing the monitored part of the volcano into five sectors, three in the summit vents region and two in the Sciara del Fuoco. Changes in the displacement rate were observed in sectors 2 and 3. Field and thermal surveys revealed the presence of an alignment of fumaroles confirming the existence of an area of structural discontinuity between sectors 2 and 3. High displacement rates in sector 2 are interpreted to indicate the increase in the magmastatic pressure within the shallow plumbing systems, related to the rise of the magma level within the conduits, while increased displacement rates in sector 3 are connected to the lateral expansion of the shallow plumbing system. The increases and decreases in the displacement rate registered by the GBInSAR system in the upper part of the volcano have been used as a proxy for changes in the pressure conditions in the shallow plumbing system of Stromboli volcano and hence to forecast the occurrence of phases of higher-intensity volcanic activity.     

Coseismic and Aseismic Tilt Variations on Mount Etna

?—?In the last ten years (1990–1999), 21 discrete variations of continuous tilt signal have been recorded on Mount Etna, among which one episode was caused by the opening of the eruptive fracture. The remaining 20 anomalies can be classified into two categories: the first comprises 5 “instantaneous” tilt variations recorded in correspondence to the most energetic seismic events (M _L ?≥?3.3) localized on the high western part of the volcano; the second consists of 15 transient anomalies ranging from some hours to 1–2 days, observed at different times at the various tilt stations, with no correlation to seismic events or other evident volcanic episodes. The aseismic variations propagate through the volcanic edifice with a velocity between 4.5–6.0?km/day. Modeling studies suggest that the deformation is generated by a tensile source located 3–6?km SW from Etna volcano summit and 5–10?km depth.     

Influence of bedrock groundwater on streamflow characteristics in a volcanic catchment

Groundwater movements in volcanic mountains and their effects on streamflow discharge and representative elementary area (REA) have remained largely unclear. We surveyed the discharge and chemical composition of spring and stream water in two catchments: the Hontani river (NR) catchment (6.6 km²) and the Hosotani river (SR) catchment (4.0 km²) at the southern part of Daisen volcano, Japan. Daisen volcano is a young volcano (17 × 10³ years) at an early stage of erosion. Our study indicated that deep groundwater that moved through thick lava and pyroclastic flows and that could not be explained by shallow movements controlled by surface topography contributed dominantly to streamflow at larger catchment areas. At the NR catchment, the deep groundwater contribution clearly increased at a catchment boundary defined by an area of 3.0 km² and an elevation of 800 m. At the SR catchment, the contribution deep groundwater to the stream also increased suddenly at a boundary threshold of 2.0 and 700 m. Beyond these thresholds, the contributions of deep bedrock groundwater remained constant, indicating that the REA is between 2 and 3 km² at the observed area. These results indicate that the hydrological conditions of base flow were controlled mainly by the deep bedrock groundwater that moved through thick lava and pyroclastic flows in the undissected volcanic body of the upper part of the catchment. Our study demonstrates that deep and long groundwater movements via a deep bedrock layer including thick deposits of volcanic materials at the two catchments on Daisen volcano strongly determined streamflow discharge instead of the mixing of small‐scale hydrological conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detecting volcanic eruption precursors: a new method using gravity and deformation measurements

One of the fundamental questions in modern volcanology is the manner in which a volcanic eruption is triggered; the intrusion of fresh magma into a reservoir is thought to be a key component. The amount by which previously ponded reservoir magma interacts with a newly intruded magma will determine the nature and rate of eruption as well as the chemistry of erupted lavas and shallow dykes. The physics of this interaction can be investigated through a conventional monitoring procedure that incorporates the simple and much used Mogi model relating ground deformation (most simply represented by Δh) to changes in volume of a magma reservoir. Gravity changes (Δg) combined with ground deformation provide information on magma reservoir mass changes. Our models predict how, during inflation, the observed Δg/Δh gradient will evolve as a volcano develops from a state of dormancy through unrest into a state of explosive activity. Calderas in a state of unrest and large composite volcanoes are the targets for the methods proposed here and are exemplified by Campi Flegrei, Rabaul, Krafla, and Long Valley. We show here how the simultaneous measurement of deformation and gravity at only a few key stations can identify important precursory processes within a magma reservoir prior to the onset of more conventional eruption precursors.     

Observations of crustal tide strains in the Elbrus area

Results of observations of tidal strains of the crust in the tectonically active Elbrus area of the Northern Caucasus carried out with the use of the Baksan SSAI laser interferometer strainmeter over the period from 2003 through 2006 are presented. Harmonic analysis is performed with the help of the ETERNA software package. Statistically significant time variations in the amplitudes of the main tidal waves M ₂ and O ₁ are revealed. The influence of the topography on tidal strains in the Baksan gorge is estimated at 22% (an increase in the measured strain values). The reduced amplitude factors of the main diurnal (O ₁) and semidiurnal (M ₂) waves are underestimated. Numerical modeling of tidal anomalies produced by regional heterogeneous inclusions is performed in a 2-D approximation. The observed anomaly of the M ₂ wave (12%) is shown to be due to the influence of the main magma-controlling fault associated with the deep magma source of the Elbrus dormant volcano.     

Petrologic monitoring of glasses in the pyroclastites erupted in February 2004 by the Stromboli Volcano,Aeolian Islands,Southern Italy

Following an increase of eruptive activity at Stromboli summit craters in February 2004, we promptly carried out SEM-EDS microanalyses and textural observations on samples of lapilli to check the possible occurrence of Low Porphyritic magma (LP magma), a forerunner of hazardous paroxysmal eruptions. The acquired results suggest that all erupted glasses belong to the High Porphyritic magma (HP magma), which characterizes the typical mild explosive activity of the volcano.     

Distortion of the geomagnetic field in volcanic terrains: an experimental study of the Mount Etna stratovolcano

The inclination (I), declination (D) and total intensity (F) of the geomagnetic field were measured on Mount Etna in 1989-1991 at a dozen sites previously sampled for archeomagnetic studies. The purpose of the work was to determine the variations of these parameters at 30 cm above ground level, and how the distortion from the main field can affect the archeomagnetic record of volcanic rocks. Ten measurements were usually performed at each site with a three-component flux-gate magnetometer, whose estimated precision is ±0.2° on direction and ±50 nT on intensity. This was considered sufficient on volcanic areas with highly magnetized rocks and where the geomagnetic gradient may be in excess of 1000 nT/m. Results averaged for each site generally show small variations in intensity (±3% of the total field) and direction (±1.5°). The averaged values of the 12 sites (I=52.6°, D=0.3°, F=44010 nT) are very close to those measured in sedimentary terrain away from the volcano (I=52.9°, D=0.35°, F=44110 nT), themselves consistent with the interpolated IGRF in eastern Sicily. The largest deviations of the geomagnetic direction have been observed on four sites, three of them located on the South flank between 1900 and 700 m elevation. It is suggested that these anomalies are mainly related to dyke swarms which are common within the South Rift Zone of Mount Etna. Our findings show that reliable archeomagnetic results can be obtained from volcanic rocks, provided that lavas of the same eruption are sampled on several sites distributed over the largest possible area.     

Merapi volcano (Java,Indonesia) and Merapi-type Nuée ardente

A particular nuée ardente type (Merapi-type avalanche nuée) has been defined at the Merapi volcano because of its prominent role in the recent activity of the volcano: gravity plays a significant role during the eruption. However, some other eruption styles occur too producing surges and ashfalls. Three types of tephra, deposited in a very short time-span (15 years) are compared: chemistry and mineralogy are similar, but grain-size analyses are different. There is no vesicular glass, and it is concluded that there is an absence of new magma. This example shows clearly the variety of volcanic styles, with similar chemistry in a very short period. Avalanche nuées from collapsed domes or flows are separated into two types:

1. Merapi-typesensu stricto, without any fresh glass, derived from a wholly solidified dome.
2. Arenal-type, containing pumiceous glass, derived from a dome, the interior of which is still liquid.

     

Paleomagnetic constraints on eruption patterns at the Pacaya composite volcano,Guatemala

Pacaya volcano is an active composite volcano located in the volcanic highlands of Guatemala about 40 km south of Guatemala City. Volcanism at Pacaya alternates between Strombolian and Vulcanian, and during the past five years there has been a marked increase in the violence of eruptions. The volcano is composed principally of basalt flows interbedded with thin scoria fall units, several pyroclastic surge beds, and at least one welded tuff. Between 400 and 2000 years BP the W-SW sector of the volcano collapsed producing a horseshoeshaped amphitheater (0.65 km³) and providing a window into the cone's infrastructure. Lava flows and tephra exposed in the amphitheater are more then 200 m thick and when combined with flows erupted recently represent between 30 and 40% of the cone's history. Pacaya is ideally suited for a paleomagnetic study into the timing and duration of eruption episodes at a large, composite volcano. We drilled 27 paleomagnetic sites (25 aa flows, 1 dike, and 1 welded tuff) from four lava-flow sequences with between 4 and 14 sites per sequence. The four sequences represent initial through historic activity at Pacaya. We resolved, what appear to be, 22 time-independent paleomagnetic sites by averaging together directions from successive sites where the sitemean directions were indistinguishable at the 95% level of confidence. However, mean-sequence directions of individual lava-flow sequences yielded unusually high Fisher precision parameters (k=44–224) and small circles of 63% confidence (a₆₃=1.6–6.1°) suggesting as few as three or four time-independent sites were collected. This indicates that activity as Pacaya is strongly episodic and that episodes are characterized by voluminous outpouring of lavas. Modelling the data using Holocene PSV rates confirms this and shows that differences in within-sequence directions (6–11.5°) are consistent with emplacement of lava-flow sequences in less than 100 years to as many as 300 years. Relatively larger differences in directions (18–23°) between subjacent lava-flow sequences indicates that repose is at least 300–500 years and could be even longer.     

The eruptive rate and history of Kuju volcano in Japan during the past 15,000 years

The eruptive history of Kuju volcano on Kyushu, Japan, during the past 15,000 years has been determined by tephrochronology and ¹⁴C dating. Kuju volcano comprises isolated lava domes and cones of hornblende andesite together with aprons of pyroclastic-flow deposits on its flanks. Kuju volcano produced tephras at roughly 1000-yr intervals during the past 5000 years and 70% of the domes and cones have formed during the past 15,000 years. The youngest magmatic activity of Kuju volcano was the 1.6 km³ andesite eruption about 1600 years ago which emplaced a lava dome and block-and-ash flow. Kuju volcano shows a nearly constant long-term eruption rate (0.7–0.4 km³ for 1000 years) during the past 15,000 years. This rate is within the range of estimated average eruption rates of late Quaternary volcanoes in the Japanese Arc, but is about one order of magnitude higher than the eruption rate of Unzen volcano. Kuju volcano has been in phreatic eruption since October 1995. The late Quaternary history of Kuju indicates that it poses a significant volcanic hazard, primarily due to block-and-ash flows from collapsing lava domes.     

Volcanic hazard at Vesuvius: An analysis for the revision of the current emergency plan

Mt Somma-Vesuvius is a composite volcano on the southern margin of the Campanian Plain which has been active since 39 ka BP and which poses a hazard and risk for the people living around its base. The volcano last erupted in 1944, and since this date has been in repose. As the level of volcanic risk perception is very high in the scientific community, in 1995 a hazard and risk evaluation, and evacuation plan, was published by the Italian Department of Civil Protection (Dipartimento della Protezione Civile). The plan considered the response to a worst-case scenario, taken to be a subplinian eruption on the scale of the 1631 AD eruption, and based on a volcanological reconstruction of this eruption, assumes that a future eruption will be preceded by about two weeks of ground uplift at the volcano's summit, and about one week of locally perceptible seismic activity. Moreover, by analogy with the 1631 events, the plan assumes that ash fall and pyroclastic flow should be recognized as the primary volcanic hazard. To design the response to this subplinian eruption, the emergency plan divided the Somma-Vesuvius region into three hazard zones affected by pyroclastic flows (Red Zone), tephra fall (Yellow and Green Zone), and floods (Blue Zone). The plan at present is the subject of much controversy, and, in our opinion, several assumptions need to be modified according to the following arguments: a) For the precursory unrest problem, recent scientific studies show that at present neither forecast capability is realistic, so that the assumption that a future eruption will be preceded by about two weeks of forecasts need to be modified; b) Regarding the exposure of the Vesuvius region to flow phenomena, the Red Zone presents much inconsistency near the outer border as it has been defined by the administrative limits of the eighteen municipality area lying on the volcano. As this outer limit shows no uniformity, a pressing need exists to define appropriately the flow hazard zone, since there are some important public structures not considered in the current Red Zone that could be exposed to flow risk; c) Modern wind records clearly indicate that at the time of a future eruption winds could blow not only from the west, but also from the east, so that the Yellow Zone (the area with the potential to be affected by significant tephra fall deposits) must be redefined. As a result the relationship between the Yellow Zone and Green Zone (the area within and beyond which the impact of tephra fall is expected to be insignificant) must be reconsidered mainly in the Naples area; d) The May 1998 landslide, caused in the Apennine region east of the volcano by continuous rain fall, led to the definition of a zone affected by re-mobilisation of tephra (Blue Zone), confined in the Nola valley. However, as described in the 1631 chronicles of the eruption, if generation of debris flows occurs during and after a future eruption, a much wider region east of the Somma-Vesuvius must be affected by events of this type.     

Holocene tephrochronology record of large explosive eruptions in the southernmost Patagonian Andes

For regionally widespread Holocene tephra layers in southernmost Patagonia, correlations based on both chemical and chronological data indicate their derivation from five large-volume (>1 km³) explosive eruptions of four different volcanoes in the southernmost Andes. Bulk-tephra and tephra-glass major and trace-element chemistry and Sr isotopic ratios unambiguously distinguish different source volcanoes, and imply that two of the regionally widespread tephra (MB₁ and MB₂) were derived from Mt. Burney (52°S), one (R₁) from Reclus (51°S), one (A₁) from Aguilera (50°S) and one (H₁) from Hudson volcano (46°S). The H₁ tephra derived from the Hudson volcano, which is located at the southern end of the Andean Southern Volcanic Zone (SVZ; 33–46°S), contains distinctive greenish andesitic glass with FeO > 4.5 wt.% and TiO₂ > 1.2 wt.%. In contrast, rhyolitic glass in tephra derived from the eruptions of Mt. Burney, Reclus and Aguilera volcanoes, which are located in the Andean Austral Volcanic Zone (AVZ; 49–55°S), is clear and transparent and has significantly lower FeO and TiO₂. Tephra derived from these three AVZ volcanoes all contain plagioclase, orthopyroxene, minor clinopyroxene and amphibole. Biotite occurs only in the Aguilera A₁ tephra, which also has the highest bulk-tephra and tephra-glass K₂O and Rb contents. Averages of new and published ¹⁴C ages determined on organic material in soil and sediment samples above and below these tephra constrain the uncalibrated ¹⁴C age of the R₁ eruption of Reclus volcano to 12,685 ± 260 years BP, the MB₁ and MB₂ eruptions of Mt. Burney to 8,425 ± 500 and 3,830 ± 390 years BP, the Hudson H₁ eruption to 6,850 ± 160 years BP, and the A₁ eruption of Aguilera volcano to 3,000 ± 100 years BP. The volume of the largest of these eruptions, H₁ of the Hudson volcano, is estimated as >18 km³. The volume of the Reclus R₁ eruption is estimated at >10 km³, the Aguilera A₁ eruption at between 4 and 9 km³, and the younger Mt. Burney MB₂ eruption at ≥2.8 km³. The volume of the older MB₁ Mt. Burney eruption is the least well constrained, but must have been larger than the younger MB₂ eruption. The data indicate that the frequency of explosive activity of volcanic centers in the AVZ is lower than in the southern SVZ.     

Crustal stress field in Yunnan: implication for crust-mantle coupling

We applied the g CAP algorithm to determine239 focal mechanism solutions 3:0 M We 6:0T with records of dense Chin Array stations deployed in Yunnan,and then inverted 686 focal mechanisms(including 447 previous results) for the regional crustal stress field with a damped linear inversion. The results indicate dominantly strike-slip environment in Yunnan as both the maximum(r1) and minimum(r3) principal stress axes are sub-horizontal. We further calculated the horizontal stress orientations(i.e., maximum and minimum horizontal compressive stress axes: S H and S h, respectively) accordingly and found an abrupt change near *26°N. To the north, S H aligns NW-SE to nearly E-W while S h aligns nearly N-S. In contrast, to the south, both S H and S h rotate laterally and show dominantly fan-shaped patterns. The minimum horizontal stress(i.e., maximum strain axis) S h rotates from NW-SE to the west of Tengchong volcano gradually to nearly E-W in west Yunnan, and further toNE-SW in the South China block in the east. The crustal strain field is consistent with the upper mantle strain field indicated by shear-wave splitting observations in Yunnan but not in other regions. Therefore, the crust and upper mantle in Yunnan are coupled and suffering vertically coherent pure-shear deformation in the lithosphere.