Monitoring of the eruption of the Sarychev Peak Volcano in Matua Island in 2009 (central Kurile islands)

In June 2009, one of the greatest eruptions of the Sarychev Peak volcano in Matua Island (48°06′ N, 153°12′ E) for the recent historical period occurred. With the help of satellite sounding methods, the first signs of volcanic activity were recorded and all the stages of the explosive eruption were traced. During the expeditionary investigations in the active volcano, unique data on the character of the eruption were obtained. The volume of erupted material was 0.4 cubic km, which lead to an increased area of Matua Island by 1.4 square km. The GPS observation station set at the distance of 7 km from the volcano recorded the rapid displacement of the Earths’s surface during the first two days of the active phase of eruption. This eruption of the Sarychev Peak volcano occurred 2.5 years after the catastrophic Simushir earthquakes in the period of intensive relaxation of stresses in the middle of the central part of the Kurile island arc.     

Change of landscape structure of Matua Island after the Sarichev Volcano Peak Eruption June 12–15, 2009

Due to the Sarichev volcano peak eruption June 12–15, 2009, the landscape of Matua Island was modified greatly. On the basis of field data, the spatial structure of the island landscape before and after eruption was analyzed. Scale maps 1: 200 000 reflecting the landscape structure of the island before June 12 and on June 30 are presented. It was established that the landscape on the slope of the volcano cone was essentially restructured by the influence of pyroclastic flows and volcanic ash fall-out. Complication of the island structure was noted after the volcanic eruption.     

Amsterdam Island,an isolated volcano in the southern Indian ocean

Twelve lavas have been sampled on Amsterdam Island, which is an extinct shield volcano located on a transform fault crossing the south-eastern branch of the Indian Ocean rise. Chemical analyses show that the lavas have mainly tholeiitic affinities, ranging from olivine tholeiites to plagioclase basalts with accumulation of bytownite. The high alumina lavas are similar to bytownite cumulates dredged from the Indian Ocean rise, and the low alumina lavas resemble tholeiites of Hawaii. The volcano appears to be in an early stage of evolution from oceanic ridge basalt to an alkaline volcano.     

Stratigraphy and structure of Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Deception Island is an active volcano with a large structural collapse caldera that has been interpreted by several investigators as having been generated by different processes. The general stratigraphy and structural study of the volcano is presented, with special emphasis on the distribution and structural disposition of the different stratigraphic units. The rocks of Deception Island have traditionally been divided into pre- and post-caldera products. A subdivision of the pre-caldera deposits, called ‘pre- and syn-caldera deposits,’ has been observed in two main units. Bulk magnetic susceptibility analyses are used to support the field stratigraphy presented. The localization and distribution of dikes is used to assign the central collapse of the volcano to rifting induced by tensional tectonics occurring in the Bransfield Strait and the presence of transcurrent faults around the island.     

天池火山千年大喷发的岩浆混合作用与喷发机制初步探讨

根据岩浆演化和地球物理深部探测,天池火山之下存在地壳和地幔双层岩浆房。地幔玄武质岩浆向地壳岩浆房的补给,保持了天池火山逾百万年持续不断的喷发活动。本文从天池火山千年大喷发浮岩中的玄武质粗安岩一粗安岩角砾和条带状岩浆的岩相学、矿物学和岩石化学研究,提出地幔的粗面玄武质岩浆向地壳岩浆房的注入,触发千年大喷发,初步探讨了天池火山千年大喷发的岩浆混合作用与喷发机制。     

广西北海涠洲岛火山最后喷发活动时代

广西北海涠洲岛是我国最大的第四纪火山岩海岛。近些年来随着我国核电事业的不断发展,涠洲岛火山最后喷发时代和对区域核电厂址的潜在火山灾害,受到了国内外地学界和核电工业界的广泛关注。我们通过对涠洲岛南部地区射汽岩浆喷发的基浪堆积物的野外地质地貌考察,研究了火山喷发物的岩性特征、沉积结构和堆积规模。同时,对系统采集于不同堆积部位的喷发物样品和上覆的黄土样品进行了电子自旋共振（ESR）年代测试分析,结合前人光释光（OSL）测年结果,得出涠洲岛火山最后一次喷发的时间为晚更新世晚期至全新世早期,距今约13~33ka。

     

Simulation of the 2011 South Sakhalin mud volcano eruption based on the GPS data

Sakhalin Island is the only region in the Russian Far East where mud volcanism is manifested on land. The South Sakhalin mud volcano is located in the south of the island in the zone of the Central Sakhalin Fault (upthrow-thrust). The horizontal and vertical displacements of the earth’s surface after this mud volcano erupted in 2011 are revealed for the first time based on the GPS observation data. On the basis of the inversion of the measured displacements for the homogeneous elastic half-space, a model of the finite spherical eruption source is constructed. The coordinates, depth, and possible size of the source are defined and the volumes of the erupted clay rock, water, and gas are estimated.     

中国东部全新世火山的镭-钍同位素年代学

活火山是指1万年来有过喷发历史的全新世火山。火山的高分辨年代学对火山灾害评估和火山分类具有重要意义。对于缺乏历史记载的全新世火山,直接对火山岩进行同位素定年很困难。本文利用具有高时间分辨率的镭-钍-铀非平衡确定中国东部年轻火山的年龄。根据镭-钍-铀同位素,海南岛的马鞍岭和雷虎岭是全新世火山（马鞍岭：4.3ka;雷虎岭：4.7ka）;镜泊湖火山（4.9ka）也是全新世火山;龙岗火山存在晚更新世和全新世活动（7.0ka,15.0ka）;大兴安岭阿尔山和诺敏河Ra/Th非平衡消失但²³⁰Th/²³⁸U非平衡显著,属于晚更新世喷发（阿尔山：63ka;诺敏河：71ka）。海南岛的马鞍岭火山、雷虎岭火山和东北地区的龙岗火山、镜泊湖火山,是4座活火山。至于东北地区的阿尔山和诺敏河火山是否是活火山,有待测试更多样品的Ra/Th同位素。五大连池老黑山和火烧山有历史喷发记录,这与它们都存在显著Ra/Th非平衡一致。五大连池老黑山和火烧山的岩浆滞留年龄分别小于4.2ka和3.2ka,岩浆上升速率>18~23m/y。

     

Origin and evolution of Lord Howe Island,Southwest Pacific Ocean

Lord Howe Island is the eroded remnant of a large shield volcano. Tholeiitic lavas of the North Ridge Basalt comprise the main shield building phase and were erupted about 6.9 Ma ago. The Boat Harbour Breccia probably formed within the throat of the volcano and, together with the North Ridge Basalt, is intruded by numerous basaltic dykes, which grade into a cone sheet complex near the main vent. Large scale collapse of the summit area of the volcano produced a caldera which was filled rapidly by lavas of the Mount Lidgbird Basalt some 6.4 Ma ago, bringing to a close the volcanic history of Lord Howe Island. The shield volcano thus was built during a short interval in the late Miocene.

Palaeomagnetic data show that the North Ridge Basalt and the Mount Lidgbird Basalt were erupted during periods when the geomagnetic field had normal polarity, and that their formation was separated by at least one interval of reversed polarity when the dykes and cone sheets were emplaced. The directions of magnetisation for the lavas and intrusives are such that, palaeomagnetically, no movement of Lord Howe Island is detected since its formation.

Lord Howe Island is the subaerial part of a large seamount which lies at the southern end of a northerly‐trending line of volcanic seamounts extending for more than 1000 km. The Lord Howe seamount chain probably was produced by movement of the Australian lithospheric plate over a magma source or hot spot located below the plate within the upper mantle. Other data suggest that the Australian plate is moving N at about 6 cm/a and from this it is predicted that the seamount underlying Nova Bank, at the northern end of the chain, was constructed by volcanic activity about 23 Ma ago. Similarly, if volcanism were to occur now in the Lord Howe seamount chain we predict that its location would be about 400 km S of Lord Howe Island.     

The Risk of Destruction of Berenberg Volcano (Jan Mayen Island,Norwegian–Greenland Sea)

Doklady Earth Sciences - The volcanic, sesimological, and geodynamic conditions in the region of the Jan Mayen Island are analyzed. It is shown that a part of Berenberg active volcano, located in...     

Isotopic-geochemical characteristics of free gases of the South Sakhalin mud volcano and their relationship to regional seismicity

This paper discusses the results of long-term monitoring observations on the chemical and isotopic composition of free gases in gryphons of the South Sakhalin mud volcano on Sakhalin Island. It was shown that during seismic activation in the region, the chemical composition of free gases changes, whereas the isotopic composition of carbon in methane and carbon dioxide remains constant. A possible interpretation of the obtained data was suggested. The depth of the gas reservoir that supplies the South Sakhalin mud volcano was estimated as well.     

长白山天池老虎洞期火山活动地质特征及成因意义

长白山天池火山老虎洞期火山活动发生在更新世晚期白头山组碱性粗面岩喷发之后,火山活动的产物主要为玄武岩质火山碎屑岩和少量玄武岩质或粗面岩质熔岩;老虎洞组火山岩的稀土元素地球化学特征介于早期玄武岩和气象站组碱流岩两者之间,将二者有机地联系在一起,使整个天池火山岩的演化趋势更加清晰。老虎洞组火山岩的存在充分证明了天池火山的粗面岩类与该区早期的大量玄武岩具有成因联系。长白山天池火山活动的成因并非简单地用西太平洋板块的俯冲作用所能解释的。     

On some future tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean

Possible tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean, especially in its northeastern part, are discussed in relation to a predicted major earthquake in the Shumagin Seismic Gap (located in the eastern part of the Aleutian Island Chain) and to a major eruption of the St. Augustine volcano in Cook Inlet, Alaska. The deep-water propagation of the tsunami generated in the Shumagin Gap is simulated through the use of a spherical polar coordinate grid of the approximate size of 14km. The tsunami generated by the St. Augustine volcano is studied through the fine mesh grid confined to the Cook Inlet only. The numerical models were calibrated against historical tsunami data. The properties of the tsunami signal are described by the maximum amplitude which occurs in the tsunami record. This allows us to single out the direction along which a maximum tsunami is to be expected.Presented at the International Conference on Natural and Man-Made Hazards in Coastal Zones, held in Ensenada, Mexico, August 1988.     

Exploring lava‐flow hazards at Pico Island,Azores Archipelago (Portugal)

Pico, the youngest island of the Azores Archipelago (Portugal), is characterized by a central volcano and a 30‐km‐long fissure zone. Its eruption rate is the highest of the Azores islands, with more than 35 eruptions in the last 2000 years. Here, we estimate the lava‐flow hazard for Pico Island by combining the vent opening probability derived from the spatial distribution of eruptive fissures, the classes of expected eruptions inferred from the physical and chemical characteristics of historical eruptions, and the lava‐flow paths simulated by the MAGFLOW model. The most likely area to host new eruptions is along a WNW–ESE trend centred on the central volcano, with the highest hazard affecting the two main residential zones of Lajes do Pico and Madalena. Our analysis is the first attempt to assess the lava‐flow hazard for Pico Island, and may have important implications for decision‐making in territorial management and future land‐use planning.     

A model for developing best practice volcano monitoring: a combined threat assessment,consultation and network effectiveness approach

This paper presents a combined approach to achieving best practice volcano monitoring through a review of New Zealand’s volcano-monitoring capability as established under the GeoNet project. A series of benchmark, consultation and network performance studies were undertaken to provide a comprehensive review of volcano monitoring in New Zealand and to establish plans for future improvements in capability. The United States Geological Survey National Volcano Early Warning System method was applied to benchmark the established monitoring networks against recommendations for instrumentation based on a volcano’s threat level. Next, a consultative study of New Zealand’s volcanology research community was undertaken to canvass opinions on what future directions GeoNet volcano monitoring should take. Once the seismic network infrastructure had been built, a noise floor analysis was conducted to identify stations with poor site noise characteristics. Noise remediation for poor sites has been implemented by either re-locating the site or placing sensors in boreholes. Quality control of Global Navigation Satellite System networks is undertaken through the use of multipath parameters derived from routine processing. Finally, the performance of the monitoring networks is assessed against two recent eruptions at Mount Tongariro and White Island. This combined approach can be used as a model to assess the need for future monitoring levels on any volcano.     

火山监测研究进展及其对中国火山灾害监测预警工作的启示

中国及邻区分布着众多的全新世陆相活火山,并留下了大量的喷发历史记录。对这些活火山开展监测和研究工作是预测火山喷发和火山灾害减灾防灾工作的重要途径。高度剥蚀的晚中生代火山区的大量地质填图,以及在活火山区的地球物理、地球化学等近实时的探测工作,极大地深化了我国东部中生代—新生代陆相火山岩的成分特征、岩浆演化规律及喷发方式等方面的认识,是开展火山监测的理想研究对象。近年来,火山灾害日益引起关注,全球火山监测研究进展迅速。本文系统梳理了目前国内外主要的火山监测方法及取得的重要进展,并分析了未来火山灾害减灾防灾工作的发展趋势及我国火山监测工作的发展方向,旨在通过介绍国际火山监测工作,为我国将来开展火山监测、预测与火山灾害相关的减灾防灾等方面的研究和国际合作提供借鉴。     

Volcanic earthquake swarms at Mt. Erebus, Antarctica

Mount Erebus is an active volcano in Antarctica located on Ross Island. A convecting lava lake occupies the summit crater of Mt. Erebus. Since December 1980 the seismic activity of Mt. Erebus has been continuously monitored using a radio-telemetered network of six seismic stations. The seismic activity observed by the Ross Island network during the 1982–1983 field season shows that: (1)Strombolian eruptions occur frequently at the Erebus summit lava lake at rates of 2–5 per day; (2)centrally located earthquakes map out a nearly vertical, narrow conduit system beneath the lava lake; (3)there are other source regions of seismicity on Ross Island, well removed from Mt. Erebus proper. An intense earthquake swarm recorded in October 1982 near Abbott Peak, 10 km northwest of the summit of Mt. Erebus, and volcanic tremor accompanying the swarm, may have been associated with new dike emplacement at depth.     

Montagne Pelée volcano (Martinique,in the French Lesser Antilles) hydrogeological system revealed by high-resolution helicopter-borne electromagnetic imagery

Montagne Pelée, on the French island of Martinique, eastern Caribbean Sea, has been one of the deadliest volcanoes in the world, with 30,000 victims following the 1902 eruption. Thousands of people still live nearby, and this volcano is a strategic “water tank” for Martinique Island, providing 40% of the island’s water supply. This research aimed to better understand its hydrogeological functioning and the relationship with its complex volcanological evolution, taking advantage of a high-resolution helicopter-borne geophysical survey correlated with hydrogeological data from the boreholes and springs databases. Electromagnetic data, correlated with hydrogeological data, allowed for the identification of unsaturated zones, aquifers, and seawater intrusions, as well as the main geological units. In addition, data synthesised from pumping tests revealed that the older the unconsolidated pyroclastic deposits, the lower their hydraulic conductivity. The structural asymmetry between the northeastern and southwestern volcano flanks impacts its hydrogeological functioning. Consequently, the Montagne Pelée hydrogeological conceptual model is marked by several distinguishable aquifers. The upper perched aquifer within recent lava domes is directly involved in, and impacted by, phreatic eruptions, and it supports low flowrate springs. The remaining effective rainfall infiltrates to depth and recharges the hydrothermal system through vertical fractures. The other aquifers are categorized into three groups: northeastern, southeastern and southwestern flank aquifers. This research is a new step toward a better understanding of the Lesser Antilles volcanoes and more broadly of the central and proximal parts of the andesitic active volcanoes.

     

Geochemical characteristics of mud volcano fluids in the southern margin of the Junggar basin,NW China: implications for fluid origin and mud volcano formation mechanisms

Mud volcanoes can provide important information about the underlying strata, hydrocarbon accumulation, and recent neotectonic movements in an area. The fluids erupting from mud volcanoes provide important information about their formation and evolution. The ion concentration and the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of the fluids that were erupted from the three mud volcano groups, Baiyanggou, Aiqigou, and Dushanzi, and nearby rivers in the southern margin of the Junggar basin, northwestern China, are studied. The concentrations of Na and Cl in mud volcano fluids are clearly elevated, displayed as the Na-Cl type. The δD and δ18O values of the fluids are similar between the Baiyanggou and Dushanzi mud volcanoes, which are mainly from ancient sedimentary pore water. However, the Aiqigou mud volcano is depleted in dissolved Cl and shows lower δ18O values with mixed sources, including deep pore and local meteoric water. Two types of mud volcanoes are proposed in this study. One type is low-energy mud volcanoes with a low volume of fluid of deep origin on the hillcrest, which display as mud pool/pie/hole. The other type is high-energy mud volcanoes having mixed fluid origin in the valley and formed in the shape of a mud cone (dome).