Clustering properties of Etna seismicity during 1981–1991

Space and time clustering properties ofseismic activity, affecting Etna Volcano (Italy)during 1981–1991, are investigated by fractaldimension analysis. Very interesting volcanic andseismic activity occurred within this time interval.Temporal evolution of the time fractal dimension D _t calculated on a moving window, revealscorrelation with the eruptive processes at differenttime scales confirming results obtained for a differenttime span (De Rubeis et al., 1997). Spatial fractaldimension D _s shows to be negativelycorrelated with the time fractal dimension D _t, suggesting a peculiar dynamic patternassociated with volcanic processes.     

Seismic tomography of Central São Miguel, Azores

We determine the three-dimensional distribution of P- and S-wave velocities for Central São Miguel Island (Azores, Portugal) by tomographic inversion of local earthquake arrival times. We use P- and S-phases from 289 earthquakes recorded by a network of 20 seismometers. The model shows good resolution in the shallowest 5–6 km, as illustrated by different resolution tests. There are several velocity anomalies, interpreted as pyroclastic deposits, intrusive bodies, geothermal fields, and the effects of tectonics. A low Vp zone marks Furnas caldera, probably evidencing volcaniclastic sediments with development of intense geothermal activity. Another low Vp zone extends in correspondence of the highly fractured area between Fogo and the north coast. Conversely, strong positive anomalies are found south of Fogo and northwest of Furnas. They are interpreted in terms of high-density deposits and remnants of a plutonic intrusion. These interpretations are supported by the distribution of Vp/Vs, and are consistent with previous geological, geochemical, and geophysical data.     

Andesitic magma degassing investigated through H2O vapour–melt partitioning of halogens at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat (Lesser Antilles)

Magma degassing at Soufrière Hills Volcano (SHV) is characterised by an almost permanent SO₂ flux and a HCl production rate which mainly depends on dome growth rate. Degassing processes have been studied through textural, H₂O and halogen analyses of clasts collected between 1995 and 2006 on the dome and in pyroclastic flows and vulcanian eruption deposits. Cl, Br and I are strongly depleted in melts during H₂O degassing with no significant Cl–Br–I fractionation, whereas F is almost unaffected. All magmas erupted at SHV have followed a multi-step degassing path from the magma chamber up to a shallow depth ( 1 km, P  20 MPa). From that depth, however, effusive and explosive paths are distinct; vulcanian eruptions are the result of closed system degassing (CSD), while effusive dome growth is the result of CSD up to a very shallow depth (≤ 200 m, P  5–2 MPa) followed by open system degassing (OSD). CSD is modelled using the H₂O solubility law, the perfect gas law and partition coefficients of halogens between a rhyolitic melt and H₂O vapour (d_v − lⁱ). Gas loss characteristic of OSD is modelled using a Rayleigh law. Degassing induced crystallisation is introduced through the ratio of crystallisation and degassing rates, which ranges from 150–500. d_v − l^Cl for OSD ranges between 50–300, increasing with melt Cl content. For CSD, the lower effective d_v − l^Cl ( 20) is attributed to kinetic effects.

Dome forming activity has a greater impact on atmospheric chemistry than vulcanian eruptions because OSD is much more efficient at extracting halogens. The model shows that HCl flux is a good proxy for the dome forming eruption rate. Comparison between model and measured gas compositions suggests a high HBr–BrO conversion rate (BrO/Total Br  1/3) in the SHV gas plume.

The degassing behaviour of Cl, Br and I implies similar Cl/Br ( 160) and Br/I ( 90) in initial melts, volcanic clasts and high temperature gases. The low Cl/Br at SHV compared to other island arcs ( 250–300) is attributed to a shallow, pre-eruptive Br enrichment. The almost permanent dome extrusion at SHV since 1995 has likely had a significant regional atmospheric impact because of the very efficient effusive degassing and the high conversion rate of halogens into reactive species within the gas plume.     

A double seismic antenna experiment at teide Volcano: existence of local seismicity and lack of evidences of Volcanic tremor

Data analyzed in the present work correspond to a 40 days field experiment carried out in Teide Volcano (Canary Islands, Spain) with two short-period small-aperture dense seismic antennas in 1994. The objective of this experiment was to detect, analyze and locate the local seismicity. We analyzed also the background seismic noise to investigate the possible presence of volcanic tremor. From a set of 76 events, we selected 21 of them in base of their good signal-to-noise ratio and their possibility to locate their seismic source by using the seismic antennas. A visual classification based on the S–P time and seismogram shape has permitted to establish three groups of events: local seismicity (S–P time between 3 and 5 s), very local earthquakes (S–P time smaller than 3 s) and artificial explosions. These earthquakes have been located by applying the Zero Lag Cross-Correlation technique and the inverse ray-tracing procedure. Those earthquakes that were recorded simultaneously by both seismic antennas were also located by intersecting both back-azimuths. The analysis of the seismicity has revealed that the amount of seismicity in Teide Volcano is moderate. This seismicity could be distributed in three main areas: inside the Caldera Edifice (below the Teide–Pico Viejo complex), in the eastern border of the Caldera Edifice and offshore of the island. At present, this activity is the only indicator of the volcano dynamics. The analysis of the back-ground seismic noise has revealed that at frequencies lower than 2 Hz, the Oceanic Load signal is predominant over other signals, even over local earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.0. Due to this, although if in the Teide area were present a weak volcanic tremor, or other volcanic signals with predominant peaks below 2 Hz, to observe them would be a very difficult task.     

Comparative soil CO2 flux measurements and geostatistical estimation methods on Masaya volcano, Nicaragua

We present a comparative study of soil CO₂ flux () measured by five groups (Groups 1–5) at the IAVCEI-CCVG Eighth Workshop on Volcanic Gases on Masaya volcano, Nicaragua. Groups 1–5 measured using the accumulation chamber method at 5-m spacing within a 900 m² grid during a morning (AM) period. These measurements were repeated by Groups 1–3 during an afternoon (PM) period. Measured ranged from 218 to 14,719 g m⁻² day⁻¹. The variability of the five measurements made at each grid point ranged from ±5 to 167%. However, the arithmetic means of fluxes measured over the entire grid and associated total CO₂ emission rate estimates varied between groups by only ±22%. All three groups that made PM measurements reported an 8–19% increase in total emissions over the AM results. Based on a comparison of measurements made during AM and PM times, we argue that this change is due in large part to natural temporal variability of gas flow, rather than to measurement error. In order to estimate the mean and associated CO₂ emission rate of one data set and to map the spatial distribution, we compared six geostatistical methods: arithmetic and minimum variance unbiased estimator means of uninterpolated data, and arithmetic means of data interpolated by the multiquadric radial basis function, ordinary kriging, multi-Gaussian kriging, and sequential Gaussian simulation methods. While the total CO₂ emission rates estimated using the different techniques only varied by ±4.4%, the maps showed important differences. We suggest that the sequential Gaussian simulation method yields the most realistic representation of the spatial distribution of , but a variety of geostatistical methods are appropriate to estimate the total CO₂ emission rate from a study area, which is a primary goal in volcano monitoring research.Editorial responsibility: H Shinohara     

Intrusive Mechanisms at Mt. Etna Forerunning the July-August 2001 Eruption from Seismic and Ground Deformation Data

In this work we present seismological and ground deformation evidence for the phase preparing the July 18 to August 9, 2001 flank eruption at Etna. The analysis performed, through data from the permanent seismic and ground deformation networks, highlighted a strong relationship between seismic strain release at depth and surface deformation. This joint analysis provided strong constraints on the magma rising mechanisms. We show that in the last ten years, after the 1991–1993 eruption, an overall accumulation of tension has affected the volcano. Then we investigate the months preceding the 2001 eruption. In particular, we analyse the strong seismic swarm on April 20–24, 2001, comprising more than 200 events (M_max = 3.6) with prevalent dextral shear fault mechanisms in the western flank. The swarm showed a ca. NE-SW earthquake alignment which, in agreement with previous cases, can be interpreted as the response of the medium to an intrusive process along the approximately NNW-SSE volcano-genetic trend. These mechanisms, leading to the July 18 to August 9, 2001 flank eruption, are analogous to ones observed some months before the 1991–1993 flank eruption and, more recently, in January 1998 before the February-November 1999 summit eruption.     

A syn-eruptive ground deformation episode measured by GPS,during the 2001 eruption on the upper southern flank of Mt Etna

Ground deformation occurring on the southern flank of Mt Etna volcano during the July–August 2001 eruption was monitored by GPS measurements along an E–W profile crossing the fissure system. This profile was measured eight times during the eruption, using the 'stop and go' semi-kinematic technique. Horizontal and vertical displacements between GPS surveys are reported for each station. The most significant event is a deformation episode occurring during the first week of the eruption, between 25–27 July. Displacements were measured on benchmarks close to the eruptive fissure and the tensile 1989 fracture. Data inversions for measured displacements were performed using the Okada model. The model shows the narrowing of the 2001 dyke accompanied by a dextral dislocation along an east-dipping fault, parallel to the 1989 fracture.Editorial responsibility: T. Druitt     

Dynamics of carbon dioxide emissions,crystallization, and magma ascent: hypotheses,theory, and applications to volcano monitoring at Mount St. Helens

 Measurements of CO₂ fluxes from open-vent volcanos are rare, yet may offer special capabilities for monitoring volcanos and forecasting activity. The measured fluxes of CO₂ and SO₂ from Mount St. Helens decreased from July through November 1980, but the record includes variations of CO₂/SO₂ in the emitted gas and episodes of greatly increased fluxes of CO₂. We propose that the CO₂ flux variations reflect two gas components: (a) a component whose flux decreased in proportion to 1/ √t with a CO₂/SO₂ mass ratio of 1.7, and (b) a residual flux of CO₂ consisting of short-lived, large peaks with a CO₂/SO₂ mass ratio of 15. We propose two hypotheses: (a) the 1/ √t dependence was generated by crystallization in a deep magma body at rates governed by diffusion-limited heat transfer, and (b) the gas component with the higher CO₂/SO₂ was released from ascending magma, which replenished the same magma body. The separation of the total CO₂ flux into contributions from known processes permits quantitative inferences about the replenishment and crystallization rates of open-system magma bodies beneath volcanos. The flux separations obtained by using two gas sources with distinct CO₂/SO₂ ratios and a peak minus background approach to obtain the CO₂ contributions from an intermittent source and a continuously emitting source are similar. The flux separation results support the hypothesis that the second component was generated by episodic magma ascent and replenishment of the magma body. The diffusion-limited crystallization hypothesis is supported by the decay of minimum CO₂ and SO₂ fluxes with 1/ √t after 1 July 1980. We infer that the magma body at Mount St. Helens was replenished at an average rate (2.8×10⁶m³d^–1) which varied by less than 5% during July, August, and September 1980. The magma body volume (2.4–3.0 km³) in early 1982 was estimated by integrating a crystallization rate function inferred from CO₂ fluxes to maximum times (20±4 years) estimated from the increase of sample crystallinity with time. These new volcanic gas flux separation methods and the existence of relations among the CO₂ flux, crystallization rates, and magma body replenishment rates yield new information about the dynamics of an open-vent, replenished magma body. Received: 15 February 1995 / Accepted: 30 March 1996     

Observation of Tidal Tilt On Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

Summary. We have analysed the east-west tilt components, O₁, K₁, N₂, M₂ and S₂ from a continuously recording tiltmeter located in Uwekahuna Vault on Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, for the period 1971—79. Detailed analysis of the M₂ component gives values of 30.9 ± 2.0 (95 per cent) nrad and 116.0 ± 2.0° for the amplitude and phase, respectively, compared to values of 48.5 nrad and 139.4° for the equilibrium tide. the total theoretical tide, found by summing the equilibrium and load tides, amounts to 37.2 nrad at a phase of 121.7°. the 20 per cent discrepancy with that observed may be due to an inaccurate cotical chart, cavity effects in the vault, strain—tilt coupling or an inappropriate solid earth model. In the vicinity of Hawaii (≤ 3°) two independent cotidal charts give almost identical results for the near field ocean load. At greater distances, we use the Schwiderski (1978) cotidal chart. We estimate that local cavity and strain—tilt coupling effects are less than 12 per cent owing to the agreement between geodetically determined and instrumental tilt but we can not rule out regional effects. Assuming these are small and the cotical charts correct, we find that the M₂ results are brought into satisfactory agreement if, instead of using an average oceanic earth model in the (< 75 km) vicinity of Hawaii, we use an earth model with nearly one-half the oceanic rigidity. Such a low upper mantle and crustal rigidity is consistent with Kilauea's position above the thermal upwelling associated with the Hawaiian hotspot.     

印尼苏门答腊9.0级地震前地震活动图像异常特征研究

通过对2004年12月26日印尼苏门答腊9．0级大震前不同时空尺度地震活动性异常特征分析发现：①大震前10年，澳大利亚板块北部边界带深源地震活动显著增强，表现为频度增多、强度增大、震源深度增加等，特别是震源深度分布的非均匀性增大（即地震集中分布在500～689km深度间）；同期，苏门答腊岛及其附近肘≥7．0浅震活动也异常显著，形成长约1000km、宽300km的集中区。②震前1年全球肘≥7．0地震活动出现明显的平静一密集现象，且在密集阶段强震沿澳大利亚板块北部边界带呈带状展布；这时主震震源区附近出现5级地震空区。③震前半年澳大利亚板块北部边界带的东、西两端先后发生2次7级以上深震，其中1次发生在罕有深震活动的苏门答腊岛。④震前3天，澳大利亚板块北部边界带上4级以上地震呈带状展布。⑤震前4年澳大利亚板块北部边界带火山活动增强，特别是震前1年火山活动异常显著。