Subaqueous geothermal activity revealed by lacustrine sediments of the acidic Nakadake crater lake, Aso Volcano, Japan

Lacustrine sediments were sampled from the inaccessible acidic (pH = 0.43) Nakadake crater lake of Aso Volcano, Japan by a simple method. The sediments contain an extremely high content (74 wt.%) of sulfur, which exits as elemental sulfur, gypsum and anhydrite. The abundant elemental sulfur is likely formed by the reaction of SO₂ and H₂S gases and by the SO₂ disproportionation reaction in magmatic hydrothermal system below the crater lake. Based on the sulfur content of sediments and measurements of elevation change of the crater bottom, the sulfur accumulation rate at the Nakadake crater lake was calculated as 250 tonne/day, which is comparable with the SO₂ emission rate (200–600 tonne/day) from the Nakadake crater. The sediments include a small amount (9%) of clear glass shards that are apparently not altered in spite of the high reactivity of hyperacid lake water. This finding suggests that the clear glass shards are fragments of recently emitted magmas from fumaroles on the bottom of the crater lake and the magma emissions continuously occur even in quiescent periods.     

长白山天池火山监测预警平台构建技术研究

长白山天池火山是我国最具潜在喷发可能的活火山,至今尚未建立和提出火山监测预警平台的构建技术。本文分析讨论了国外多个灾害预警系统案例,借鉴国内外成熟思路,得出一套适应长白山天池火山地理和火山监测手段的火山监测预警平台构建技术。研究结果表明,火山监测预警平台可提供海量数据库存储与管理,实时数据传输和实时处理,危险性分级,灾情、灾评信息速报,预警级别发布,信息传播与共享功能。具有为政府应急决策、公众逃生避险、重大工程实施紧急处置提供及时火山预警服务的实际意义。     

A 90,000-year tephrostratigraphic framework of Aso Volcano, Japan

A detailed 90,000-year tephrostratigraphic framework of Aso Volcano, southwestern Japan, has been constructed to understand the post-caldera eruptive history of the volcano. Post-caldera central cones were initiated soon after the last caldera-forming pyroclastic-flow eruption (90 ka), and have produced voluminous tephra and lava flows. The tephrostratigraphic sequence preserved above the caldera-forming stage deposits reaches a total thickness of 100 m near the eastern caldera rim. The sequence is composed mainly of mafic scoria-fall and ash-fall deposits but 36 silicic pumice-fall deposits are very useful key beds for correlation of the stratigraphic sequence. Explosive, silicic pumice-fall deposits that fell far beyond the caldera have occurred at intervals of about 2500 years in the post-caldera activity. Three pumice-fall deposits could be correlated with lava flows or an edifice in the western part of the central cones, although the other silicic tephra beds were erupted at unknown vents, which are probably buried by the younger products from the present central cones. Most of silicic eruptions produced deposits smaller than 0.1 km³, but bulk volumes of two silicic eruptions producing the Nojiri pumice (84 ka) and Kusasenrigahama pumice (Kpfa; 30 ka) were on the order of 1 km³ (VEI 5). The largest pyroclastic eruption occurred at the Kusasenrigahama crater about 30 ka. This catastrophic eruption began with a dacitic lava flow and thereafter produced Kpfa (2.2 km³). Total tephra volume in the past 90,000 years is estimated at about 18.1 km³ (dense rock equivalent: DRE), whereas total volume for edifices of the post-caldera central cones is calculated at about 112 km³, which is six times greater than the former. Therefore, the average magma discharge rate during the post-caldera stage of Aso Volcano is estimated at about 1.5 km³/ky, which is similar to the rates of other Quaternary volcanoes in Japan.     

Transverse architecture of lahar terraces,inferred from radargrams: preliminary results from Semeru Volcano,Indonesia

Semeru Volcano is the highest mountain of Java (Indonesia), and a vulcanian explosion occurs every 15 minutes on average, since 1967. Thus a constantly renewed stock of material and the heavy monsoon rainfall [3700 mm yr^?1 at 1500 m above sea level (a.s.l.)] provide a perfect setting for the study of lahars and their deposits. Hence, we examined the architecture of lahars' terraces 9·5 km from the summit in the Curah Lengkong Valley. We first used ground penetrating radar (GPR) over vertical exposures of the lahars cut‐bank terraces. This allowed us to better understand transversal radargrams across terraces, which are not visually accessible in the field. Preliminary results from a single radargram are very instructive, since (1) they prove that the lateral architecture does not correspond to that observed from banks only; (2) we could observe the presence of lenses and stratigraphic discontinuities; (3) the setting of the various units can also help reconstruct deposition processes and the chronology of different units. In order to finalize these preliminary results, we however need to perform multiple GPR radargrams and provide a complete set of results. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aqueous sulfur speciation possibly linked to sublimnic volcanic gas-water interaction during a quiescent period at Yugama crater lake,Kusatsu–Shirane volcano,Central Japan

After the phreatic eruption in 1982–83, volcanic activities at Kusatsu–Shirane volcano had been decreasing and reached a minimum in 1990, had turned to a temporal rise in activity up to 1994 and then decreased again at least up to 1997. During this low-activity period we observed a relatively short (≤ 1 y) cyclic variation in polythionates (PT) in the Yugama lake water. Spectral power density analysis of the PT time-series by an autoregressive (maximum entropy spectral estimation, MESE) method indicates that the major frequency in the PT variations is 1.0 y^− 1 and the minor is 2–3 y^− 1 (1.0 and 0.3–0.5 y in periodicity, respectively). Annual variations in the lake temperature are ruled out for explaining these periodicities. We attribute these cyclic variations to a cyclic magnification-reduction in meteoric-water injection into a hydrothermal regime where volcanic gases from cooling magma bodies at depth and cooler oxidized groundwater come into contact with each other. This interaction may result in a periodical change in the composition and flux of SO₂ and H₂S gases being discharged into the lake and forming PT. From a phase deviation (2–3 months) in the cycles between the annual precipitation, including snowmelt, and the PT time-series, we estimated the maximal depth of a hydrothermal reservoir beneath the lake assuming a vertical hydraulic conductivity (5 × 10^− 3 cm/s) of the volcanic detritus around the summit hydrothermal system. Chloride in the lake water reached a maximum 1.5 years faster than PT. This is most likely due to a gradual elevation of the potentiometric front of a concentrated sublimnic solution in the hydrothermal reservoir. Variations of dissolved SO₂ and H₂S in the lake water were not consistent with those of the fumarolic gases on the north flank of the volcano. This fact together with additional observations strongly suggests that these fumaroles may have the same origin but are chemically modified by a subsurface aquifer. The PT monitoring at active crater lakes during a quiescent period can provide insight into the annual expansions and reductions of a volcano-hosted hydrothermal reservoir.     

Pyroclastic density currents resulting from the interaction of basaltic magma with hydrothermally altered rock: an example from the 2006 summit eruptions of Mount Etna,Italy

After 16 months of quiescence, Mount Etna began to erupt again in mid-July 2006. The activity was concentrated at and around the Southeast Crater (SEC), one of the four craters on the summit of Etna, and eruptive activity continued intermittently for 5 months. During this period, numerous vents displayed a wide range of eruptive styles at different times. Virtually all explosive activities took place at vents at the summit of the SEC and on its flanks. Eruptive episodes, which lasted from 1 day to 2 weeks, became shorter and more violent with time. Volcanic activity at these vents was often accompanied by dramatic mass-wasting processes such as collapse of parts of the cone, highly unusual flowage processes involving both old rocks and fresh magmatic material, and magma–water interaction. The most dramatic events took place on 16 November, when numerous rockfalls and pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) were generated during the opening of a large fracture on the SE flank of the SEC cone. The largest PDCs were clearly triggered explosively, and there is evidence that much of the energy was generated during the interaction of intruding magma with wet rocks on the cone’s flanks. The most mobile PDCs traveled up to 1 km from their source. This previously unknown process on Etna may not be unique on this volcano and is likely to have taken place on other volcanoes. It represents a newly recognized hazard to those who visit and work in the vicinity of the summit of Etna.     

Characteristics of isolated hybrid tremor (HBT) during a calm activity period at Aso Volcano

Isolated-type tremors having two events with different dominant frequencies are characteristic seismological phenomena observed during the fumarolic activity stage at Aso Volcano. These isolated tremors are called hybrid tremors (HBT) and comprise two parts: an initial part named the “HF-part” with a dominant frequency in the high-frequency region (approximately 10 Hz) and the following part named the “LF-part” with a dominant frequency in the low-frequency region (approximately 2 Hz). The LF-part is observed after the HF-part, and the HBT is accompanied by a long-period tremor (LPT). Hypocenters and source parameters are estimated using seismograms recorded at 64 stations around Nakadake crater. The amplitude distributions of all HF-parts have almost similar trends. Similarly, the amplitude distributions of all LF-parts have almost similar trends. However, the amplitude distributions of HF- and LF-parts are not similar. From these results, we proposed that the hypocenters and source parameters of HF- and LF-parts are not common, but each of them have common hypocenters and source parameters. The hypocenter region of HF-parts was estimated to be just beneath the fumarole region south of the 1st crater: the volume fluctuation is the major source factor. The hypocenter region of LF-parts is estimated to be at a depth of approximately 300 m beneath the first crater: the strike–slip component is the major source parameter. The hypocentral depth of LF-parts is located at the upper end of the crack estimated to be the source of the LPTs. The LPTs and HBTs are observed almost simultaneously. We consider that volcanic fluid is involved in the source mechanisms of both HBT and LPT.     

海南岛现今三维地壳运动与断裂活动性研究

海南岛曾发生1605年琼山7.5级大震,现今小震多分布在东北缘的南北向地震条带及九所—陵水断裂中东段,马鞍岭—雷虎岭火山群具有潜在喷发危险.新构造运动包括垂直与水平运动.本文采用2009—2014年多期GNSS观测资料及1970 s、1990 s、2013年精密水准资料揭示现今地壳运动特征及断裂活动性,结果表明水平运动以SEE向为主,与华南地块运动一致;南北向小震条带附近以左旋拉张为主,基线变化表明运动具间歇性.岛北部垂直运动在1970 s表现为以海口—屯昌为界的东升西降,以王五—文教断裂为界的南北两侧分段性差异运动.1970 s—1990 s年环岛水准资料揭示相对秀英港水准基点,点位以上升运动为主,且西南相对东北上升,地壳以继承性运动为主.其中琼北垂直运动与1970 s相反.1990 s—2013年资料揭示点位运动趋势与上一时段相反,主要为文昌—琼海—万宁一带上升和其他测点的相对下沉.由形变及地球物理等研究结果推测东北缘小震由铺前—博鳌断裂活动引起.马袅—铺前断裂以北盘下降为主;九所—陵水断裂东段活动大于西段.地震、形变等资料表明现今火山活动平静.     

深部流体与岩浆活动:兼论腾冲火山群的深部过程

深部流体强烈影响许多地质过程的发生和发展,然而对其行为的理解却甚少.在所有可能影响岩浆活动的因素中,流体是最重要的.流体的高度活动性及其在熔体中的溶解度随压力减小而降低,暗示岩浆系统必然是开放的动力系统,流体的丢失和获得可戏剧性地影响岩浆系统的整体行为.流体对岩浆系统的影响主要通过改变熔体的黏度来实现,也改变岩浆的平均密度,以及固相线和液相线温度.少量流体的注入即可以导致熔体黏度出现几个数量级的降低,这种戏剧性改变进而导致岩浆柱与通道壁摩擦力的快速减小,因而岩浆上升速度也可以呈现几个数量级的变化.当岩浆上升到流体相分离的深度以后,岩浆系统的行为更加不可预测.反之,流体的丢失将导致岩浆系统的行为向相反方向变化,岩浆将滞留在深部.值得注意的是,丢失到通道中的流体可以弱化上覆岩层的力学性质,改善岩浆上升的通道条件.因此,如果上升岩浆能够得到持续的深部流体补给,其补给量至少等于丢失量,岩浆必将以越来越快的速度上升.据此,岩浆系统是一种复杂性动力系统,岩浆作用是一种非线性过程.这种分析结果与流行的岩石学认识不一致,却与火山学观察和成矿学研究结果相同.腾冲火山岩中的聚斑结构暗示某些岩浆在喷发之前曾经在深部作过停留,它们曾经位于不同的深度水平上.同岩浆交代结构暗示岩浆房的活化有赖于深部流体的注入,因而火山监测过程中关注岩浆房之下的深部流体活动是必须的.将岩浆房上、下两部分的流体活动紧密结合在一起,可能是火山监测的一个新方向.     

The role of the Pernicana Fault System in the spreading of Mt. Etna (Italy) during the 2002–2003 eruption

Flank instability and collapse are observed at many volcanoes. Among these, Mt. Etna is characterized by the spreading of its eastern and southern flanks. The eastern spreading area is bordered to the north by the E–W-trending Pernicana Fault System (PFS). During the 2002–2003 Etna eruption, ground fracturing along the PFS migrated eastward from the NE Rift, to as far as the 18 km distant coastline. The deformation consisted of dextral en-echelon segments, with sinistral and normal kinematics. Both of these components of displacement were one order of magnitude larger (~1 m) in the western, previously known, portion of the PFS with respect to the newly surveyed (~9 km long) eastern section (~0.1 m). This eastern section is located along a pre-existing, but previously unknown, fault, where displaced man-made structures give overall slip rates (1–1.9 cm/year), only slightly lower than those calculated for the western portion (1.4–2.3 cm/year). After an initial rapid motion during the first days of the 2002–2003 eruption, movement of the western portion of the PFS decreased dramatically, while parts of the eastern portion continued to move. These data suggest a model of spreading of the eastern flank of Etna along the PFS, characterized by eruptions along the NE Rift, instantaneous, short-lived, meter-scale displacements along the western PFS and more long-lived centimeter-scale displacements along the eastern PFS. The surface deformation then migrated southwards, reactivating, one after the other, the NNW–SSE-trending Timpe and Trecastagni faults, with displacements of ~0.1 and ~0.04 m, respectively. These structures, along with the PFS, mark the boundaries of two adjacent blocks, moving at different times and rates. The new extent of the PFS and previous activity over its full length indicate that the sliding eastern flank extends well below the Ionian Sea. The clustering of seismic activity above 4 km b.s.l. during the eruption suggests a deep décollement for the moving mass. The collected data thus suggests a significant movement (volume >1,100 km³) of the eastern flank of Etna, both on-shore and off-shore.Editorial responsibility: R. Cioni