Stabilization of volcanic flanks by dike intrusion: an example from Kilauea |
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Authors: | Paul T Delaney Roger P Denlinger |
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Institution: | (1) U. S. Geological Survey, 2255 North Gemini Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA e-mail: delaney@flagmail.wr.usgs.gov Fax: +602-5567169, US;(2) U. S. Geological Survey, 5400 MacArthur Boulevard, Vancouver, WA 98661, USA, US |
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Abstract: | Dike propagation and dilation increases the compression of adjacent rocks. On volcanoes, especially oceanic shields, dikes
are accordingly thought to be structurally destabilizing. As compression is incremented, volcanic flanks are driven outward
or downslope and thus increase their susceptibility to destructive earthquakes and giant landslides. We show, however, that
the 2-m-thick dike emplaced along the east rift zone of Kilauea in 1983 actually stabilized that volcano's flank. Specifically,
production of flank earthquakes dropped more than twofold after 1983 as maximum downslope motion slowed to 6 cm·year–1 from approximately 40 cm·year–1 during 1980–1982. As much as 65 cm of deflationary subsidence above Kilauea's summit and upper rift zones accompanied the
dike intrusion. According to recent estimates, this deflation corresponds to a reduction in magma-reservoir pressure of approximately
4 MPa, probably about as much as the driving pressure of the 1983 dike. The volume of the dike, approximately 0.10–0.15 km3, is orders of magnitude less than the estimated 200- to 250-km3 volume of Kilauea's reservoir of magma and nearby hot, mushy rock. Thus, deflation of that reservoir reduces the compressional
load on the flank over a much larger area than intrusion of the dike adds to it, particularly at the dominant depth of seismicity,
8–9 km. A Coulomb block model for flank motion during intervals between major earthquakes requires the low-angle fault beneath
Kilauea's flank to exhibit slip weakening, conducive to earthquake instability. Accordingly, the triggering mechanism of destructive
earthquakes, several of which have struck Hawaii during the past 150 years, need not require stresses accumulated by dike
intrusions.
Received: 27 October 1998 / Accepted: 24 May 1999 |
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Keywords: | Dikes Earthquakes Volcanic flanks Kilauea |
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