A. Fernández-Ros

Delamination in the Betic Range: Deep structure, seismicity, and GPS motion

Subduction comes to an end when all oceanic lithosphere is consumed and continental or transitional crust, with positive buoyancy, becomes involved. During continental collision, the final stage of subduction may be characterized by slab breakoff, limited continental subduction, and delamination below the fold-and-thrust belt. We report receiver function images, constructed from a dense array of seismic broadband stations, that reveal the underthrusting of Iberia beneath the Alboran plate. The underthrusted crust is delaminating beneath part of the Betic mountain range, still connected to the foreland lithosphere on one side, and interrupted discontinuously along the other side. Intermediate deep earthquakes associated with the delamination process do not respond to downdip stresses like subduction earthquakes. The GPS velocity field and source mechanisms for shallow earthquakes demonstrate ongoing active shortening on top of the hinge of delamination, and localized perpendicular extension on top of the edge of delamination, introducing independent motion of the overriding crustal block. Delamination beneath the Betic Range drives seismicity by inducing fundamental changes in deformation patterns within the collision orogen.

Geodetic Research on Deception Island and its Environment (South Shetland Islands, Bransfield Sea and Antarctic Peninsula) During Spanish Antarctic Campaigns (1987–2007)

Since 1987, Spain has been continuously developing several scientific projects, mainly based on Earth Sciences, in Geodesy, Geochemistry, Geology or Volcanology. The need of a geodetic reference frame when doing hydrographic and topographic mapping meant the organization of the earlier campaigns with the main goals of updating the existing cartography and of making new maps of the area. During this period of time, new techniques arose in Space Geodesy improving the classical methodology and making possible its applications to other different fields such as tectonic or volcanism. Spanish Antarctic Geodetic activities from the 1987–1988 to 2006–2007 campaigns are described as well as a geodetic and a levelling network are presented. The first network, RGAE, was designed and established to define a reference frame in the region formed by the South Shetlands Islands, the Bransfield Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula whereas the second one, REGID, was planned to control the volcanic activity in Deception Island. Finally, the horizontal and vertical deformation models are described too, as well as the strategy which has been followed when computing an experimental geoid.

Volcanic alert system (VAS) developed during the 2011–2014 El Hierro (Canary Islands) volcanic process

The 2011 volcanic unrest at El Hierro Island illustrated the need for a Volcanic Alert System (VAS) specifically designed for the management of volcanic crises developing after long repose periods. The VAS comprises the monitoring network, the software tools for analysis of the monitoring parameters, the Volcanic Activity Level (VAL) management, and the assessment of hazard. The VAS presented here focuses on phenomena related to moderate eruptions, and on potentially destructive volcano-tectonic earthquakes and landslides. We introduce a set of new data analysis tools, aimed to detect data trend changes, as well as spurious signals related to instrumental failure. When data-trend changes and/or malfunctions are detected, a watchdog is triggered, issuing a watch-out warning (WOW) to the Monitoring Scientific Team (MST). The changes in data patterns are then translated by the MST into a VAL that is easy to use and understand by scientists, technicians, and decision-makers. Although the VAS was designed specifically for the unrest episodes at El Hierro, the methodologies may prove useful at other volcanic systems.

Study of tides and sea levels at Deception and Livingston islands, Antarctica

Abstract During the 2007–08 Spanish Antarctic campaign, two moorings of bottom pressure sensors were carried out over a ten week period. This paper presents the results of the tidal analysis from sea level records obtained at Deception and Livingston islands (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica). The main objective of this paper is to present a detailed study of the tidal characteristics at these two islands, for which statistical and harmonic analysis techniques are applied to the tidal records. A geodetic network was used to reference the pressure sensors. Geometric levelling, with an accuracy of 1 mm, allowed us to link the tidal marks with geodetic vertices located on Livingston and Deception islands. The amplitudes and phase lags obtained by harmonic analysis are compared to the harmonic constants of several coastal stations and co-tidal and co-range charts. Results show an evident influence of tides in the sea level signal, with a clear mixed semi-diurnal behaviour and a daily inequality between high and low waters. Measurements of salinity and temperature were made using electronic sensors. Results from this study showed that salinity and temperature were strongly influenced by tides. Seawater temperature varied in a manner that was consistent with the time series of residual bottom pressure.

Embedded ARM System for Volcano Monitoring in Remote Areas: Application to the Active Volcano on Deception Island (Antarctica)

This paper describes the development of a multi-parameter system for monitoring volcanic activity. The system permits the remote access and the connection of several modules in a network. An embedded ARM™™ processor has been used, allowing a great flexibility in hardware configuration. The use of a complete Linux solution (Debian™) as Operating System permits a quick, easy application development to control sensors and communications. This provides all the capabilities required and great stability with relatively low energy consumption. The cost of the components and applications development is low since they are widely used in different fields. Sensors and commercial modules have been combined with other self-developed modules. The Modular Volcano Monitoring System (MVMS) described has been deployed on the active Deception Island (Antarctica) volcano, within the Spanish Antarctic Program, and has proved successful for monitoring the volcano, with proven reliability and efficient operation under extreme conditions. In another context, i.e., the recent volcanic activity on El Hierro Island (Canary Islands) in 2011, this technology has been used for the seismic equipment and GPS systems deployed, thus showing its efficiency in the monitoring of a volcanic crisis.

Geodetic Research on Deception Island

Deception Island (62.93° S, 60.57°W) is one of the few active volcanoes in the Antarctica, whose most recent eruptions took place in 1842, 1967, 1969 and 1970. In the following paper geodetic investigations carried out in this area during the last years are described. During the continuous Spanish campaigns in Antarctica, several scientific groups have developed different projects in order to control deformation the island suffers as a result of its volcanic activity. With this purpose, a geodetic network has been designed and improved. Nowadays, the network consists of twelve stations around Port Foster which are provided with WGS-84 geodetic coordinates with respect to the ITRF2000, and another station at the Spanish Base Juan Carlos I on Livingston Island. Time analysis of these coordinates will lead us to get the horizontal deformation model. On the other hand, a levelling network has been designed to obtain the vertical deformation model. This network is denser in those areas where the volcanic activity is stronger, as at Fumarole Bay and the Hill of Obsidians. GPS, levelling and gravimetric measurements have also been collected in secondary points to obtain an experimental geoid model which makes possible an adequate reference frame for physical applications.

IESID: Automatic system for monitoring ground deformation on the Deception Island volcano (Antarctica)

When establishing the relative distance between two GNSS-GPS stations with sub-centimeter accuracy, it is necessary to have auxiliary data, some of which can only be collected some time after the moment of measurement. However, for monitoring highly-active geodynamic areas, such as volcanoes and landslides, data precision is not as essential as rapid availability, processing of data in real-time, and fast interpretation of the results. This paper describes the development of an integrated automatic system for monitoring volcanic deformation in quasi real-time, applied to the Deception volcano (Antarctica). This experimental system integrates two independent modules that enable researchers to monitor and control the status of the GNSS-GPS stations, and to determine a surface deformation parameter. It comprises three permanent stations, one of which serves as the reference for assessing the relative distance in relation to the other two. The availability of GNSS-GPS data in quasi real-time is achieved by means of a WiFi infrastructure and automated data processing. This system provides, in quasi real-time, a time series of varying distances that tells us the extent to which any ground deformation is taking place.

Determination of geomorphological and volumetric variations in the 1970 land volcanic craters area (Deception Island, Antarctica) from 1968 using historical and current maps, remote sensing and GNSS

Abstract During the nearly 40 years covered by the study, major height differences of over ± 25 m have been revealed in the volcanic landscape of the 1970 craters in Deception Island, an active volcano in the South Shetland Islands (West Antarctica). In the last 14 years, the mean volcanic filling rate has been 1 m yr-1 and the mean erosion rate has been -0.2 m yr-1. There has been considerable landform modification mainly associated with landslide-induced accumulation, and erosion may indicate the craters’ fill over the next 30–40 years. Deception Islands eruptions have been recorded since 1842. Special attention was paid to the zones affected by the most recent volcanic events and the geomorphological changes that have taken place in those zones since then (e.g. the 1970 volcanic craters area in the last episode occurring between 1967 and 1970). Historical maps (produced before and just after the 1970 eruption) were compared with maps plotted in 1992 and updated using a 2003 image from the Quickbird satellite and data obtained with Global Navigation Satellite System technology in 2006. Techniques used included both geodetic transformation and the geometric correcting of maps.

Caldera unrest detected with seawater temperature anomalies at Deception Island, Antarctic Peninsula

Increased thermal activity was detected to coincide with the onset of volcano inflation in the seawater-filled caldera at Deception Island. This thermal activity was manifested in pulses of high water temperature that coincided with ocean tide cycles. The seawater temperature anomalies were detected by a thermometric sensor attached to the tide gauge (bottom pressure sensor). This was installed where the seawater circulation and the locations of known thermal anomalies, fumaroles and thermal springs, together favor the detection of water warmed within the caldera. Detection of the increased thermal activity was also possible because sea ice, which covers the entire caldera during the austral winter months, insulates the water and thus reduces temperature exchange between seawater and atmosphere. In these conditions, the water temperature data has been shown to provide significant information about Deception volcano activity. The detected seawater temperature increase, also observed in soil temperature readings, suggests rapid and near-simultaneous increase in geothermal activity with onset of caldera inflation and an increased number of seismic events observed in the following austral summer.

SPINA Region (South of Iberian Peninsula, North of Africa) GNSS Geodynamic Model

As it is well known, GNSS data analysis is a powerful tool to study geodynamic processes. However, observational methodologies and data analysis results should be adapted to determine local or even regional effects. It is particularly important in tectonic plate boundary areas when looking for subduction zone limits.