Silvio De Angelis

Spine growth and seismogenic faulting at Mt. Unzen, Japan

The concluding episode of activity during the recent eruption of Mt. Unzen (October 1994 to February 1995) was characterized by incremental spine extrusion, accompanied by seismicity. Analysis of the seismic record reveals the occurrence of two dominant long-period event families associated with a repeating, nondestructive source mechanism, which we attribute to magma failure and fault-controlled ascent. We obtain constraints on the slip rate and distance of faulting events within these families. That analysis is complemented by an experimental thermomechanical investigation of fault friction in Mt. Unzen dacitic dome rock using a rotary-shear apparatus at variable slip rates and normal stresses. A power density threshold is found at 0.3 MW m−2, above which frictional melt forms and controls the shear resistance to slip, inducing a deviation from Byerlees frictional law. Homogenized experimentally generated pseudotachylytes have a similar final chemistry, thickness, and crystal content, facilitating the construction of a rheological model for particle suspensions. This is compared to the viscosity constrained from the experimental data, to assess the viscous control on fault dynamics. The onset of frictional melt formation during spine growth is constrained to depths below 300 m for an average slip event. This combination of experimental data, viscosity modeling, and seismic analysis offers a new description of material response during conduit plug flow and spine growth, showing that volcanic pseudotachylyte may commonly form and modify fault friction during faulting of dome rock. This model furthers our understanding of faulting and seismicity during lava dome formation and is applicable to other eruption modes.

Using infrasound to constrain ash plume rise

Airborne volcanic ash advisories are currently based on analyses of satellite imagery with relatively low temporal resolution, and numerical simulations of atmospheric plume dispersion. These simulations rely on key input parameters such as the maximum height of eruption plumes and the mass eruption rate at the vent, which remain loosely constrained. In this study, we present a proof-of-concept workflow that incorporates the analysis of volcanic infrasound with numerical modelling of volcanic plume rise in a realistic atmosphere. We analyse acoustic infrasound records from two explosions during the 2009 eruption of Mt. Redoubt, USA, that produced plumes reaching heights of 12–14 km. We model the infrasonic radiation at the source under the assumptions of linear acoustic theory and calculate variations in mass ejection velocity at the vent. The estimated eruption velocities serve as the input for numerical models of plume rise. The encouraging results highlight the potential for infrasound measurements to be incorporated into numerical modelling of ash dispersion, and confirm their value for volcano monitoring operations.

Landscape reaction, response, and recovery following the catastrophic 1918 Katla jökulhlaup, southern Iceland

One of the largest recorded glacier outburst floods (jokulhlaups) occurred in 1918, generated by the last major subglacial eruption of Katla volcano in southern Iceland. Using digitized historical topographic surveys and field observations from the main proglacial outwash plain (Mýrdalssandur), we document the reaction of Mýrdalssandur to the 1918 event and subsequent response and recovery. Our analysis highlights the longevity of elevated topography, over the recovery period, and the complete reorganization of the main perennial meltwater channel system, both of which will affect and condition the flow routing and impact of future jokulhlaups. The jokulhlaup deposited approximately 2 km3 of sediment onto Mýrdalssandur immediately after the event and extended the coastline by several kilometers. However, 80% of this material by volume has since been removed by surface and subsurface water flow on the main sandur and by marine reworking at the coast. By 2007, the surface elevation at specific locations on the outwash plain and the position of the coastline were similar to those in 1904, indicating near-complete recovery of the landscape. Despite this, the Mýrdalssandur coastline has experienced net advance over the past 1000 years. Using our calculated characteristic landscape response and recovery values following the 1918 event (60 years and 120 years) we deduce that the landscape has been in a dominant state of transience, with regard to forcing frequency and timescale of recovery, over the past 1000 years, which has facilitated long-term landscape growth.

Seismic and Infrasonic Monitoring

Abstract Seismology and infrasound are important and effective tools for monitoring volcanoes and forecasting eruptions. In the past two decades there have been over 25 successful forecasts. Well-monitored volcanoes have six or more local seismic stations within 15 km and several regional stations (>15 km) which are able to detect volcanic earthquakes of M∼0 under the volcano. Ongoing data analyses provide the basis for determining the eruptive state of the volcano. Infrasonic monitoring complements seismic monitoring in that it provides direct and unambiguous records of surface activity that are largely “uncontaminated” by internal volcano sources. Eruptions are well detected by arrays of infrasound sensors that may be deployed local to a volcano or at regional and global distances. Most volcano acoustic studies focus on infrasound in the band 0.1–20 Hz, as this is the band of most intense volcanic sounds and these long wavelengths propagate with very little attenuation.

Tracking changes in volcanic systems with seismic Interferometry

Matthew M. Haney*, Alicia J. Hotovec-Ellis, Ninfa L. Bennington, Silvio De Angelis and Clifford Thurber U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Volcano Observatory, Anchorage, AK, USA Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Department of Geoscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

Seismic and experimental insights into eruption precursors at Volcán de Colima

Abstract We combine geophysical and experimental observations to interpret preeruptive unrest at Volcán de Colima in 1998. 17,893 volcanic earthquakes were detected between 1 October and 31 December 1998, including 504 clusters. Using seismic ambient noise interferometry, we observe a drop in velocity prior to the eruption linked to damage accumulation during magma ascent. This is supported by experimental observations where static stress causes a velocity decrease prior to failure. Furthermore, we observe acoustic emission clusters during the experiments, with lower porosity samples producing higher numbers of repeaters. This behavior introduces tensile failure as an additional viable mechanism for clusters during magma ascent. The findings suggest that preeruptive magma ascent may be monitored to variable degrees of accuracy via descriptions of damage accumulation and associated seismic velocity changes.

Monitoring changes in seismic velocity related to an ongoing rapid inflation event at Okmok volcano, Alaska

Okmok is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian Arc. In an effort to improve our ability to detect precursory activity leading to eruption at Okmok, we monitor a recent, and possibly ongoing, GPS-inferred rapid inflation event at the volcano using ambient noise interferometry (ANI). Applying this method, we identify changes in seismic velocity outside of Okmoks caldera, which are related to the hydrologic cycle. Within the caldera, we observe decreases in seismic velocity that are associated with the GPS-inferred rapid inflation event. We also determine temporal changes in waveform decorrelation and show a continual increase in decorrelation rate over the time associated with the rapid inflation event. The magnitude of relative velocity decreases and decorrelation rate increases are comparable to previous studies at Piton de la Fournaise that associate such changes with increased production of volatiles and/or magmatic intrusion within the magma reservoir, and associated opening of fractures and/or fissures. Notably, the largest decrease in relative velocity occurs along the intra-station path passing nearest to the center of the caldera. This observation, along with equal amplitude relative velocity decreases revealed via analysis of intra-caldera autocorrelations, suggest that the inflation source may be located approximately within the center of the caldera and represent recharge of shallow magma storage in this location. Importantly, there is a relative absence of seismicity associated with this and previous rapid inflation events at Okmok. Thus, these ANI results are the first seismic evidence of such rapid inflation at the volcano.

Reconstructing the timescale of a catastrophic fan-forming event on Earth using a Mars model

The calculation of formation timescales of alluvial fans and deltas on Mars is important as it has direct implications for understanding the planets hydrologic history. The robustness of sediment transport models is not in doubt but validation of the broad approach using a terrestrial example of similar scale and likely origin, where hydraulic parameters and timescales are known, is useful. Using a catastrophically formed terrestrial fan, where abundant sedimentological information is available, we find that the modeled hydraulic parameters and formation timescales are in very close agreement with the known values of the event. This supports the general modeling approach as applied to Mars fans but also highlights the added value of detailed sedimentary information when reconstructing hydraulics and timescales on Earth and Mars, which cannot be confidently gleaned from the final snapshot of surface geomorphology alone.