Illuminating the Transition From an Open to a Semi‐Closed Volcanic Vent System Through Episodic Tremor Duration and Shape

Abstract

Abstract[Volcanic eruptions generate continuous or episodic tremor, which can provide unrivaled information about activity changes during eruption. However, the wealth of information in episodic tremor patterns is often not harvested and transitions between patterns remain obscure. The 2021 Geldingadalir eruption, Iceland, is an exceptional case, where the lava effusion caused continuous tremor, and 8698 tremor episodes spanning two orders of magnitude in duration and repose. Based on seismometer and video camera data, we associate several‐minute‐long, symmetrical episodes with an open vent system, where lava remains in the crater bowl during repose, connected to a shallow magma compartment. Ramp‐shaped episodes, lasting several hours, are associated with a temporary closure of the vent system, where no lava remains in the crater bowl during repose and more time is required to resume effusion. The transition from continuous to episodic effusion is related to the cumulative time spent in effusion and repose, and to external factors like crater wall collapses. The range of observed eruption styles and shifts between them, took place at unchanged magma supply rate. This underpins the importance of processes, geometry and evolution of the shallow conduit with time.]