Influence of Stress Field Changes on Eruption Initiation and Dynamics: A Review

Roberto Sulpizio,Silvia Massaro

doi:10.3389/feart.2017.00018

Roberto Sulpizio, Silvia Massaro

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2017.00018

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Abstract

Three main (first-order) mechanisms of stress variation able to influence the triggering of volcanic eruptions and the possible impact on eruption dynamics were reviewed. They are short- and long-term unloading, seismic energy effects, and changes in far field stress due to geodynamic processes. An equilibrium equation for rupture of magma chamber and opening of a dyke up to the surface was derived, taking into account the contribution of each mechanism within the equation. The equation considers the effect of possible superimposition of the three mechanisms with internal processes to the magmatic system, and it was also used for discussing the possible influence on eruption dynamics. The different possible contribution to the eruption triggering was discussed for each mechanism, highlighting how, in many cases, a single mechanism alone is not sufficient for driving eruptive activity if the magmatic system is not close to eruptive conditions.

Highlights

Increasing evidence supports the idea that stress changes play a fundamental role in triggering volcanic eruptions and in controlling their dynamics (Hill et al, 2002; Manga and Brodsky, 2006).Stress changes in volcanic areas may vary in origin due to short- or long-term processes (Gudmundsson and Philipp, 2006; Andrew and Gudmundsson, 2007; Watt et al, 2008; Plateaux et al, 2014)
We review here three main mechanisms of stress variation able to influence the triggering of volcanic eruptions and the possible impact on eruption dynamics
Understanding the interplay between crustal stress and volcanic activity and its dynamics is essential for comprehension of a number of natural phenomena and for mitigating the related hazards and risk

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Increasing evidence supports the idea that stress changes play a fundamental role in triggering volcanic eruptions and in controlling their dynamics (Hill et al, 2002; Manga and Brodsky, 2006). The first includes earthquakes and landslides (Stein, 1999; Hill et al, 2002; Harris and Ripepe, 2007; Walter, 2007; Walter et al, 2007; Watt et al, 2008; De la Cruz-Reyna et al, 2010), while the second comprises unloading due to erosion and deglaciation (Davydov et al, 2005; Sigmundsson et al, 2010), tidal effects (Sohn, 2004; Cazaneve and Chen, 2010), or changes in the tectonic regime (Ventura and Vilardo, 1999; Waite and Smith, 2004; Diez et al, 2005; Miura and Wada, 2007; Lehto et al, 2010; Carbone et al, 2014) These processes superimpose to the possible local stress variations related to internal dynamics of a volcano, such as pressure increase in the magma chamber due to magma influx from depth or buoyancy induced by magma differentiation processes (Massol and Jaupart, 1999; Gudmundsson, 2006, 2016; Cañon-Tapia, 2014). Description σxx, σyy, σzz σrr, σθθ, σzz σ1 σ3 σd σl σe σff σtec σt ν g h h1 hi hr R Rf ρ ρm ρr ρi P Pl P0 Pe Pu

Ve Vn D

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS