Changbaishan Volcano Research Articles

Dynamics of explosive eruptions of Changbaishan volcano, NE China, since the late Pleistocene from the composition and texture of pumice

Dynamics of explosive eruptions of Changbaishan volcano, NE China, since the late Pleistocene from the composition and texture of pumice

Surface deformation caused by the unrest during 2002–2006 of the Changbaishan volcano in China

Surface deformation caused by the unrest during 2002–2006 of the Changbaishan volcano in China

A translithospheric magmatic system revealed beneath Changbaishan volcano

Abstract Changbaishan volcano (CBV), located on the border between China and North Korea, has undergone violent eruptions since the Oligocene, making it one of the most captivating and explosive volcanoes on Earth. However, the lack of precise characterization regarding the magmatic system makes it difficult to decipher its eruption risk and mechanism, despite its significant size and past devastating effects. In this study, we employed newly developed teleseismic receiver function techniques, including Ps and Sp waves, to construct a lithospheric structure model beneath the CBV region. The results show a thick crust (~37 km) and a weak, thin lithosphere under the CBV, with a low-amplitude width of 80 km at the Moho depth and 200 km at the depth of the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary. These features depict the seismological response of a translithospheric magmatic system beneath the CBV, where hot upwelling material rises through the lithospheric mantle, underplates at the base of the crust, and forms the magma chamber(s) at shallow depth. Such magmatic system features can be taken as a unifying paradigm for large volcanic regions worldwide.

Climate Impacts of the Millennium Eruption of Changbaishan Volcano

AbstractThe Millennium Eruption of Changbaishan Volcano is heralded as one of the largest explosive eruptions in the Late Holocene and produced huge quantities of tephra. The petrogeochemical method estimates that the Millennium Eruption emitted up to 45 Tg of sulfur into the atmosphere—more than in the Tambora eruption in 1815 CE, which caused “a year without a summer” across the Northern Hemisphere in 1816 CE. Despite such massive emissions, evidence for this eruption's climate impact in East Asia remains elusive. To explain this contradiction, this study used 67 high‐resolution tree‐ring‐width records from the Northern Hemisphere spanning the past two millennia, complemented by volcanic sensitivity experiments conducted with the Community Earth System Model. Results reveal a prevailing decreasing/negative trend in the proxy records during the potential eruption period, with 945 CE marking the most notable negative anomaly, suggesting that the Millennium Eruption likely occurred in 945 CE rather than 946 CE. Sensitivity experiments, corroborated by proxy records, demonstrate that the Millennium Eruption induced substantial negative temperature anomalies at middle and high latitudes, alongside an increase in Meiyu‐Baiu‐Changma precipitation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and southwestern Japan and a decrease in precipitation in India, northern China, and the South China Sea in the first post‐eruption year. This study offers a novel perspective on the climate impact of the Millennium Eruption, reconciling previous discrepancies regarding its climate impact.

The contradiction between lithospheric thermal and seismic structures reveals a nonsteady thermal state – A case study from Northeast China

The nature of the lithosphere, as the outermost layer of the solid Earth, has long been a focus of the Earth sciences. Many methods have been used to study the properties and structure of the lithosphere, including gravity, magnetism, electricity, seismic, and geothermics. Since the 1970 s, a coupled heat-flow heat-production steady-state model has been employed to study the thermal structure of the continental lithosphere and has helped researchers explain many geothermal observations. However, the steady-state model does not work well in some areas. Taking Northeast China as a case study, we systematically calculated the lithospheric thermal structure, compared the result with seismic research, and concluded that the lithospheric thermal state is nonsteady in the southern Songliao Basin, the southern Greater Xing’an Range and the Changbai Volcano. The lithosphere in southern Songliao Basin features a hot top and a cold bottom. The lithosphere in southern Greater Xing’an Range and the Changbai Volcano feature a cold top and a hot bottom. Our numerical simulation has demonstrated that the response of surface heat flow to thermal disturbance at the bottom of the lithosphere often lags by more than 20 Myr, resulting in a significant disparity between the thermal structure calculated based on surface heat flow and the velocity structure of seismic waves. In addition, this study of the thermal structure in Northeast China shows that the temperature of the Moho in Songliao Basin is very high (>600 °C), which may be an important cause of the lack of Cenozoic volcanism in the Songliao Basin.

Revisiting the Tianwen Yellow Pumice (TYP) Eruption of Changbaishan Volcano: Tephra Correlation, Eruption Timing and Its Climatostratigraphical Context

AbstractChangbaishan volcano (China/North Korea) is one of the most active and hazardous volcanic centers in Northeast Asia. Despite decades of intensive research, the eruption history of this stratovolcano remains poorly constrained. One of the major puzzles is the timing of the eruption that produced the Tianwen Yellow Pumice (TYP) deposit at the caldera rim. Here we identify a new cryptotephra layer in sediment core 13PT‐P4 from the East Sea. Grain‐specific major, minor, and trace element analyses of glass shards allow a clear correlation of this distal tephra to the proximal TYP deposit of Changbaishan. Age‐depth modeling using radiocarbon (14C) dates of sediment bulk organic fractions and other tephrochronological markers from the sediment sequence constraints the age of the cryptotephra and thus the TYP eruption to 29,948–29,625 cal yr BP (95.4% confidence interval). Our findings lead to a revision of the history of Changbaishan explosive activity, and show that the volcano has been particularly active during ca. 51–24 ka BP in the last 100 ka. Using high resolution palaeo‐proxy records, we find the TYP tephra almost coeval with regional to hemispheric‐scale climatic changes known as Heinrich Event 3 (H3). With its precise age determination and wide geographic dispersion, the tephra offers a key isochron for dating records of past climatic changes and addressing the phasing relationships in environmental response to H3 across East Asia.

Multi-scale anisotropy in NE China: Evidence for localized mantle upwelling

It is commonly proposed that the subduction of the Pacific plate has been responsible for widespread Holocene intraplate volcanism across NE China and the Korean Peninsula. Yet, how this process drives volcanism and even if it plays a critical role remains a topic of vigorous debate. In this study, using seismic data from four networks across NE China and northern Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), we analyze shear wave splitting in converted P to S-waves at the Moho (Pms), S-waves from the subducted slab interface (local S), and SKS phases. The Pms phases show a relatively weak crustal anisotropy (<0.25 s), with fast polarization directions aligned sub-parallel to major tectonic features. For the local S and SKS phases, fast polarization directions show significant lateral variations. We further perform a quantitative inversion to show that the depth of the anisotropy is ∼150 km, thus driven by flow within the asthenosphere associated with Pacific subduction. However, the presence of many null SKS splitting phases, together with scattered local S anisotropy across a wide range of incidence angles suggests a localized region of vertical flow directly beneath Changbaishan volcano. Such patterns correspond well to regional upper-mantle seismic velocity structure, and suggest that a localized upwelling with a relatively deep origin drives volcanism in the Changbaishan region. Furthermore, we infer that this mantle upwelling is deflected to the SW beneath Changbaishan and spreads asymmetrically at the base of the lithosphere, possibly because of the long history of volcanism in the region.

Reassessment of the sulfur and halogen emissions from the Millennium Eruption of Changbaishan (Paektu) volcano

The 946 CE ‘Millennium Eruption’ of Changbaishan (aka Paektu) volcano ranks among the largest volcanic events of the Common Era. Its fallout represents a widespread precisely-dated marker horizon yet little is known of its environmental impacts. Here, we revisit petrologic constraints on the pre-eruptive conditions of the dominant rhyolitic magma in order to estimate the eruption's volatile budget. We show that silicic reservoirs may lose more than half of their volatile complements prior to eruption and estimate that the Millennium Eruption emitted just 2–7 Tg of sulfur and 5–10 Tg of chlorine to the atmosphere, depending on the accepted eruption magnitude. These values are lower than previous petrologic estimates but consistent with ice core glaciochemistry and tree-ring-based climate reconstructions. We further suggest that any reawakening of Changbaishan / Paektu should be heralded by enhanced CO2 emissions if driven by basalt intrusion, or by H2-H2O-rich and halogen-poor gases if resulting from evolution of a silicic reservoir. Our findings emphasise the importance of robust assessments of pre-eruptive conditions, especially in respect of temperature, when applying petrologic arguments to evaluate outgassing from silicic volcanism.

Seismicity and Magmatic System of the Changbaishan Intraplate Volcano in East Asia

AbstractA high‐precision earthquake catalog is made from continuous waveform data recorded at 360 portable seismographs deployed for one month in the Changbaishan‐Tianchi volcanic area based on an automatic earthquake detection and location workflow. Then we investigate detailed 3‐D structures of P and S wave velocities (Vp and Vs) and Vp/Vs ratio of the crust beneath the study region. Our results reveal a high‐Vp/Vs zone accompanied with active volcanic earthquakes beneath the Tianchi caldera at ∼5 km depth, which may reflect a magma chamber. The intense seismic activities within 2 km depth beneath the Tianchi caldera from 2002 to 2005 occurred directly above the magma chamber revealed by this study, which could be related to upward migration of high‐pressure volatiles originating from the magma chamber. A potential middle‐crustal magma chamber might provide continuous magmatic materials feeding the upper‐crust magma chamber and lead to ruptures of surrounding rocks, resulting in two swarms of volcanic seismicity during the observation period. We deem that the diverse eruption styles of the Changbaishan volcano are closely associated with the multilevel structure of magma chambers in the upper and middle crust.

Thermal structure beneath Changbaishan Volcano, northeastern Asia: new insights from temperature logging and numerical modelling

SUMMARY Changbaishan Volcano is considered one of the most hazardous active volcanic fields in northeastern Asia, and it has been the subject of increasing concern due to its unrest from 2002 to 2006. The physical conditions of magma chambers in the crust, particularly temperature and pressure, are crucial factors that determine the tempo and magnitude of volcanic eruptions, which are closely linked to potential hazards. However, the lithospheric thermal structure, which strongly influences rheological behaviour and melting, has been poorly studied. We conducted direct geothermal measurements and numerical forward modelling to address this issue to confirm whether a crustal magma chamber lies beneath the caldera as in earlier geophysical interpretations. We first reported four heat-flow data sets in Changbaishan Volcano. The research findings indicate that the heat flow value near the Tianchi caldera is remarkably high, at 270±16 mW m−2. As the distance from the caldera increases, the heat flow gradually decreases to a normal continental heat flow value of 75 mW m−2. 3-D transient heat simulations with a magma cooling model and a continuous magma supply model demonstrate the thermal effect of the magma chamber. The best-fitting model for the Tianchi magma system is an ellipsoidal magma chamber with a depth of 8–14 km, a 20 km east–west axis and a 70 km north–south axis, supplied with magma from the asthenosphere for 2 Myr. The high surface heat flow and crustal temperatures suggest that magma is active beneath Changbaishan Volcano within the middle-upper crust, and volcanic reactivation could occur. Thus, further research on the lithospheric thermal structure is necessary to understand the potential volcanic hazards associated with Changbaishan Volcano.

Modelling the post-caldera plumbing system of Changbaishan volcano (China) from integrated geochemical, isotopic, geobarometric, and geophysical data

The Changbaishan Tianchi volcano is the largest active volcano of China and the 946 CE VEI 6 “Millennium eruption” (ME) is responsible for the formation of its summit caldera. After the ME, the volcanic activity is characterized by smaller eruptions most of which are recorded only in historical documents. Here we analyze the deposits of the ME and 1403 CE eruption outcropping in the Heishigou section, which is located east of the Chagbaishan Tianchi caldera. We present whole-rock, glass, mineral, isotopic, and geobarometric data to obtain information on the vertical extent of the caldera and post-caldera plumbing system of the volcano. Results show that the plumbing system of the 1403 CE eruption is located between 1.9 and 5.4 km depth, which is also the depth range of the shallower reservoir of the ME. Therefore, the magma reservoir of the ME was active also after the caldera collapse. The 1403 CE magma stored in the ME reservoir evolved by fractional crystallization of the residual ME trachytic magma and underwent the contamination of upper crust material. The 1403 CE event was triggered by the injection of less evolved, mafic magma from depth. The inferred depth of the shallower ME reservoir and that of the 1403 CE eruption is the same of the present-day main geophysical anomalies (low seismic velocity and low resistivity) recorded below the Changbaishan Tianchi caldera. In addition, the source of the deformations related to the uplift during unrest episodes between 2002 and 2020 suggests a refilling of the 1403 CE plumbing system. We conclude that the plumbing system of the 1403 CE, post-caldera activity at Changbaishan Tianchi volcano is the same of the ME eruption and it is still active. This system may be recharged from the arrival of less evolved magma from depth. The proposed conceptual model of the post-caldera volcanism at Changbaishan Tianchi represents a reference framework to interpret the signals of unrest and decipher the dynamics of the present-day plumbing system.

Deep genesis of the high heat flow anomaly in the Okinawa Trough

The Okinawa Trough (OT) is characterized by high heat flow anomalies up to 10,000 mW/m2 (especially in the middle area), which is rarely seen in heat flow research all over the world. The genesis of the high heat flow anomaly is probably related to mantle upwelling. However, the deep genesis is yet to be studied. We used heat flow values collected from the Global Heat Flow Database to calibrate the locations of high heat flow anomalies. Gravity data were used to calculate the residual geoid and interlayer geoid anomalies, which can help in characterizing the morphology of mantle upwelling beneath the OT. Earthquake hypocenter distribution maps were presented to show the position of the Philippine Sea Plate beneath the OT. According to P-wave tomography profile and previous research, we discussed the deep genesis of the high heat flow anomaly and proposed a preliminary model to explain the process. We suggest that the deep mantle upwelling, probably from a depth of −1200 km, enters the upper mantle through the front of the subducted Pacific plate. The deep mantle upwelling converges with the molten mantle flow caused by the fluid from the dehydration of the Pacific Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate. Two mantle upwelling branches were revealed to feed the southern OT (SOT) and Changbai Volcano, and the mantle upwelling under the middle OT (MOT) was the second branch from the mantle upwelling branch under the SOT. The MOT should be more influenced by mantle upwelling from deep sources with extremely high temperatures.

Deep Geophysical Anomalies Beneath the Changbaishan Volcano

AbstractSubsurface imaging is key to understanding the origin of intraplate volcanoes. The Changbaishan volcano, located about 2,000 km away from the western Pacific subduction zone, has several debated origins. To investigate this, we compared regional seismic tomography with the electrical resistivity results and obtained high‐resolution 1D and quasi‐2D velocity‐depth profiles. We show that the upper mantle is characterized by two anomalies exhibiting distinct features which cannot be explained by the same mechanism. We document a localized low‐velocity anomaly atop the 410‐km discontinuity, where the P‐wave velocity is reduced more than that of the S‐wave (i.e., lower Vp/Vs). We propose that this anomaly is caused by the reduction of the effective moduli during the phase transformation of olivine. The other anomaly, located between 300 and 370 km depth, reveals a significant reduction of the S‐wave velocity (i.e., higher Vp/Vs), associated with a reduction of the electrical resistivity, altogether consistent with partial melting.

Dispersion Curve Interpolation Based on Kriging Method

Volcanic eruptions significantly impact human life. However, real-time high-precision imaging in this context still has limitations. Spatial–temporal interpolation can replace real-time data imaging, in order to obtain the state of a given volcano at any moment. The dispersion curve is interpolated in space as a foreshadowing for subsequent temporal interpolation. In this paper, kriging is applied for the interpolation of dispersion curves, and the feasibility of the process is verified through several tests. Through cross-validation, the “spherical” variogram model and universal kriging were determined. The mean relative error of the predicted dispersion curve is less than 10%, and the mean root mean square error of each predicted dispersion curve is less than 0.1. The results show that the interpolation of dispersion curves based on the kriging method is feasible. In addition, the application of kriging interpolation in ambient noise tomography can expand the imaging area, as well as complement the low ray density area. Taking the ambient noise tomography of the Changbai volcano as an example, in the deep area, the expansion multiple can reach 2.4.

Shear-wave tomography of the Changbai volcanic area in NE China derived from ambient noise and seismic surface waves

A detailed 3-D shear-wave velocity (Vs) model of the crust and upper mantle beneath the Changbai volcano and adjacent areas in NE China is obtained by conducting a joint inversion of group-velocity dispersion curves at periods of 5–30 s and phase-velocity dispersion curves at periods of 5–100 s from ambient noise and earthquake surface waves. We use 1602 group-velocity dispersion curves and 3125 phase-velocity dispersion curves, which were recorded at 57 permanent stations of the China Earthquake Administration and 27 portable stations of Jilin University during 2010 to 2014. Our results reveal strong heterogeneities in the crust and upper mantle beneath the study area. A remarkable low-Vs zone is revealed in the crust beneath the Changbai volcano, indicating a hot magma chamber. The Longgang volcano is also characterized by a low-Vs anomaly reflecting partial melt in the crust. In contrast, there is no notable low-Vs anomaly in the crust beneath the Jingpohu volcano. Previous geological results and our tomographic images suggest that Changbai is a composite volcano, whereas Jingpohu and Longgang are monogenetic volcanoes. Low-Vs zones are revealed in the upper mantle beneath the three active volcanoes, which are interconnected at different depths. Combining the present results with previous findings, we deem that the three active intraplate volcanoes are caused by hot and wet upwelling flows in the big mantle wedge associated with deep subduction of the western Pacific plate beneath NE Asia.

Cambial evidence of the “Millennium Eruption” of Changbaishan volcano (c. 946 CE) and century-scale climatic change in the Middle Ages

The Changbaishan volcano, located in northeast China, produced a large amount of charcoal during the “Millennium Eruption” (c. 946 CE). In this paper, we report a high-resolution date for the eruption using multiple methods applied to the fossil charcoal and living trees, including wood anatomy, radiocarbon dating and tree-ring cross-dating. In addition, we develop a new floating annual-resolution tree-ring chronology spanning nearly 200 years that provides information about paleoclimate conditions. In our study, we identified 60 samples of charcoal as Larix olgensis based on anatomical characteristics and geographical location. Using these materials, we dated the eruption to the winter of 946 CE based on a combination of radiocarbon dating, traditional dendrochronological cross-dating and cambial cell growth status. This allowed us to develop an L. olgensis tree-ring width chronology covering 764–946 CE and 1715–2016 CE, with significant sensitivities to April–September temperature ( p < 0.05). The tree-ring data have great potential to indicate extreme climate events; for example, we identify an extremely cold year in 903 CE. Such marker years can improve the reliability and accuracy of tree-ring data. Our study provides direct and precise tree-ring evidence for volcanic eruptions and anomalous climate years in the Middle Ages. • Cambial activity enables us to date the Millennium Eruption to winter 946 CE. • The first chronology reaching the Middle Ages so far developed in northeastern China. • The chronology was assembled from volcanic charcoal and living larch. • This chronology is sensitive to temperature.

The role of CO2 flushing in triggering the ‘Millennium’ eruption and recent unrests at Changbaishan volcano (China/North Korea)

ABSTRACT The impact of large-scale caldera-forming eruptions on our society and climate can be considerable. The triggering mechanisms of these eruptions and the instability of their magmatic systems are still elusive. Here we use X-ray tomographic microscopy, glass geochemistry and volatile element concentration data on the products of the 946 CE ‘Millennium’ eruption (ME) of Changbaishan volcano (China/North Korea) with the aim to identify the triggering mechanism of the eruption. ME emitted rhyolites and trachytes whose textural parameters suggest vesiculation events related to crystallization and magma ascent in the conduit, and to the arrival of new gas in the magmatic system. Solubility models show that the CO2 and H2O dissolved in the glass are consistent with a pressure of 100–200 MPa. Literature data from fluid inclusions in minerals indicate that the residing magma was CO2 free before the eruption, whereas the CO2 content in the glass reaches 600 ppm at the flash of the ME event. We find that a single, shallow magma reservoir localized between 7.5 and 3.7 km depth in which rhyolites occupies the top and trachytes the bottom is fully destabilized by the arrival of external CO2-rich fluids. Such fluids are released from a deeper, carbonate-rich mantle source. Our results and those of independent geophysical data show that the ME magmatic system is still active, and the continuous upraising of fluids from depth may drive unrest episodes like that recorded in 2002–2006. Our findings elucidate the role of deep, mantle-derived fluids in driving large-scale explosive eruptions. We provide evidence that volcanic unrests may not mirror the internal dynamics of magmatic reservoirs.

Time Series Surface Deformation of Changbaishan Volcano Based on Sentinel-1B SAR Data and Its Geological Significance

Monitoring the surface deformation is of great significance, in order to explore the activity and geophysical features of the underground deep pressure source in the volcanic regions. In this study, the time series surface deformation of the Changbaishan volcano is retrieved via Sentinel-1B SAR data, using the SBAS-InSAR method. The main results are as follows. (1) The mean surface deformation velocity in the Changbaishan volcano is uplifted as a whole, while the uplift is locally distributed, which shows a strong correlation with faults. (2) The time series surface deformation of the Changbaishan volcano indicates an apparently seasonal change. (3) The cumulative surface deformation shows a strong correlation with the maximal magnitude and number of annual earthquakes, and it is likely dominated by the maximal magnitude of the annual earthquakes. (4) The single Mogi source model is appropriate to evaluate the deep pressure source in the Changbaishan volcano, constrained by the calculated surface deformation. The optimal estimated depth of the magma chamber is about 6.2 km, and the volume is increased by about 3.2 × 106 m3. According to the time series surface deformation, it is concluded that the tectonic activity and faults, related to the deep pressure source, are pretty active in the Changbaishan volcano.

Pn Anisotropic Tomography of Northeast Asia: New Insight Into Subduction Dynamics and Volcanism

AbstractWe present a new high‐resolution model of P‐wave anisotropic tomography of the uppermost mantle beneath NE Asia obtained by inverting 88,303 high‐quality manually picked Pn arrival times. Our model reveals strong lateral heterogeneities in both isotropic velocity and azimuthal anisotropy. Distinct high Pn velocities are visible under the basins in NE China, and eastern and western Japan basins. Very high Pn velocities with trench‐normal fast Pn anisotropy are revealed near the Kurile‐Japan trench, representing the incoming Pacific plate. Prominent low Pn velocity anomalies are revealed under active intraplate volcanoes in NE China and arc volcanoes on the Japan Islands. Very low Pn velocities with trench‐parallel fast Pn anisotropy are observed along the volcanic front in Japan, reflecting compressed mantle flows. An NW‐SE oriented low‐velocity (low‐V) zone from the Wudalianchi volcano to the Changbaishan volcano meets the E‐W oriented low‐V zone around the Changbaishan volcano and the N‐S low‐V zone east of the Sanjiang basin, which converge to a broad N‐S low‐V zone. This zone passes through the central Japan basin to the junction of the Japan and Izu‐Bonin trenches, where it meets the nearly E‐W low‐V zone from the Changle volcano. These low‐V anomalies exhibit zone‐parallel fast Pn anisotropy and may indicate channels for material and energy exchanges among the volcanoes, driven by mantle flows in the big mantle wedge. These results provide new insights into interplate and intraplate volcanism and subduction dynamics in the study region.

Upward Magma Migration Within the Multi-Level Plumbing System of the Changbaishan Volcano (China/North Korea) Revealed by the Modeling of 2018–2020 SAR Data

Changbaishan volcano (China/North Korea border) was responsible for the largest eruption of the first Millennium in 946 CE and is characterized by a multi-level plumbing system. It last erupted in 1903 and presently consists of a cone with summit caldera. An unrest episode occurred between 2002 and 2006, followed by subsidence. Here, we analyze the Changbaishan 2018–2020 deformations by using remote sensing data, detecting an up to 20 mm/yr, NW-SE elongated, Line of Sight movement of its southeastern flank and a −20 mm/yr Line of Sight movement of the southwestern flank. This reveals an unrest occurring during 2018–2020. Modeling results suggest that three active sources are responsible for the observed ground velocities: a deep tabular deflating source, a shallower inflating NW-SE elongated spheroid source, and a NW-SE striking dip-slip fault. The depth and geometry of the inferred sources are consistent with independent petrological and geophysical data. Our results reveal an upward magma migration from 14 to 7.7 km. The modeling of the leveling data of the 2002–2005 uplift and 2009–2011 subsidence depicts sources consistent with the 2018–2020 active system retrieved. The past uplift is interpreted as related to pressurization of the upper portion of the spheroid magma chamber, whereas the subsidence is consistent with the crystallization of its floor, this latter reactivated in 2018–2020. Therefore, Changbaishan is affected by an active magma recharge reactivating a NW-SE trending fault system. Satellite data analysis is a key tool to unravel the magma dynamics at poorly monitored and cross-border volcanoes.