Flank Lava Research Articles

Idunn Mons on Venus: Location and extent of recently active lava flows

From 2006 until 2014 the ESA Venus Express probe observed the atmosphere and surface of the Earth's twin planet. The Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS) has provided data that indicate the occurrence of recent volcanic activity on Venus. We selected the eastern flank of Idunn Mons - Imdr Regio's single large volcano – as the study area, since it was identified in VIRTIS data as one of the regions with relatively high values of thermal emissivity at 1µm wavelength. Using the capabilities of specific techniques developed in the Planetary Emissivity Laboratory group at DLR in Berlin, our study intends to identify location and extent of the sources of such anomalies, thus the lava flows responsible for the relatively high emissivity observed by VIRTIS over the eastern flank of Idunn Mons. We map the lava flow units on the top and eastern flank of Idunn Mons, varying the values of simulated 1µm emissivity assigned to the mapped units. For each configuration we calculate the total RMS error in comparison with the VIRTIS observations. In the best-fit configuration, the flank lava flows are characterized by high values of 1µm simulated emissivity. Hence, the lava flow units on the eastern flank on Idunn Mons are likely responsible for the relatively high 1µm emissivity anomalies observed by VIRTIS. This result is supported by the reconstructed post-eruption stratigraphy, displaying the relative dating of the mapped lava flows, that is independent of the 1µm emissivity modeling. Values of average microwave emissivity extracted from the lava flow units range around the global mean, which is consistent with dry basalts.

Source mechanism of long-period events recorded by a high-density seismic network during the 2008 eruption on Mount Etna

129 Long Period (LP) events, divided into two families of similar events, were recorded by the 50 stations deployed on Mount Etna in the second half of June 2008. During this period lava was flowing from a lateral fracture after a summit strombolian eruption. In order to understand the mechanisms of these events, we perform moment tensor inversions. Inversions are initially kept unconstrained to estimate the most likely mechanism. Numerical tests show that unconstrained inversion leads to reliable moment tensor solutions because of the close proximity of numerous stations to the source positions. However, single forces cannot be accurately determined as they are very sensitive to uncertainties in the velocity model. Constrained inversions for a crack, a pipe or an explosion then allow us to accurately determine the structural orientations of the source mechanisms. Both numerical tests and LP event inversions emphasise the importance of using stations located as close as possible to the source. Inversions for both families show mechanisms with a strong volumetric component. These events are most likely generated by cracks striking SW-NE for both families and dipping 70\deg SE (Family 1) and 50\deg NW (Family 2). For Family 1 events, the crack geometry is nearly orthogonal to the dike-like structure along which events are located, while for Family 2 the location gave two pipe-like bodies which belong to the same plane as the crack mechanism. The orientations of the cracks are consistent with local tectonics, which shows a SW-NE weakness direction. The LP events appear to be a response to the lava fountain occurring on the 10th of May, 2008 as opposed to the flank lava flow.

Glass and Mineral Chemistry of Northern Central Indian Ridge Basalts: Compositional Diversity and Petrogenetic Significance

Abstract:The glass and mineral chemistry of basalts examined from the northern central Indian ridge (NCIR) provides an insight into magma genesis around the vicinity of two transform faults: Vityaz (VT) and Vema (VM). The studied mid‐ocean ridge basalts (MORBs) from the outer ridge flank (VT area) and a near‐ridge seamount (VM area) reveal that they are moderately phyric plagioclase basalts composed of plagioclase (phenocryst [An60–90] and groundmass [An35–79]), olivine (Fo81–88), diopside (Wo45–51, En25–37, Fs14–24), and titanomagnetite (FeOt∼63.75 wt% and TiO2∼22.69 wt%). The whole‐rock composition of these basalts has similar Mg# [mole Mg/mole(Mg+Fe2+)] (VT basalt: ∼0.56–0.58; VM basalt: ∼0.57), but differ in their total alkali content (VT basalt: ∼2.65; VM basalt: ∼3.24). The bulk composition of the magma was gradually depleted in MgO and enriched in FeOt, TiO2, P2O5, and Na2O with progressive fractionation, the basalts were gradually enriched in Y and Zr and depleted in Ni and Cr. In addition, the ΣREE of magma also increased with fractionation, without any change in the (La/Yb)N value. Glass from the VM seamount shows more fractionated characters (Mg#: 0.56–0.57) compared to the outer ridge flank lava of the VT area (Mg#: 0.63–0.65). This study concludes that present basalts experienced low‐pressure crystallization at a relatively shallow depth. The geochemical changes in the NCIR magmas resulted from fractional crystallization at a shallow depth. As a consequence, spinel was the first mineral to crystallize at a pressure >10 kbar, followed by Fe‐rich olivine at <10 kbar pressure.

The pit-craters and pit-crater-filling lavas of Masaya volcano

Lava flowing into a pit crater will become entrapped to form an inactive lava lake. At Masaya volcano (Nicaragua) pit filling lavas are exposed in the walls of Nindiri, Santiago and San Pedro pits. Mapping of these lavas shows that fill can involve emplacement of both ’a’a and pahoehoe, with single fill units ranging in thickness from 2 to 22 m. Thick units with columnar joints were emplaced as simple inactive lava lakes during high effusion rate episodes. Sequences of thinner units, which can form pit floor shields or compound lakes, were emplaced at lower effusion rates. Lava withdrawal caused unsupported sections of three 20-m-thick units to subside, resulting in unit flexure and faulting, and viscous peeling features reveal that subsidence occurred while at least one unit was still partially molten. Where withdrawal has not occurred, fill sequences are flat lying and symmetrically distributed around the feeder structures (cinder cones and dykes). The filled Nindiri pit holds 5 × 107 m3 of lava in a 215-m-thick sequence. Partial fill of Santiago pit with 1 × 107 m3 of lava has filled the pit with a 110-m-thick lava sequence, of which ∼50% has been consumed by formation of a secondary pit. Altogether, 6.4 × 107 m3 of lava was erupted into Nindiri and Santiago during 1525–1965, with 94% of this volume remaining pit-contained; the remainder forms a north flank lava flow field. Pit development and filling is a dynamic and ephemeral process, having short-lived effects on volcano morphology, where pits develop and fill over hours-to-centuries. However, pits play an important role in shaping an edifice, representing lava sinks and controlling whether lavas are trapped or able to spread onto the flanks.

Volcanic hazards at Mount Semeru, East Java (Indonesia), with emphasis on lahars

Mt. Semeru, the highest mountain in Java (3,676 m), is one of the few persistently active composite volcanoes on Earth, with a plain supporting about 1 million people. We present the geology of the edifice, review its historical eruptive activity, and assess hazards posed by the current activity, highlighting the lahar threat. The composite andesite cone of Semeru results from the growth of two edifices: the Mahameru ‘old' Semeru and the Seloko ‘young' Semeru. On the SE flank of the summit cone, a N130-trending scar, branched on the active Jonggring- Seloko vent, is the current pathway for rockslides and pyroclastic flows produced by dome growth. The eruptive activity, recorded since 1818, shows three styles: (1) The persistent vulcanian and phreatomagmatic regime consists of short-lived eruption columns several times a day; (2) increase in activity every 5 to 7 years produces several kilometer-high eruption columns, ballistic bombs and thick tephra fall around the vent, and ash fall 40 km downwind. Dome extrusion in the vent and subsequent collapses produce block-and-ash flows that travel toward the SE as far as 11 km from the summit; and (3) flank lava flows erupted on the lower SE and E flanks in 1895 and in 1941– 1942. Pyroclastic flows recur every 5 years on average while large-scale lahars exceeding 5 million m3 each have occurred at least five times since 1884. Lumajang, a city home to 85,000 people located 35 km E of the summit, was devastated by lahars in 1909. In 2000, the catchment of the Curah Lengkong River on the ESE flank shows an annual sediment yield of 2.7×105 m3 km−2 and a denudation rate of 4 105 t km−2 yr−1, comparable with values reported at other active composite cones in wet environment. Unlike catchments affected by high magnitude eruptions, sediment yield at Mt. Semeru, however, does not decline drastically within the first post-eruption years. This is due to the daily supply of pyroclastic debris shed over the summit cone, which is remobilised by runoff during the rainy season. Three hazard-prone areas are delineated at Mt. Semeru: (1) a triangle-shaped area open toward the SE has been frequently swept by dome-collapse avalanches and pyroclastic flows; (2) the S and SE valleys convey tens of rain-triggered lahars each year within a distance of 20 km toward the ring plain; (3) valleys 25 km S, SE, and the ring plain 35 km E toward Lumajang can be affected by debris avalanches and debris flows if the steep-sided summit cone fails.

Differences in Landsat TM derived lava flow thermal structures during summit and flank eruption at Mount Etna

The simultaneous solution of the Planck equation (the so-called “dual-band” technique) for two shortwave infrared Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) bands allows an estimate of the fractional area of the hottest part of an active flow and the temperature of the cooler crust. Here, the dual-band method has been applied to a time series of Mount Etna eruptions. The frequency distribution of the fractional area of the hottest component reveals specific differences between summit and flank lava flows. The shape of the density function shows a trend consistent with a Gaussian distribution and suggests a relationship between the moments of the distribution and the emplacement environment. Because flow composition of Etnean lavas generally remains constant during the duration of their emplacement, it appears that the shape of any particular frequency distribution is probably related to fluid mechanical aspects of flow emplacement that affect flow velocity and flow heat loss and thus the rate of formation of the surface crust. These factors include the influence of topographical features such as changes in slope gradient, changes in volume effusion rate, and progressive downflow increases in bulk or effective viscosity. A form of the general theoretical solution for the ‘dual-band’ system, which illustrates the relationship between radiance in TM bands 5 and 7, corresponding to hot fractional area and crust temperature, is presented. Generally speaking, it appears that for a given flow at any point in time, larger fractional areas of exposed hot material are correlated with higher temperatures and that, while the overall shape of that distribution is common for the flows studied, its amplitude and slope reflect individual flow rheological regimes.

Volumetric characteristics of lava flows from interferometric radar and multispectral satellite data: the 1995 Fernandina and 1998 Cerro Azul eruptions in the western Gal�pagos

We have used a suite of remotely sensed data, numerical lava flow modeling, and field observations to determine quantitative characteristics of the 1995 Fernandina and 1998 Cerro Azul eruptions in the western Galapagos Islands. Flank lava flow areas, volumes, instantaneous effusion rates, and average effusion rates were all determined for these two eruptions, for which only limited syn-eruptive field observations are available. Using data from SPOT, TOPSAR, ERS-1, and ERS-2, we determined that the 1995 Fernandina flow covers a subaerial area of 6.5×106 m2 and has a subaerial dense rock equivalent (DRE) volume of 42×106 m3. Field observations, ATSR satellite data, and the FLOWGO numerical model allow us to determine that the effusion rate declined exponentially from a high of ~60–200 m3 s-1 during the first few hours to <5 m3 s-1 prior to ceasing after 73 days, with a mean effusion rate of 4–16 m3 s-1. Integrating the ATSR-derived, exponentially declining effusion rate over the eruption duration produces a total (subaerial + submarine) DRE volume of between 27 and 100×106 m3, the range in values being due to differing assumptions about heat loss characteristics; only values in the higher part of this range are consistent with the independently derived subaerial volume. Using SPOT, TOPSAR, ERS-1, and ERS-2 data, we determine that the 1998 Cerro Azul flow is 16 km long, covers 16 km2, and has a DRE volume of 54×106 m3. FLOWGO produces at-vent velocity and effusion rate values of 11 m s-1 and ~600 m3 s-1, respectively. The velocity value agrees well with the 12 m s-1 estimated in the field. The mean effusion rate (total DRE volume/duration) was 7–47 m3 s-1. Dike dimensions, fissure lengths, and pressure gradients along the conduit based on magma chamber depth estimates of 3–5 km produce mean effusion rates for the two eruptions that range over nearly four orders of magnitude, the range being due to uncertainty in the magma viscosity, dike dimensions, and pressure gradient between magma chamber and vent. Although somewhat consistent with mean effusion rates from other techniques, their wide range makes them less useful. The exponentially declining effusion rates during both eruptions are consistent with release of elastic strain being the driving mechanism of the eruptions. Our results provide independent input parameters for previously published theoretical relationships between magma chamber pressurization and eruption rates that constrain chamber volumes and increases in volume prior to eruption, as well as time constants of exponential decay during the eruption. The results and theoretical relationships combine to indicate that at both volcanoes probably 25–30% of the volumetric increase in the magma chamber erupted as lava onto the surface. In both eruptions the lava flow volumes are less than 1% of the magma chamber volume.

Potentially active volcanoes of Peru-Observations using Landsat Thematic Mapper and Space Shuttle imagery

Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images and Space Shuttle color photograph have been used to make a synoptic study of the volcanoes of southern Peru (∼14°–17° S), the northernmost portin of the Central Volcanic Zone (CVZ ∼14°–28° S) of the Andes. Apart from providing consistent coverage, the chief merit of the TM for this study has been the spatial resolution provided by the ∼30-m pixel size. The optimal ∼20-m resolution, variable lighting and viewing geometry, and stereo capability of the Shuttle photography provided an invaluable ancilliary data set. At the resolution available, subtle glacial-morphological features such as valley and terminal moraines can be confidently identified, and these features have been used to determine the relative ages of volcanoes. Volcanoes have been classified as potentially active if they have; (i) a well-preserved summit crater, (ii) pristine lava flow texture and morphology, (iii) flank lava flows with low albedo, and (iv) evidence of postglacial (<10 000 years) activity. Eight major volcanoes are postulated to be potentially active. Most are large, dominantly andesitic, composite cones with edifice heights of up to 2500 m; some of which threaten nearby settlements. One of them, Sabancaya, was active as recently as July 1988. Other, little-known, postglacial volcanic features include Huaynaputina, site of a major explosive rhyolitic eruption in 1600 a.d., and several fields of monogenetic scoria cones and lava flows. The active volcanic front is some 200 km east of the Peru-Chile trench, and the volcanoes lie on a trenchparallel trend oblique to the EW subduction. This narrow volcanic zone is thought to reflect the steep dip of the Nazca plate through the zone of magma generation. The break in the trend of the volcanic front in the northern extremity of the volcanic zone is thought to reflect the complexity of the crustal stress field above a major segment boundary in the subducting plate. The fields of mafic monogenetic centers also occur in this region. In comparison with the southern part of the CVZ, the general paucity of older volcanic edifices north of ∼17° S suggests a more recent onset of volcanism north of this latitude probably resulting from the oblique subduction of the Nazca ridge and the consequent northward migration of its intersection with the Pere-Chile trench. This, coupled with the lack of any large silicic caldera systems and youthful dacite domes, like those found further south, suggest that there are real differences between the volcanic evolution of different parts of the CVZ.

Application of the Landsat Thematic Mapper to the identification of potentially active volcanoes in the central Andes

Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images have been used to make the first comprehensive study of the Central Andean volcanic province (∼ 14°S–28°S), one of the world's largest zones of active volcanism. More than 60 major volcanoes have been identified as potentially active, whereas only 16 had been previously cataloged. Most of these are large, composite cones, up to 6000 m in height, some of which threaten nearby settlements. Apart from its consistent coverage, the chief merit of the Landsat TM in making this study has been spatial resolution provided by the 30 m pixel size. This has been particularly important for the recognition of subtle glacial morphological features such as valley and terminal moraines which can be used to determine relative ages of the volcanoes. On the TM images we have classified a volcano as potentially active if it has: i) a well-preserved summit crater; ii) pristine lava flow texture and morphology; iii) flank lava flows with low albedo; and iv) evidence of post-glacial (< 10,000 years) activity. Where possible, these data are supported by field observations and published reports. The spectral observations and published report. The spectral capability of the TM has been valuable in addressing specific problems, such as the distribution of different lithologies in volcanic debris avalanches. The short wavelength infrared sensors (TM Bands 5 and 7) have been used to provide well-constrained temperature and size estimates of volcanic thermal phenomena such as lava lakes, fumaroles, and domes. The thermal band (TM Band 6) has been useful only in measuring temperatures in crater lakes.

Compositional variations of young basalts in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rift valley near lat 36°49′N

Fifty acoustically positioned samples of fresh basalt were collected by the submersible Alvin from the median valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge during the French American Mid-Ocean Undersea Study (FAMOUS) in the summer of 1974. The samples show regular compositional variations from the center of the rift valley (central lava flows) out to the rift valley walls (flank lava flows). The central lava samples show higher ratios of olivine relative to clinopyroxene and plagioclase phenocrysts and contain chrome spinel. Glasses of the flank lava samples are enriched in SiO 2 , TiO 2 , K 2 O, H 2 O, and FeO/MgO relative to central lava samples. Studies of the thickness of palagonite and manganese crusts indicate that the flank lava flows are considerably younger than the inferred spreading age of the crust on which they occur. Flank lavas are generally older than central lavas, but notable exceptions occur. The composition of the flank lava glass can be derived by the removal of approximately 29 wt percent of analyzed phenocrysts (in the ratio 5.7 plagioclase, 2.5 olivine, 1.8 clinopyroxene) from the central lava glass. In addition, other processes (possibly involving volatile transfer) must enrich the flank lavas in K 2 O, TiO 2 , and H 2 O. A model is proposed whereby this crystal fractionation occurs in a shallow, narrow (6-km-wide) magma chamber underlying the median valley. The chamber is compositionally zoned, and central lavas are fed from dikes tapping its hotter axial zone, whereas flank lavas are fed from the cooler, differentiated melt on the margins. The nature of the chemical variations in the lavas permits an estimate of the composition and thickness of the cumulates forming at the base of the chamber.