Magma Supply Rate Research Articles

Parameters Controlling the Eruption Frequency of Long‐Lived Felsic Magmatic Systems: An Example From the Milos Volcanic Field (Greece)

AbstractThe mechanism controlling the volcanic eruption frequency is yet poorly understood. The key to a better understanding this mechanism comes from integrating accurate geochronology with numerical models. In many silicic volcanic systems, the eruption frequency is studied for short timescales of <500 kyr. Here, we combine two published numerical models (Caricchi et al., 2014, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2041; Degruyter & Huber, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2014.06.047) to improve our understanding of the eruption frequency in a long‐lived (>3 Ma) felsic magmatic system, the Milos volcanic field. We use the published Milos geochronological data as input into the Caricchi et al. (2014, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2041) model to derive average magma supply rates (Qav) and eruptible volumes. These two parameters are then used in the Degruyter and Huber (2014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2014.06.047) model to compute the chamber growth rate (Gmc) for the Milos magmatic system. The results of the Caricchi et al. (2014, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2041) model indicate that the time intervals between magma pulses into the subvolcanic reservoir (ti) and Qav are the key parameters controlling the eruption frequency. During the time intervals of 1.48–1.04 and 0.97–0.63 Ma the ti is longer than 1000 years and the volcanic quiescence periods are longer than 350 kyr. Furthermore, these periods are characterized by low values for Qav (≤0.001 km3 · yr−1) and Gmc (<0.0001 km3 · yr−1). In contrast, during the time intervals of 2.0–1.5 and 0.60–0.06 Ma, the ti is shorter (<0.5 kyr) and the values for Qav (>0.001 km3 · yr−1) are higher corresponding to frequent eruptions.

Geodetic Monitoring at Axial Seamount Since Its 2015 Eruption Reveals a Waning Magma Supply and Tightly Linked Rates of Deformation and Seismicity

AbstractAxial Seamount is a basaltic hot spot volcano with a summit caldera at a depth of ∼1,500 m below sea level, superimposed on the Juan de Fuca spreading ridge, giving it a robust and continuous magma supply. Axial erupted in 1998, 2011, and 2015, and is monitored by a cabled network of instruments including bottom pressure recorders and seismometers. Since its last eruption, Axial has re‐inflated to 85%–90% of its pre‐eruption level. During that time, we have identified eight discrete, short‐term deflation events of 1–4 cm over 1–3 weeks that occurred quasi‐periodically, about every 4–6 months between August 2016 and May 2019. During each short‐term deflation event, the rate of earthquakes dropped abruptly to low levels, and then did not return to higher levels until reinflation had resumed and returned near its previous high. The long‐term geodetic monitoring record suggests that the rate of magma supply has varied by an order of magnitude over decadal time scales. There was a surge in magma supply between 2011 and 2015, causing those two eruptions to be closely spaced in time and the supply rate has been waning since then. This waning supply has implications for eruption forecasting and the next eruption at Axial still appears to be 4–9 years away. We also show that the number of earthquakes per unit of uplift has increased exponentially with total uplift since the 2015 eruption, a pattern consistent with a mechanical model of cumulative rock damage leading to bulk failure during magma accumulation between eruptions.

Variable inflation rate of a magmatic deformation source beneath Aira caldera after the 1914 eruption of Sakurajima volcano: Inferences from a linear Maxwell viscoelastic model constrained by geodetic data

Temporal variation of ground surface displacement rates at volcanoes may represent changes to the volumetric magma supply rate over time. If crustal rock responds elastically to a magmatic deformation source, the volume change of the source has a simple one-to-one relation to the surface deformation. For viscoelastic crustal rock, however, the correlation is not always straightforward, particularly at volcanoes where crustal viscosity is lowered by a high geothermal gradient. For a continuous inflation of the deformation source, the viscoelastic surface displacement depends on the balance between the uplift due to magma supply and subsidence due to viscoelastic relaxation. In this study, using a 3D finite element model composed of an elastic layer underlain by a linear Maxwell viscoelastic layer with a spatially uniform viscosity, we estimate the temporal variation of volumetric magma supply rate into the upper crust beneath Aira caldera in southern Kyushu, Japan, after the 1914 eruption of Sakurajima volcano. It is found that the geodetic data, including levelling and GNSS displacement fields, require a sill-like magmatic deformation source at a depth of 11 km to inflate at the following rates for six different periods: (I) ~6.9–9.4 × 106 m3/yr in 1914–1934, (II) ~9.1–16.7 × 106 m3/yr in 1934–1960, (III) ~1.6–3.8 × 106 m3/yr in 1960–1968, (IV) ~8.1–11.0 × 106 m3/yr in 1968–1976, (V) ~ −1.0–2.2 × 106 m3/yr in 1976–1997, and (VI) ~5.8–9.4 × 106 m3/yr in 1997–2007. The constrained viscosity (ηc) of the viscoelastic crust ranges from ~5 × 1018 Pa s to ~1020 Pa s or more. The lowest and highest values produce the best fit to the data in the earliest period and in period V showing surface subsidence, respectively, but for the other periods any viscosity is acceptable unless it is lower than ~1018 Pa s. The lowest viscosity providing the best fit in the earliest period indicates that viscoelastic displacement in response to the 1914 eruption plays an important role in the surface deformation field. The observed surface subsidence in period V can be explained either by inflation or deflation of the deformation source, depending on whether ηc is lower or higher than ~1019 Pa s, respectively. The subsequent surface recovery in period VI requires an increase in the inflation rate for any case of ηc. The volume of magma accumulated since the 1914 eruption (ΔV) is predicted to be ~0.6–0.8 km3 in 2020. The estimated inflation/deflation rate of the deformation source, in comparison with the observed volumetric eruption rate, reveals that a significant eruption occurs only when ΔV is ~0.4 km3 or more. However, even if ΔV is beyond the critical value, the eruptive activity does not depend on ΔV. The temporal inflation rate inferred in this study gives an opportunity to discuss eruptive dynamics in relation to the observed eruptive activity, such as a quantitative relationship between magma supply rate into, and discharge rate from, a deformation source.

Neoproterozoic high magmatic addition rate episode building a composite batholith in northeastern Brazil, and implications for the western Gondwana assembly

The composite Santana do Ipanema batholith is made up of several Cryogenian-Ediacaran granitic plutons in the Pernambuco-Alagoas (PEAL) Domain of the Borborema province, northeastern Brazil. The individual plutons in this batholith are high-K calc-alkalic to shoshonitic, metaluminous to peraluminous quartz syenites to granites that belong to magnetite-series and magnesian Cordilleran-type granitoids. They carry comagmatic microgranular mafic enclaves with evidence of magma mixing. Their chemical compositions overlap, and they exhibit enrichment in some incompatible and depletion in HFS elements, with variable initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios that range from 0.70511 to 0.71071. The εNd(0.6Ga) values cluster into two groups, in which plutons with ages ≥ 625 Ma exhibit slightly negative to slightly positive εNd values (average −1.6), in contrast with the younger plutons that have more negative ones (average −8.7), pointing out that mantle contribution to the source decreased with time, while recycled ancient crust augmented. Geochronological data from the literature indicate that the batholith has been constructed by continuous amalgamations of successive magma pulses via diking for ~30 m.y., with no large crystallization age gap among the plutons. A magma supply rate of 0.003 m3/year is estimated considering this batholith together with two other nearby composite batholiths of similar age in the PEAL Domain, and low volcanic-plutonic ratio. This rather high magmatic addition rate episode has been probably triggered by extensive and repeated basaltic underplating stalled in the lower crust in the magmatic arc formed during the convergence of the São Francisco craton and the Pernambuco-Alagoas block in the course of the western Gondwana amalgamation.

Translithospheric magma plumbing system of intraplate volcanoes as revealed by electrical resistivity imaging

AbstractThe magma plumbing systems of volcanoes in subduction and divergent tectonic settings are relatively well known, whereas those of intraplate volcanoes remain elusive; robust geophysical information on the magma pathways and storage zones is lacking. We inverted magnetotelluric data to image the magma plumbing system of an intraplate monogenetic volcanic field located above the stagnant Pacific slab in northeast China. We identified a complex, vertically aligned, low-resistivity anomaly system extending from the asthenosphere to the surface consisting of reservoirs with finger- to lens-like geometries. We show that magma forms as CO2-rich melts in a 150-km-deep asthenospheric plume crossing the whole lithosphere as hydrated melt, inducing underplating at 50 km depth, evolving in crustal reservoirs, and erupting along dikes. Intraplate volcanoes are characterized by low degrees of melting and low magma supply rates. Their plumbing systems have a geometry not so different from that of volcanoes in subduction settings.

Insight into the May 2015 summit inflation event at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i

We use ground and space geodetic data to study surface deformation at Kīlauea Volcano from January to September 2015. This period includes an episode of heightened activity in April and May 2015 that culminated in a magmatic intrusion beneath the volcano's summit. The data set consists of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), tilt, visual and seismic time series along with 25 descending and 15 ascending acquisitions of the Sentinel-1 satellite. We identify four different stages of surface deformation and volcanic activity, which we attribute to pressure changes and the movement of magma in response to an imbalance between magma supply and withdrawal in the shallow plumbing system, eventually leading to an intrusion beneath the summit area. In particular, we model the deformation as due to pressure changes in two subsurface magma bodies: the Halema‘uma‘u Reservoir (HMMR) and South Caldera Reservoir (SCR). The SCR was best described by an ellipsoidal source at 2.8 (2.65–3.07 at 95% confidence) km depth below the south caldera region. The HMMR was modeled as a point source located just east of Halema‘uma‘u crater at 1.5 (0.95–2.62) km depth. We suggest that a short-term increase in the magma supply rate to the volcano is a potential mechanisms for the intrusion, although other factors, like the filling of available void space or a reduced efficiency of magma transport through the volcano's East Rift Zone, may also play a role.

Characterization of the 2008 Phreatomagmatic Eruption of Okmok From ArcticDEM and InSAR: Deposition, Erosion, and Deformation

AbstractOkmok volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian Islands, erupted between 12 July and 19 August 2008 and produced a new tephra cone (Ahmanilix) up to 253 m high. A coeruptive deposit thickness map and the posteruptive elevation change rate map are generated for this phreatomagmatic eruption using the new, high‐resolution (2 m) digital elevation model (DEM) time series provided by ArcticDEM. The total dense rock equivalent (DRE) volume over the proximal deposit field classified from the elevation change map is estimated as 0.147 ± 0.001 km3 DRE (bulk volume of 0.453 ± 0.003 km3). Combined with the distal deposit volume derived from field measurements, the total DRE is 0.25 km3 (bulk volume of 0.76 km3). The estimated erosion rate is up to −15 ± 3 m/year along the flanks of Ahmanilix, and the redeposition rate is about 1 ± 0.3 m/year at the base and 6 ± 1 m/year within the center of Ahmanilix. The surface elevation change also reveals a large ground surface collapse that disrupted the old Cone D lava bench, with a total collapse area of 0.15 km2 and a volume of (7.1 ± 0.4) × 10−3 km3. We also produce a coeruptive deformation map from satellite interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) using topography from both ArcticDEM and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and compare the results. Finally, based on historical eruption volumes, the magma supply rate at Okmok is estimated as (1.77 ± 0.1) × 10−3 km3/year.

Changing modes and rates of mafic magma supply at Pantelleria (Sicily Channel, Southern Italy): new perspectives on the volcano factory drawn upon olivine records

AbstractThe island of Pantelleria, located in the Sicily Channel Rift Zone (Italy), has been the site of violent peralkaline silicic magmatism alternating with minor effusive to low-intensity Strombolian eruptions of basaltic composition. The basaltic rock suites exposed on the island were sampled to investigate the plumbing system dynamics through the study of chemical stratigraphy and temporal records of olivine crystals. Our petrographic and geochemical observations, together with the compositional variability of olivine, suggest different evolutionary histories for basaltic magmas erupted over two major periods divided by the ∼45 ka Green Tuff (GT) eruption. Core-to-rim compositional traverses across olivine crystals document different types of zoning. We recognized olivine zones affected by Fo oscillations at very fine scales in the inner cores, rims and/or in intermediate portions of crystals and used them to reconstruct the residence and passage of crystals through different magmatic environments, with P–T–ƒO2 and compositional characteristics constrained by thermodynamic modeling. The sequence of magmatic environments evidenced by olivine zoning indicate that the pre-GT volcanic period was dominated by injection at shallow crustal levels (∼300–200 MPa) of primitive melts, initially moving from a deep storage zone at the crust-mantle boundary. Supply of this magma significantly decreased after the GT eruption, while the dynamics of magma transfer within the upper portion of the plumbing system were greatly enhanced. The diffusive relaxation of olivine zoning provided the timing of storage and migration of a crystal through different environments. For magmas feeding the ancient (>45 ka) basaltic activity we retrieved transfer histories that are much longer (up to ∼3 years) if compared with those calculated for the post-GT basalts (1–9 months). The compositional and temporal dataset presented in this study supports the idea that the GT eruption and the subsequent collapse of the volcanic edifice could have caused major changes to the internal structural setting of Pantelleria, creating more favorable conditions for the migration of magmas in the upper portions of the plumbing system.

Magmatic and tectonic segmentation of the intermediate-spreading Costa Rica Rift—a fine balance between magma supply rate, faulting and hydrothermal circulation

SUMMARY 3-D tomographic modelling of wide-angle seismic data, recorded at the intermediate-spreading Costa Rica Rift, has revealed a P-wave seismic velocity anomaly low located beneath a small overlapping spreading centre that forms a non-transform discontinuity at the ridge axis. This low velocity zone displays a maximum velocity anomaly relative to the ‘background’ ridge axis crustal structure of ∼0.5 km s−1, has lateral dimensions of ∼10 × 5 km, and extends to depths ≥2.5 km below the seabed, placing it within layer 2 of the oceanic crust. We interpret these observations as representing increased fracturing under enhanced tectonic stress associated with the opening of the overlapping spreading centre, that results in higher upper crustal bulk porosity and permeability. Evidence for ongoing magmatic accretion at the Costa Rica Rift ridge axis takes the form of an axial magma lens beneath the western ridge segment, and observations of hydrothermal plume activity and microearthquakes support the presence of an active fluid circulation system. We propose that fracture pathways associated with the low velocity zone may provide the system through which hydrothermal fluids circulate. These fluids cause rapid cooling of the adjacent ridge axis and any magma accumulations which may be present. The Costa Rica Rift exists at a tipping point between episodic phases of magmatic and tectonically enhanced spreading. The characteristics inherited from each spreading mode have been preserved in the crustal morphology off-axis for the past 7 Myr. Using potential field data, we contextualize our seismic observations of the axial ridge structure at the whole segment scale, and find that the proposed balance between magmatic and tectonically dominated spreading processes observed off-axis may also be apparent along-axis, and that the current larger-scale magma supply system at the Costa Rica Rift may be relatively weak. Based on all available geophysical observations, we suggest a model for the inter-relationships between magmatism, faulting and fluid circulation at the Costa Rica Rift across a range of scales, which may also be influenced by large lithosphere scale structural and/or thermal heterogeneity.

Controls on the explosive emplacement of diamondiferous kimberlites: New insights from hypabyssal and pyroclastic units in the Diavik mine, Canada

Kimberlites are mantle-derived magmas that either crystallise as hypabyssal intrusions, erupt explosively after rapid ascent to the surface, or less commonly form lava lakes and flows, thereby creating texturally distinct kimberlite units. Efforts to fully understand the processes responsible for the explosive eruption of kimberlite magmas have been hindered by the widespread alteration and crustal contamination of most volcaniclastic kimberlites. To address this issue, we have undertaken a detailed petrographic and mineral chemical study of fresh (i.e. minimally altered) pyroclastic and hypabyssal kimberlites (HK) from the ca. 55-56 Ma A154 North and South kimberlite pipes in the Diavik Mine (Lac de Gras, Canada). These localities host exceptionally fresh kimberlites and are therefore ideally suited to this study.Kimberlite emplacement at A154 North and South initiated with the intrusion of hypabyssal kimberlite (external dykes), and was followed by the explosive formation of kimberlite pipes and volcaniclastic kimberlite infill. Subsequent kimberlite magmas intruded the volcaniclastic kimberlite units forming multiple cross-cutting, internal dykes. The studied volcaniclastic units feature abundant rounded magmaclasts and massive textures, suggestive of primary deposits. These units are classified as pyroclastic kimberlites (PK).Pyroclastic and hypabyssal kimberlite units at Diavik exhibit subtle mineral compositional differences. Samples from both internal HK units and PK units feature identical compositions for liquidus olivine rims (Mg# = 90.5 ± 0.1 and 90.7 ± 0.2, respectively), with a marginally lower Mg# of 90.2 ± 0.2 in olivine rims from the external HK dykes. Similarly, early-formed chromite compositions are the same for internal HK and PK units (Cr# = 79.1 ± 3.4 and 78.3 ± 5.7; Mg# = 60.0 ± 1.3 and 60.0 ± 2.2), but, differ in the external HK units (Cr# = 86.9 ± 2.7; Mg# = 52.8 ± 1.9). The internal HK and PK units also exhibit lower carbonate contents than the internal HK units. These compositional differences indicate that the external dykes were probably derived from slightly different primitive melt compositions to those parental to the internal HK and PK units. Spinel evolutionary trends from chromite to magnesian ulvӧspinel-magnetite (MUM) compositions are indistinguishable in internal HK and PK samples (Fe3+# = 47.2 ± 5.8 and 49.7 ± 9.3; Cr# = 25.7 ± 11.0 and 17.0 ± 14.0). These results demonstrate that the primitive melt compositions and early magmatic evolution processes are identical for the internal kimberlite units, regardless of whether the kimberlite melts erupted explosively or were emplaced as shallow intrusions. However, magmaclasts in the PK units contain higher abundances of phlogopite (<52 vol. %) and lower quantities of carbonate (<4 vol. %) than the groundmass of the hypabyssal kimberlite samples (<2 vol. % and 25–65 vol. %, respectively). This indicates that the explosively erupted magmas featured higher H2O/CO2 ratios. In contrast, abundant carbonates, including dolomite, in the internal HK samples indicate that CO2, and therefore low H2O/CO2 ratios, were retained during the emplacement of this magma, which likely prevented phlogopite crystallisation. Lower K and Rb whole-rock compositions for internal HK samples compared to PK samples, are attributed to the removal of these components in late-stage kimberlitic fluids, as indicated by hydrothermal alteration of the adjacent volcaniclastic kimberlite units. The above results clearly rule out variations in primitive melt composition and melt evolution trajectories as a primary control on the explosive behaviour of the kimberlite magmas at Diavik. Controls on kimberlite explosivity at Diavik are likely due to external factors, such as local stress regimes, the availability of groundwater (i.e. phreatomagmatism) and differing magma supply rates.

Post‐Collapse Gravity Increase at the Summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaiʻi

AbstractWe conducted gravity surveys of the summit area of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaiʻi, in November 2018 and March 2019, with the goal of determining whether there was any mass change at depth following the volcano's May–August 2018 caldera collapse. Surface deformation between the two surveys was minimal, but we measured a gravity increase (maximum 44 μGal) centered on the caldera that can be modeled as mass accumulation in a region ~1 km beneath the surface. We interpret this mass increase to be mostly magma accumulation in void space that was created during the summit collapse. Caldera uplift was evident by April 2019, indicating that the magma volume had reached a point where pressurization could be sustained. Modeled gravity change suggests a maximum magma storage rate at Kīlauea's summit during November 2018 to March 2019 that is much less than the pre‐2018 magma supply rate to the volcano.

Magma Flow Rates and Temporal Evolution of the 2012–2014 Post‐Eruptive Intrusions at El Hierro, Canary Islands

AbstractThe 2011–2014 volcanic activity at El Hierro (Canary Islands) was characterized by a 5‐month long submarine eruption as well as a series of magmatic intrusions occurring between 5 months and 2 years after the eruption, as revealed by seismic swarms and ground deformation. We study the temporal evolution of the six post‐eruptive magmatic intrusions, using Global Navigation Satellite System and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar observations complemented with relocated earthquakes. Magma volumes and magma supply rates are determined from inversion of the geodetic data using a Bayesian approach. The intrusions last between ~3 and 20 days and are inferred to be sill‐like, thin compared with their lateral extent and emplaced in the ~13–16 km depth range. Initial magma flow rates of ~300 m3/s decay exponentially with time. The two largest intrusions occurred in June–July 2012 and March–April 2013. During each of these events, magma migrated laterally, and &gt;120 ×106 m3 of magma was intruded beneath the island. The shortest events, &lt;1 week‐long, intruded ~(24hyphen;44) ×106 m3 of magma beneath the volcano. We suggest that all intrusions originated from an overpressure in a deep magma body located beneath the center of El Hierro. The crust/mantle boundary and the previous intrusion that fed the 2011–2012 submarine eruption may have discouraged the ascent of the post‐eruptive intrusions to the surface and forced them to migrate laterally away from the island as sill‐like sources.

Recent Eruptions Between 2012 and 2018 Discovered at West Mata Submarine Volcano (NE Lau Basin, SW Pacific) and Characterized by New Ship, AUV, and ROV Data

West Mata is a submarine volcano located in the SW Pacific Ocean between Fiji and Samoa in the NE Lau Basin. West Mata was discovered to be actively erupting at its summit in September 2008 and May 2009. Water-column chemistry and hydrophone data suggest it was probably continuously active until early 2011. Subsequent repeated bathymetric surveys of West Mata have shown that it changed to a style of frequent but intermittent eruptions away from the summit since then. We present new data from ship-based bathymetric surveys, high-resolution bathymetry from an autonomous underwater vehicle, and observations from remotely operated vehicle dives that document four additional eruptions between 2012-2018. Three of those eruptions occurred between September 2012 and March 2016; one near the summit on the upper ENE rift, a second on the NE flank away from any rift zone, and a third at the NE base of the volcano. The latter intruded a sill into a basin with thick sediments, uplifted them, and then extruded lava onto the seafloor around them. The most recent of the four eruptions occurred between March 2016 and November 2017 along the middle ENE rift zone and produced pillow lava flows with a shingled morphology and tephra as well as clastic debris that mantled the SE slope. ROV dive observations show that the shallower recent eruptions at West Mata include a substantial pyroclastic component, based on thick (>1m) tephra deposits near eruptive vents. The deepest eruption sites lack these near-vent tephra deposits, suggesting that pyroclastic activity is minimal below ~2500 mbsl. The multibeam sonar re-surveys constrain the timing, thickness, area, morphology, and volume of the new eruptions. The cumulative erupted volume since 1996 suggests that eruptions at West Mata are volume-predictable with an average eruption rate of 7.8 x 106 m3/yr. This relatively low magma supply rate and the high frequency of eruptions (every 1-2 years) suggests that the magma reservoir at West Mata is relatively small. With its frequent activity, West Mata continues to be an ideal natural laboratory for the study of submarine volcanic eruptions.

Deformations and Morphology Changes Associated with the 2016–2017 Eruption Sequence at Bezymianny Volcano, Kamchatka

Lava domes grow by extrusions and intrusions of viscous magma often initiating from a central volcanic vent, and they are frequently defining the source region of hazardous explosive eruptions and pyroclastic density currents. Thus, close monitoring of dome building processes is crucial, but often limited to low data resolution, hazardous access, and poor visibility. Here, we investigated the 2016–2017 eruptive sequence of the dome building Bezymianny volcano, Kamchatka, with spot-mode TerraSAR-X acquisitions, and complement the analysis with webcam imagery and seismic data. Our results reveal clear morphometric changes preceding eruptions that are associated with intrusions and extrusions. Pixel offset measurements show &gt;7 months of precursory plug extrusion, being locally defined and exceeding 30 m of deformation, chiefly without detected seismicity. After a short explosion, three months of lava dome evolution were characterised by extrusions and intrusion. Our data suggest that the growth mechanisms were significantly governed by magma supply rate and shallow upper conduit solidification that deflected magmatic intrusions into the uppermost parts of the dome. The integrated approach contributes significantly to a better understanding of precursory activity and complex growth interactions at dome building volcanoes, and shows that intrusive and extrusive growth is acting in chorus at Bezymianny volcano.

Explosive summit collapse of Kīlauea Volcano in 1924 preceded by a decade of crustal contamination and anomalous Pb isotope ratios

Abstract A geochemical time-series analysis of lavas from frequently active basaltic volcanoes has the potential to reveal the enigmatic mantle controls on volcanic behavior and hazards. In May 1924, the century-long lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu pit crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano drained and the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu collapsed, triggering ∼3 weeks of phreatic explosions due to the interaction of groundwater with hot rock. For the next three decades, eruptions at Kīlauea were sporadic (the longest hiatus was from 1934 to 1952), small in volume, and short (typically 10 km). The Pb isotopic heterogeneity of the samples on short length (hand specimen to lava flow) and time (∼1–4 yr) scales can be explained by inefficient mixing as small batches of contaminated magma were delivered to the remnants of Kīlauea’s summit magma storage reservoir. Our results confirm that the Pb isotope ratios of basalts from ocean-island volcanoes may be significantly modified by assimilation of materials from the underlying oceanic crust. In particular, the 207Pb/204Pb ratio may be a sensitive tracer of such crustal contamination at Hawaiian shield volcanoes. Mauna Loa lavas display a factor of ∼5 more scatter towards higher 207Pb/204Pb at a given 206Pb/204Pb ratio than most Kīlauea lavas (excluding the samples from 1912 to 1954). This might be caused by more pervasive crustal contamination at Mauna Loa due to its lower magma supply rate over the last ∼4 kyr.

Rate of Magma Supply Beneath Mammoth Mountain, California, Based on Helium Isotopes and CO2 Emissions

AbstractMammoth Mountain, California, has exhibited unrest over the past ~30 years, characterized by seismicity over a broad range of depths, elevated 3He/4He ratios in fumarolic gas, and large‐scale diffuse CO2 emissions. This activity has been attributed to magmatic intrusion, but minimal ground deformation and the presence of a shallow crustal gas reservoir beneath Mammoth Mountain pose a challenge for estimating magma supply rate. Here, we use the record of fumarolic 3He/4He ratios and CO2 emissions to estimate that of the ~5.2 Mt of CO2 released from Mammoth Mountain between 1989 and 2016, 1.6 Mt was associated with active intrusion and degassing of ~0.05–0.07 km3 of basaltic magma. Intrusion at an average rate of ~0.002–0.003 km3/year into a postulated zone of partial melt at ~15‐km depth could occur without detection by local Global Navigation Satellite System stations.

Magma interactions, crystal mush formation, timescales, and unrest during caldera collapse and lateral eruption at ocean island basaltic volcanoes (Piton de la Fournaise, La Réunion)

The dynamics of magmatic processes at large mafic ocean island volcanoes control the likely locations (central caldera versus flanks) and timing of their eruptions. Crystals and their melt inclusions are key witnesses of these processes but are rarely studied in detail and in the same samples. Here we report the crystal and melt inclusion compositions of the April 2007 caldera-forming eruption of Piton de la Fournaise volcano and discuss how they relate to geophysical unrest monitoring data. Olivine crystals show mainly normal zoning (decrease in Mg/Fe) towards the rims, and also around some melt inclusions. Many crystals also show fine-scale skeletal structures defined by high phosphorus concentrations. Melt inclusions contain 53–205 ppm CO2 and 0.25–1.1 wt% H2O, and δD (δD values expressed as δDVSMOW) ranges from −135 to 62‰. Monitoring data show that inflation of the edifice started about a month before the first 2007 eruption: magma intrusion occurred at ≈3 km below sea level, and quickly migrated towards shallower depths (about 1 km above sea level). Such a time frame of magma movement is recorded in the chemical zoning of the olivine crystals that massively and quickly crystallized when reaching shallow depth, without significant interactions between resident and intruding magmas. The intrusion was followed by lateral flank eruption and caldera collapse. The chemical zoning of the olivine crystal rims and around the melt inclusions indicates that the newly created crystal-mush moved laterally towards the surface in matter of days to 3 months. Post-caldera samples show significant H+ loss, likely due to the depressurization of the magmatic system stored at shallow level. Our findings are different from other mafic ocean island volcanoes or stratovolcanoes (e.g. Kilauea, Canary Islands, and Etna), where crystals commonly record magma mixing between evolved and shallow melts and intruding mafic melts. We speculate that the difference between our findings and those of similar mafic ocean island volcanoes is due to the variety of magma supply rates from depth.

Autopsy of an eruptive phase of Tungurahua volcano (Ecuador) through coupling of seismo-acoustic and SO2 recordings with ash characteristics

Eruption style and dynamics are controlled by various parameters including magma supply rate, magma viscosity, volatile content, and the permeability of the conduit. Rapid changes of these parameters can significantly modify the hazards associated to the eruption processes and understanding their relationship with multiparametric geophysical monitoring data can greatly improve our forecasting capacities. From 2008 to 2016, volcanic activity at Tungurahua was characterized by eruptive phases separated by episodes of quiescence. These phases displayed great variability of eruptive patterns including Vulcanian and Strombolian explosions, low pyroclastic fountaining, continuous or sporadic ash emissions and passive degassing. We use the comparison between geophysical data (seismic, acoustic and SO2 emission), recorded by permanent monitoring networks, and the characteristics of the emitted ash to track changes in eruption dynamics during an eruptive phase that lasted from late December 2009 to March 2010. We show that the correlation between the analyzed parameters allows imaging and interpretation of the conditions at the vent. At Tungurahua, these conditions can rapidly change at the time scale of a single eruptive phase, corresponding to various degrees of opening, plugging and permeability of the conduit. Two magma intrusions could be identified during a single eruptive phase showing transitions between violent Strombolian and Vulcanian activity. Changes in the componentry of the analyzed ash samples, together with the geophysical data, nicely highlight these evolutions. Studying these parameters simultaneously provides a unique insight into the physical processes controlling superficial volcanic activity and offers a potential tool for better understanding volcanoes and detecting changes in their activity. The joint interpretation of multiparametric data which we propose is potentially applicable to multiple andesitic volcanoes.

A review of controls on lava lake level: insights from Halema‘uma‘u Crater, Kīlauea Volcano

The height of the lava column is a fundamental measure of open-vent volcanic activity, but little continuous long-term data exist to understand this parameter. The recent (2008–2018) lava lake activity at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano provides an opportunity to track and understand the processes that control lava level over timescales ranging from minutes to years. We review recently published data as well as analyze the long-term record of lava level at Kīlauea’s summit during 2009–2017. Longer timescale fluctuations, over days to months, have a strong positive linear correlation with ground deformation, suggesting they reflect pressure changes in the summit magma reservoir. Shorter timescale fluctuations, over minutes to hours, have an inverse relationship with spattering (i.e., outgassing) intensity at the lake surface—increased outgassing lowers the lake level and vice versa. Our analysis of the long-term lava level data thus confirms that lava level at Halema‘uma‘u is controlled by these two types of processes: (1) those related to magma reservoir pressure changes (such as magma supply rate) and (2) shallow outgassing fluctuations (such as gas pistoning). Frequency filtering can isolate pressure- and outgassing-driven components of lava level change. Time series analysis indicates that there was no large, persistent periodicity in the lava level; a minor fortnightly oscillation might be related to Earth tides but was not continuously present. The correlation between lava level and deformation of the summit indicates that the lava lake acts as a reliable “piezometer”; tracking lava level over time may thus provide an indication of flank eruptive potential. We show that long-term interdisciplinary monitoring is necessary to discriminate the processes that control lava level.

Eruptions in sync: Improved constraints on Kīlauea Volcano's hydraulic connection

Kīlauea Volcano is an archetype for the complex interactions that can occur between a volcano's summit and flanks. Decades of monitoring at Kīlauea have demonstrated that magma rises beneath the summit and flows laterally at shallow depths to erupt along the rift zones. Kīlauea's recent eruptions at Halema‘uma‘u and Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō mark the first time in the historic record that long-term (>1 year) eruptions have been concurrent at the summit and a rift zone, offering a new opportunity to improve our understanding of the relationship between these two segments of the magmatic system. While magma supply rate beneath the summit has been shown in previous studies to be a primary control on magmatic system pressure and eruptive activity, the role of the eruptive vent has been less clear. Our study shows that a dynamic equilibrium is maintained between Kīlauea's summit and East Rift Zone (ERZ) eruptive vent—and lava lake level fluctuations are closely coupled at the two eruption sites—providing new constraints on the hydraulic connection and ERZ conduit. We show that localized changes at the ERZ eruption site during 2010–2011 regulated summit behavior in an uprift direction over distances of ∼20 km. Changes in the elevation and efficiency of the ERZ vent affect pressure in Kīlauea's magmatic system and impact summit behavior. Thus, the hydraulic connection between the summit and rift zone is a “two-way street” that transmits both downrift- and uprift-directed changes. Our results support recent work at other volcanoes that shows a complex interplay between a volcano's summit reservoir and flank conduit during flank eruptions, and suggest that explosive summit activity may in some cases be triggered by changes far away on a volcano's rift. These concepts were reinforced by the historic eruptive activity on Kīlauea that occurred during May–August 2018, when the manuscript was being revised.