Imaging the dynamics of magma propagation using radiated seismic intensity.

International audienceAt shallow depth beneath the Earth's surface, magma propagates through strongly heterogeneous volcanic material. Inversion of buoyancy and/or solidification have strong impacts on the dynamics of propagation without any change of magma supply. In this paper, we study the spatial and time evolution of magma intrusions using induced seismicity. We propose a new method based on ratio analysis of estimates of radiated seismic intensities recorded at different stations during seismic swarms. By applying this method to the January 2010 Piton de la Fournaise volcano eruption, we image complex dike propagation dynamics which strongly differ from a model of constant velocity dike propagation. We provide a new method to image in real time the dynamics of dike propagation and to infer the position of eruptive fissures

Basaltic calderas: Collapse dynamics, edifice deformation, and variations of magma withdrawal

International audienceThe incremental caldera collapses of Fernandina (1968), Miyakejima (2000), and Piton de la Fournaise (2007) are analyzed in order to understand the collapse dynamics in basaltic setting and the associated edifice deformation. For each caldera, the collapse dynamics is assessed through the evolution of the (1) time interval T between two successive collapse increments, (2) amount of vertical displacement during each collapse increment, and (3) magma outflow rate during the whole collapse caldera process. We show from the evolution of T that Piton de la Fournaise and Fernandina were characterized by a similar collapse dynamics, despite large differences in the caldera geometry and the duration of the whole collapse caldera process. This evolution significantly differs from that of Miyakejima where T strongly fluctuated throughout the whole collapse process. Quantification of the piston vertical displacements enables us to determine the magma outflow rates between each collapse increment. Displacement data (tiltmeter and/or GPS) for Piton de la Fournaise and Miyakejima are used to constrain the edifice overall deformation and the edifice deformation rates. These data reveal that both volcanoes experienced edifice inflation once the piston collapsed into the magma chamber. Such a deformation, which lasts during the first collapse increments only, is interpreted as the result of larger volume of piston intruded in the magma chamber than magma withdrawn before each collapse increment. Once the effect of the collapsing rock column vanishes, edifice deflates. We also determine for each caldera the critical amount of magma evacuated before collapse initiation and compare it to analog models. The significant differences between models and nature are explained by the occurrence of preexisting weak zones in nature, i.e., the ring faults, that are not taken into account in analog models. Finally, we show that T at Piton de la Fournaise and Fernandina was equally controlled by the frictional resistance along the ring faults and the magma outflow rate. In addition to these two parameters, the collapse dynamics of Miyakejima was also influenced by variations of the magma bulk modulus, which changed after the influx of deep gas-rich magma into the collapse-related magma chamber. Altogether, our results show that the dynamics of caldera collapse in basaltic volcanoes proceeds in two phases: Phase 1, starting with the first collapse, is characterized by the largest collapse amplitude, an incremental edifice inflation, and a step-by-step increase of the rate of magma outflow. Phase 2 shows a rapid decrease of the magma discharge rate to a low level concomitant with the continuous edifice deflation. If deep magma is injected into the magma chamber, as at Miyakejima, an additional phase occurs (phase 3)

Monitoring volcanoes using seismic noise correlations Surveillance des volcans à partir du bruit de fond sismique

International audienceIn this article, we summarize some recent results of measurements of temporal changes of active volcanoes using seismic noise cross-correlations. We first present a novel approach to estimate volcano interior temporal seismic velocity changes. The proposed method allows to measure very small velocity changes (≈ 0.1%) with a time resolution as small as one day. The application of that method to Piton de la Fournaise Volcano (La Réunion Island) shows velocity decreases preceding eruptions. Moreover, velocity changes from noise cross-correlations over 10 years allow to detect transient velocity changes that could be due to long-lasting intrusions of magma without eruptive activity or to pressure buildup associated to the replenishing of the magma reservoir. We also present preliminary results of noise cross-correlation waveform perturbation associated with the occurrence of dike injection and volcanic eruption. We show that such an analysis leads us to locate the areas of dike injection and eruptive fissures at Piton de la Fournaise Volcano. These recent results suggest that monitoring volcanoes using seismic noise correlations should improve our ability to forecast eruptions, their intensity and thus potential environmental impact

Dynamics of the 2007 Eruptions of Piton de la Fournaise and the Related Caldera Collapse from a Single Very Broad-band Seismic Station

International audienceSeismic records from the RER very broad-band seismic station (La Réunion Island) belonging to the GEOSCOPE network are investigated to understand the eruptive succession (February to May) of Piton de la Fournaise and the caldera collapse episode of April 2007. Data first indicate that the short-lived, small volume, summit eruption of February 18 occurred during a phase of continuous inflation initiated in January 2007. Inflation decelerated around 2 weeks before a second short-lived small volume eruption on March 30-31 on the SE flank, almost simultaneous with a sudden, large deflation of the edifice. Deflation rate, which had stabilized at a relatively low level, increased anew on April 1 while no magma was emitted, followed on April 2 by a more distant and one of the most voluminous eruptions of the last two centuries at La Réunion Island. The RER station shows that very long period (VLP) and ultra long period (ULP) events developed during this period. Seven ULP events preceded the caldera collapse and 48 ones occurred during the caldera collapse over 9 days, most of which during the first 30 hours. A thorough examination of the seismic signals corrected for tide effects shows that each collapse event was coeval with VLP and ULP signals. Each individual collapse showed similar ULP and VLP signals characterized by periods of ∼ 500 s and ∼ 7 s, respectively. The back-azimuth of most ULP signals related to the caldera collapse points clearly toward the Dolomieu caldera. The strikingly constant duration of the VLP signals (around 20 s) related to the collapse events and their occurrence before the collapse initiation suggest a physical control of the volcanic edifice. Waveforms and spectrograms of the various caldera collapse events show very homogeneous patterns, suggesting a similar and repeating volcano-tectonic process for the formation of the VLP signals events. Although tilt may be responsible of part of the ULP signals observed during the collapse events, we show that it cannot explain most of the records. The ULP signals occurring during the collapse and also recorded by the OVPF GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) permanent network likely correspond to relaxation of the volcanic edifice. This analysis allows us to propose a scenario that may explain each successive collapse event as starting with a short-period event induced by the rock failure, followed by a VLP signal induced by dip-slip motion on the caldera ring fault, and ending with a ULP signal likely related to a relaxation process of the edifice

Automatic detection for a comprehensive view of Mayotte seismicity

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Toward Forecasting Volcanic Eruptions using Seismic Noise

During inter-eruption periods, magma pressurization yields subtle changes of the elastic properties of volcanic edifices. We use the reproducibility properties of the ambient seismic noise recorded on the Piton de la Fournaise volcano to measure relative seismic velocity variations of less than 0.1 % with a temporal resolution of one day. Our results show that five studied volcanic eruptions were preceded by clearly detectable seismic velocity decreases within the zone of magma injection. These precursors reflect the edifice dilatation induced by magma pressurization and can be useful indicators to improve the forecasting of volcanic eruptions.Comment: Supplementary information: http://www-lgit.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr/~fbrengui/brenguier_SI.pdf Supplementary video: http://www-lgit.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr/~fbrengui/brenguierMovieVolcano.av

Single station Monitoring of Volcanoes Using Seismic ambient noise

Seismic ambient noise cross correlation is increasingly used to monitor volcanic activity. However, this method is usually limited to volcanoes equipped with large and dense networks of broadband stations. The single station approach may provide a powerful and reliable alternative to the classical “cross-stations” approach when measuring variation of seismic velocities. We implemented it on the Piton de la Fournaise in Reunion Island, a very active volcano with a remarkable multi-disciplinary continuous monitoring. Over the past decade, this volcano was increasingly studied using the traditional cross-correlation technique and therefore represents a unique laboratory to validate our approach. Our results, tested on stations located up to 3.5 km from the eruptive site, performed as well as the classical approach to detect the volcanic eruption in the 1-2 Hz frequency band. This opens new perspectives to successfully forecast volcanic activity at volcanoes equipped with a single 3-component seismometer