Preliminary study results of crustal structure beneath Mount Merapi, Central Java, Indonesia

International audienceIn this study, we put an effort to estimate crustal depth and image crustal structure beneath Merapi volcano by employing multicomponent analysis popularly known as Receiver Function technique. We collected a series of waveforms from teleseismic events recorded from October 2013 to mid-April 2015 at 53 stations as a part of DOMERAPI project. We processed selected seismograms by simple deconvolution process between radial and vertical components to estimate the depth of Moho discontinuity beneath the volcano. Current results show complex structure beneath the volcano and a relatively potential Moho depth at about 30 km, which becomes shallower to the North at about 23 km. Stations located at Southern and Northern area show potential low velocity zone though a velocity modelling is necessary to confirm its depth and how low the velocity is

Broad-band ambient noise characterization by joint use of cross-correlation and MUSIC algorithm

International audienceSeveral days of passive seismic broad-band recordings (vertical component) from a dense 3 × 6 km array installed near Chémery (France), with about 100 seismometers, are analysed for wavefield characterization between 0.1 and 3 Hz. Backazimuth is determined by using the Multiple Signal Characterization (MUSIC) algorithm at frequencies below 1 Hz, and non-coherent cross-correlation beamforming above 1 Hz, since the latter is less sensitive to aliasing issues. A novel method of determining the wavefield velocity is introduced, consisting of processing a cross-correlation common-offset gather by the MUSIC algorithm. The fundamental and three higher modes of Rayleigh waves (R0, R1, R2 and R3) are identified under 1 Hz. Above 1.5 Hz, the Lg phase is detected, while R0 and R1 are also present. Roughly between 1 and 1.5 Hz, a quicker phase, probably Pg, is detected. Both Pg and Lg are dominant during night time, suggesting they have a natural origin, which is also consistent with their backazimuth pointing towards the Atlantic. Large scale 2-D spectral-element simulations using deep- and shallow-water ocean sources confirm the possibility of the Lg phase excitation. Thus, even above 1 Hz, natural sources can explain the major part of the ambient noise energy during quiet time periods

Crustal thickness beneath Mt. Merapi and Mt. Merbabu, Central Java, Indonesia, inferred from receiver function analysis

In this study, we analysed 2708 receiver functions (RFs) using data recorded by 53 seismographic stations that surround Mt. Merapi and Mt. Merbabu – two volcanos in Central Java - to map the boundary between Earth's crust and upper mantle. We observe that a number of RFs from this new dataset have complex signals and do not exhibit typical RF characteristics; in particular, where the converted Ps signal from the Moho discontinuity is the clearest and strongest amplitude arrival following the P onset. This effect may be related to complex shallow velocity structure due to the presence of magmatic rocks and sediments. Further analysis of the RF results using the H-κ method suggests that Moho depth varies between 27 and 32 km beneath the array, with no apparent correlation between crustal thickness and surface topography, as one might expect from Airy isostacy. For instance, the Moho is quite shallow beneath Mt. Merapi (up to 27 km depth), despite its elevation of nearly 3 km. This may be a consequence of dynamic support from an active upper mantle coupled with erosion and/or weakening of the lower crust due to the active volcanic plumbing system. To the north of Mt. Merapi, the Moho is deeper (30–31 km depth) below Mt. Merbabu. Vp/Vs ratio estimates from the H-κ method are relatively high (~1.9) beneath the Mt. Merapi and Kendeng Basin area, which may indicate the presence of a zone of hydrous and active partial melting in the underlying crust. Lower Vp/Vs ratios (~1.7) are found beneath Mt. Merbabu, which may be due to its relative lack of volcanic activity compared to Mt. Merapi

Short term forecasting of explosions at Ubinas volcano, Peru

Most seismic eruption forerunners are described using Volcano-Tectonic earthquakes, seismic energy release, deformation rates or seismic noise analyses. Using the seismic data recorded at Ubinas volcano (Peru) between 2006 and 2008, we explore the time evolution of the Long Period (LP) seismicity rate prior to 143 explosions. We resolve an average acceleration of the LP rate above the background level during the 2-3 hours preceding the explosion onset. Such an average pattern, which emerges when stacking over LP time series, is robust and stable over all the 2006-2008 period, for which data is available. This accelerating pattern is also recovered when conditioning the LP rate on the occurrence of an other LP event, rather than on the explosion time. It supports a common mechanism for the generation of explosions and LP events, the magma conduit pressure increase being the most probable candidate. The average LP rate acceleration toward an explosion is highly significant prior to the higher energy explosions, supposedly the ones associated with the larger pressure increases. The dramatic decay of the LP activity following explosions, still reinforce the strong relationship between these two processes. We test and we quantify the retrospective forecasting power of these LP rate patterns to predict Ubinas explosions. The prediction quality of the forecasts (e.g. for 17% of alarm time, we predict 63% of Ubinas explosions, with 58% of false alarms) is evaluated using error diagrams. The prediction results are stable and the prediction algorithm validated, i.e. its performance is better than the random guess

Source Mechanism of Long Period events recorded by a high density seismic network during the 2008 eruption on Mt Etna

129 Long Period (LP) events, divided in two families were recorded by 50 stations deployed on Mount Etna within an eruptive context in the second half of June 2008. In order to understand the mechanisms of these events, we perform moment tensor inversion. 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 uncertainities in the velocity model. These tests emphasize the importance of using stations located as close as possible to the source in the inversion of LP events. Inversion of LP signals is initially unconstrained, in order to estimate the most likely mechanism. Constrained inversions then allow us to accurately determine the structural orientations of the mechanisms. Inversions for both families show mechanisms with strong volumetric components. These events are generated by cracks striking SW-NE for both families and dipping 70± SE (fam. 1) and 50± NW (fam. 2). The geometries of the cracks are different from the structures obtained by the location of these events. The orientation of the cracks is consistent with the local tectonic context on Mount Etna. The LP events seem to be a response to the lava fountain occuring on the 10th of May, 2008.In press(38)1.4. TTC - Sorveglianza sismologica delle aree vulcaniche attive3.1. Fisica dei terremotiJCR Journalope

Highly explosive 2010 Merapi eruption : evidence for shallow-level crustal assimilation and hybrid fluid

The processes responsible for the highly explosive events at Merapi, Central Java, Indonesia have been investigated through a petrological, mineralogical and geochemical study of the first-stage tephra and pyroclastic flows sampled in October and November 2010, and second-stage ash sampled shortly after the 5-6th November 2010 paroxysmal subplinian eruption. Several chemical and physical parameters suggest that the magma assimilated calc-silicate xenoliths derived from the surrounding carbonate-bearing crust (Javanese limestone). The bulk volcanic samples have highly radiogenic Sr-87/Sr-86 (0.70571-0.70598) ratios that approach the compositional field of material similar to the calc-silicate xenoliths. The 2010 plagioclase phenocrysts from the pyroclastic flow and tephra reveal anorthite cores (up to An(94-97)) with low FeO contents (<= 0.8 wt.%), and O-18 enrichment (6.5 parts per thousand delta O-18). The major and trace elements of the silicic glasses and phenocrysts (plagioclase, low-Al augite and titanomagnetite), the Sr-isotopic compositions of the bulk samples and plagioclases erupted in 2010 can be explained by complete digestion of the 1998 and 2006 calc-silicate xenoliths. The bulk assimilation proceeded through binary mixing between a calcic melt (representing Crustal Assimilant, CaO up to 10.5 wt.% and CaO/Al2O3 up to 1.2) and the deep source hydrous K-rich melt Similarly to the 1998 and 2006 calc-silicate xenolith composition, the 2010 Crustal Assimilant is enriched in Mn (MnO up to 0.5 wt.%), Zn, V, and Sc contents. In contrast, the hydrous K-rich melt is enriched in volatiles (Cl up to 0.37 wt.% and bulk H2O + CO2 up to 5 1 wt.%), Al2O3, TiO2 and REE contents, consistent with its derivation from deep source. This hydrous K-rich melt may have been saturated with an aqueous Cl-rich fluid at about 200 MPa, a pressure consistent with the level of the crustal assimilation. We estimated that the pre-eruptive basaltic andesite magma assimilated from 15 to 40 wt.% of the calc-silicate crustal material, corresponding to introduction of additional 0.19 to 2.1 Mt of CO2 to the magma. Experimental leaching of the ash samples documents the release of an aqueous fluid enriched in Cl, Na, Ca, Cd, Sb and Zn during the paroxysmal subplinian eruption. The paroxysmal eruption may have been produced by saturation of the pre-eruptive basaltic andesite magma with hybrid aqueous carbonic NaCl-HCl-rich fluid due to bulk assimilation creating elevated partial pressure of CO2 at shallow crustal conditions of about 200 MPa. In contrast, mildly explosive block-and-ash flows (typical Merapi-type) may result from selective assimilation of the carbonate-bearing xenoliths and lower CO2 partial pressure that may not lead to explosive degassing

Seismic imaging and petrology explain highly explosive eruptions of Merapi Volcano, Indonesia

Abstract Our seismic tomographic images characterize, for the first time, spatial and volumetric details of the subvertical magma plumbing system of Merapi Volcano. We present P- and S-wave arrival time data, which were collected in a dense seismic network, known as DOMERAPI, installed around the volcano for 18 months. The P- and S-wave arrival time data with similar path coverage reveal a high Vp/Vs structure extending from a depth of ≥20 km below mean sea level (MSL) up to the summit of the volcano. Combined with results of petrological studies, our seismic tomography data allow us to propose: (1) the existence of a shallow zone of intense fluid percolation, directly below the summit of the volcano; (2) a main, pre-eruptive magma reservoir at ≥ 10 to 20 km below MSL that is orders of magnitude larger than erupted magma volumes; (3) a deep magma reservoir at MOHO depth which supplies the main reservoir; and (4) an extensive, subvertical fluid-magma-transfer zone from the mantle to the surface. Such high-resolution spatial constraints on the volcano plumbing system as shown are an important advance in our ability to forecast and to mitigate the hazard potential of Merapi’s future eruptions