Unrest at Domuyo Volcano, Argentina, detected by geophysical and geodetic data and morphometric analysis

New volcanic unrest has been detected in the Domuyo Volcanic Center (DVC), to the east of the Andes Southern Volcanic Zone in Argentina. To better understand this activity, we investigated new seismic monitoring data, gravimetric and magnetic campaign data, and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) deformation maps, and we derived an image of the magma plumbing system and the likely source of the unrest episode. Seismic events recorded during 2017-2018 nucleate beneath the southwestern flank of the DVC. Ground deformation maps derived from InSAR processing of Sentinel-1 data exhibit an inflation area exceeding 300 km2, from 2014 to at least March 2018, which can be explained by an inflating sill model located 7 km deep. The Bouguer anomaly reveals a negative density contrast of ~35 km wavelength, which is spatially coincident with the InSAR pattern. Our 3D density modeling suggests a body approximately 4-6 km deep with a density contrast of -550 kg/m3. Therefore, the geophysical and geodetic data allow identification of the plumbing system that is subject to inflation at these shallow crustal depths. We compared the presence and dimensions of the inferred doming area to the drainage patterns of the area, which support long-established incremental uplift according to morphometric analysis. Future studies will allow us to investigate further whether the new unrest is hydrothermal or magmatic in origin.Fil: Astort, Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; ArgentinaFil: Walter, Thomas R. German Research Centre for Geosciences; AlemaniaFil: Ruiz, Francisco. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; ArgentinaFil: Sagripanti, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; ArgentinaFil: Nacif, Andres Antonio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Gemma. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Folguera Telichevsky, Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentin

Sudden alteration in the seismic behavior of the Domuyo volcanic complex in the southern volcanic backarc zone, Argentina

The Domuyo volcanic complex (DVC) and its geothermal field in the retroarc zone of the southern Central Andes of Argentina present reduced seismicity according to different catalogs (USGS and INPRES). However, in 2015/2016, a local project was carried out in the area to describe its seismo-volcanic activity, registering a large number of volcano-tectonic (VT) events (538 VT). Considering there is scarce information on these events, this study focuses on analyzing the Domuyo Volcanic Complex (DVC) to assess its seismicity. Therefore, we installed a local seismological network in the study area and compared results with data registered by other authors. Four seismological networks were used, to obtain a more precise location of the seismic events and calculate the focal mechanisms of earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 2. For the first record of crustal seismicity detected by INPRES the September 10th, 2016 with a Ml 3.3, we calculated the focal mechanism with two possible solutions: a thrust solution with a strike component and a favored normal solution with a strike component. Additionally, we relocated the largest event in the Domuyo region on March 27th, 2019, with a magnitude of 4.4 (NEIC – USGS) and focal mechanism with a normal solution and a small strike component, obtaining a shallower depth of 3.9 km instead of 10 km. The new seismological data used in this paper, correspond to September 10th 2016, and two different time periods, the first comprising continuous data from March to April 2019, when the largest registered earthquake occurred in the Domuyo region, and the second from December 2019 to January 2021. At these periods, registered seismicity had magnitudes Ml between 1.9 and 2.8, and focal depths between 1.8 and 5.2 km. Four of these events count with focal mechanisms with extensional and limited strike-slip components that are tentatively linked to the known neotectonic structures affecting the western slope of the DVC. This seismic sequence agrees with previous proposals in which degasification from a magmatic body at shallow depths constitutes the trigger factor.Fil: Godoy, Laura Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Nacif, Andres Antonio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; ArgentinaFil: Christiansen, Rodolfo Omar. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Álvarez, Orlando. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; ArgentinaFil: Gimenez, Mario Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Folguera, Andrés. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Geologicas. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentin

Change in the pattern of crustal seismicity at the Southern Central Andes from a local seismic network

Shallow seismicity in the Southern Central Andes is associated with interplate earthquakes due to the subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate and neotectonic activity, mainly located in the retro-arc region. However, this pattern changes drastically south of 34°S within the transition zone at the Southern Central Andes where crustal seismicity associated with mountain-building processes concentrates at the fore-arc and intra-arc region. In order to define more accurately this transition we used data from a high density-seismic network over the Chilean fore-arc and axial Andean sector (~ 33?34.5°S). We obtained a constraint data set of 77 seismic events located mostly in the Principal Cordillera western flank in the first 10 km of the upper crust. This cluster implies an abrupt change in the pattern of seismicity at the Southern Central Andes with a set of structures in the fore-arc and intra-arc accommodating shortening. This change in the locus of crustal seismicity and particularly its location on the fore-arc and intra-arc south of 34°S is discussed on the light of different hypotheses among which changes in the precipitation pattern and erosion along the Andes were favored. Focalized erosion associated with direction of prevailing Pacific winds south of ~ 34°S could determine subcritical conditions that could be adjusted by out-of-sequence deformation causing crustal earthquakes in the fore-arc region, becoming the retro-arc zone nearly fossilized from a deformational point of view. Additionally, trench sediments associated with this change in the precipitation pattern could also favor decoupling of the subduction zone inhibiting retro-arc seismicity, although it does not explain activation of fore-arc structures south of 34°S and their absence north of this latitude. Finally, inhomogeneous distribution of seismicity through the fore-arc zone south of 34°S is discussed on the light of variable elastic thicknesses.Fil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lupari, Marianela Nadia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Triep, Enrique Gaudencio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; ArgentinaFil: Nacif, Andres Antonio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez Pontoriero, Orlando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; ArgentinaFil: Folguera Telichevsky, Andres. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Geologicas. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gimenez, Mario Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Intraplate seismicity recorded by a local network in the Neuquén Basin, Argentina

Intraplate seismicity in the Southern Central Andes has been mostly documented to the north of 35°S, while similar phenomenon south of these latitudes is not known so far. In order to contribute to this issue, we analysed seismicity in the Andean back-arc region between 38°S and 39°S through a seismological experiment using a local broadband seismic network in the Neuquén Basin. In this study, we aim to determine the background (base) seismicity of the region, and integrate the results with gravimetric data and previous geological knowledge to identify potential sources of the seismic activity. In addition to low-grade seismicity we recorded a Ml = 3.78 strike-slip earthquake ∼ 100 km west of Neuquén city on November 19, 2015. Seismicity location could be controlled by thermo-mechanical properties of the lithosphere linked to the previous tectonic evolution. On the other hand, the triggering factor could be related to E-W Andean stress-field or to human-induced activity.Fil: Correa Otto, Sebastian Ariel. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Pesce, Agustina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Nacif, Andres Antonio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; ArgentinaFil: Gianni, Guido Martin. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Furlani, Renzo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gimenez, Mario Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ruiz, Juan Francisco. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentin

Geodetic Changes Associated with Crustal Deformation on the Andean Backarc of San Juan, Argentina

In this work we have analyzed the results of temporal geodetic variations associated with tectonic deformation on the Andean backarc in southern San Juan province, Argentina. This area is affected by the subduction of the Juan Fernández Ridge and has the greatest seismic hazard in Argentina. Since 2000, we have monitored the variations of gravity annually with high precision (g4D) in the active deformation belt, around the city of San Juan (31°S to 32°S, 68°W to 69°W). Temporal gradients of g4D have been associated with active structures and interpreted as subsurface mass redistributions as a result of accumulation and release of stress. These data, in addition to the topographic deformations measured by the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the identification of structures in the crystalline basement from the geophysical models, allow us interpret mechanisms of deformation in the contact between the Precordillera and Pampean Ranges in the foreland of San Juan. In this area, after more than a decade of low activity, in 2012 the Tulum Fault System (TFS) was reactivated, generating crustal events of moderate magnitude including an earthquake of M w 5.0 (January 18, 2012). According to our interpretation, the fault system accumulated elastic deformation for more than 10 years expressed as height increases at gravity stations (decrease of g4D) until the year 2011. The January 18, 2012 earthquake released part of the energy at the same time as a coseismic increase of g4D. This should be reflected in regional tectonic subsidence from the point of view of conventional gravimetric models. However, GPS reoccupation of the benchmarks located in this fault system indicates a generalized increase in altitude of the fault system in the last 15 years. TFS behavior could be assumed as topographic flexural displacements induced by a system of blind faults. We analyzed the time series of a permanent Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) station located to the north of the TFS. The GRLS station (31.61ºS; 68.32ºW) presents slow variation in the vertical and north components. The variation began on December 20, 2011 reaching its maximum amplitude on January 18, 2012. The geodetic variations coincide with the period of seismic reactivation.Fil: Leiva, Maria Flavia. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ruiz, Francisco. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Gemma. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Spagnotto, Silvana Liz. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Nacif, Andres Antonio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; ArgentinaFil: Christiansen, Rodolfo Omar. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Sisterna, Jorge Alberto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; ArgentinaFil: Figueroa Berroca, Mara Anabel. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Controls on crustal seismicity segmentation on a local scale in the Southern Central Andes

The Argentine Andes between 34° and 36°S comprise a region that lies immediately south of the transition from the Chilean-Pampean flat-slab to a normal subduction segment. Several key changes take part through this area, such as a westward shift of the magmatic arc front, the end of Paleozoic outcrops of the Frontal Cordillera denoting a decline in exhumation, the change in strike of the orogenic belt, and a ∼2 km decrease in maximum and mean topography. We assess the associated segmentation of the deformation by studying the local seismicity. By analyzing one year of seismological data obtained from a local network, we found a significant shift in the low magnitude (M < 3) crustal seismicity pattern at ∼34.8°S. To the north, most events occur along the topographic front. In contrast, to the south, no events are observed in the frontal region but are instead located closer to the Andean axis. In addition, we used gravity data to determine elastic thickness in the region to compare crustal seismic activity with the pattern of crustal rigidity. We discuss this and other geological, tectonic, and climatic factors as possible controls on seismicity segmentation. We do not find a controlling role by neither elastic thickness nor precipitation patterns. Instead, we propose a thermal contrast due to the volcanic arc's geometry, and differing stress transfer from the subducting slab owing to mantle wedge heterogeneities, as the main active controls on the seismicity distribution; modulated by a passive control by pre-Andean rheological features of the crust.Fil: Olivar, Julián Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; ArgentinaFil: Nacif Suvire, Silvina Valeria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Hector Pedro Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Geofísico Sismológico Volponi; ArgentinaFil: Fennell, Lucas Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; ArgentinaFil: Heit, Benjamin. Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ; AlemaniaFil: Folguera Telichevsky, Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentin

The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study

AimThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery.MethodsThis was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin.ResultsOverall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P ConclusionOne in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease