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Sigmundsson F, Parks M, Geirsson H, Hooper A, Drouin V, Vogfjörd KS, Ófeigsson BG, Greiner SHM, Yang Y, Lanzi C, De Pascale GP, Jónsdóttir K, Hreinsdóttir S, Tolpekin V, Friðriksdóttir HM, Einarsson P, Barsotti S. Fracturing and tectonic stress drive ultrarapid magma flow into dikes. Science 2024; 383:1228-1235. [PMID: 38330140 DOI: 10.1126/science.adn2838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Many examples of exposed giant dike swarms can be found where lateral magma flow has exceeded hundreds of kilometers. We show that massive magma flow into dikes can be established with only modest overpressure in a magma body if a large enough pathway opens at its boundary and gradual buildup of high tensile stress has occurred along the dike pathway prior to the onset of diking. This explains rapid initial magma flow rates, modeled up to about 7400 cubic meters per second into a dike ~15-kilometers long, which propagated under the town of Grindavík, Southwest Iceland, in November 2023. Such high flow rates provide insight into the formation of major dikes and imply a serious hazard potential for high-flow rate intrusions that propagate to the surface and transition into eruptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freysteinn Sigmundsson
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute and Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-102 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Michelle Parks
- Icelandic Meteorological Office, IS-105 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Halldór Geirsson
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute and Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-102 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Andrew Hooper
- COMET, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Vincent Drouin
- Icelandic Meteorological Office, IS-105 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | | | - Sonja H M Greiner
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute and Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-102 Reykjavik, Iceland
- Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
- Center for Natural Hazard and Disaster Science, 752 36 Uppsala/Stockholm/Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Yilin Yang
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute and Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-102 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Chiara Lanzi
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute and Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-102 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Gregory P De Pascale
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute and Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-102 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | | | | | | | - Páll Einarsson
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute and Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-102 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Sara Barsotti
- Icelandic Meteorological Office, IS-105 Reykjavik, Iceland
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Sigmundsson F, Parks M, Hooper A, Geirsson H, Vogfjörd KS, Drouin V, Ófeigsson BG, Hreinsdóttir S, Hjaltadóttir S, Jónsdóttir K, Einarsson P, Barsotti S, Horálek J, Ágústsdóttir T. Deformation and seismicity decline before the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption. Nature 2022; 609:523-528. [PMID: 36104559 PMCID: PMC9477732 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05083-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Increased rates of deformation and seismicity are well-established precursors to volcanic eruptions, and their interpretation forms the basis for eruption warnings worldwide. Rates of ground displacement and the number of earthquakes escalate before many eruptions1-3, as magma forces its way towards the surface. However, the pre-eruptive patterns of deformation and seismicity vary widely. Here we show how an eruption beginning on 19 March 2021 at Fagradalsfjall, Iceland, was preceded by a period of tectonic stress release ending with a decline in deformation and seismicity over several days preceding the eruption onset. High rates of deformation and seismicity occurred from 24 February to mid-March in relation to gradual emplacement of an approximately 9-km-long magma-filled dyke, between the surface and 8 km depth (volume approximately 34 × 106 m3), as well as the triggering of strike-slip earthquakes up to magnitude MW 5.64. As stored tectonic stress was systematically released, there was less lateral migration of magma and a reduction in both the deformation rates and seismicity. Weaker crust near the surface may also have contributed to reduced seismicity, as the depth of active magma emplacement progressively shallowed. This demonstrates that the interaction between volcanoes and tectonic stress as well as crustal layering need to be fully considered when forecasting eruptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freysteinn Sigmundsson
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
| | | | - Andrew Hooper
- Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes and Tectonics (COMET), School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Halldór Geirsson
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Páll Einarsson
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | - Josef Horálek
- Institute of Geophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 4, Prague, Czech Republic
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Sigmundsson F, Pinel V, Grapenthin R, Hooper A, Halldórsson SA, Einarsson P, Ófeigsson BG, Heimisson ER, Jónsdóttir K, Gudmundsson MT, Vogfjörd K, Parks M, Li S, Drouin V, Geirsson H, Dumont S, Fridriksdottir HM, Gudmundsson GB, Wright TJ, Yamasaki T. Unexpected large eruptions from buoyant magma bodies within viscoelastic crust. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2403. [PMID: 32415105 PMCID: PMC7229005 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16054-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Large volume effusive eruptions with relatively minor observed precursory signals are at odds with widely used models to interpret volcano deformation. Here we propose a new modelling framework that resolves this discrepancy by accounting for magma buoyancy, viscoelastic crustal properties, and sustained magma channels. At low magma accumulation rates, the stability of deep magma bodies is governed by the magma-host rock density contrast and the magma body thickness. During eruptions, inelastic processes including magma mush erosion and thermal effects, can form a sustained channel that supports magma flow, driven by the pressure difference between the magma body and surface vents. At failure onset, it may be difficult to forecast the final eruption volume; pressure in a magma body may drop well below the lithostatic load, create under-pressure and initiate a caldera collapse, despite only modest precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freysteinn Sigmundsson
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-101, Reykjavik, Iceland.
| | - Virginie Pinel
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, IRD, IFSTTAR, ISTerre, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Ronni Grapenthin
- Geophysical Institute & Dept. of Geosciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2156 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK-99775, USA
| | - Andrew Hooper
- COMET, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Sæmundur A Halldórsson
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-101, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Páll Einarsson
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-101, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | - Elías R Heimisson
- Seismological Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | - Magnús T Gudmundsson
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-101, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | | | - Siqi Li
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-101, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | - Halldór Geirsson
- Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-101, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Stéphanie Dumont
- Instituto Dom Luiz - University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | | | | | - Tim J Wright
- COMET, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Tadashi Yamasaki
- Geological Survey of Japan, AIST, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan
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4
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Gudmundsson MT, Jónsdóttir K, Hooper A, Holohan EP, Halldórsson SA, Ófeigsson BG, Cesca S, Vogfjörd KS, Sigmundsson F, Högnadóttir T, Einarsson P, Sigmarsson O, Jarosch AH, Jónasson K, Magnússon E, Hreinsdóttir S, Bagnardi M, Parks MM, Hjörleifsdóttir V, Pálsson F, Walter TR, Schöpfer MPJ, Heimann S, Reynolds HI, Dumont S, Bali E, Gudfinnsson GH, Dahm T, Roberts MJ, Hensch M, Belart JMC, Spaans K, Jakobsson S, Gudmundsson GB, Fridriksdóttir HM, Drouin V, Dürig T, Aðalgeirsdóttir G, Riishuus MS, Pedersen GBM, van Boeckel T, Oddsson B, Pfeffer MA, Barsotti S, Bergsson B, Donovan A, Burton MR, Aiuppa A. Gradual caldera collapse at Bárdarbunga volcano, Iceland, regulated by lateral magma outflow. Science 2016; 353:aaf8988. [PMID: 27418515 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf8988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Large volcanic eruptions on Earth commonly occur with a collapse of the roof of a crustal magma reservoir, forming a caldera. Only a few such collapses occur per century, and the lack of detailed observations has obscured insight into the mechanical interplay between collapse and eruption. We use multiparameter geophysical and geochemical data to show that the 110-square-kilometer and 65-meter-deep collapse of Bárdarbunga caldera in 2014-2015 was initiated through withdrawal of magma, and lateral migration through a 48-kilometers-long dike, from a 12-kilometers deep reservoir. Interaction between the pressure exerted by the subsiding reservoir roof and the physical properties of the subsurface flow path explain the gradual, near-exponential decline of both collapse rate and the intensity of the 180-day-long eruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnús T Gudmundsson
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.
| | | | - Andrew Hooper
- Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics (COMET), School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Eoghan P Holohan
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany. UCD School of Earth Sciences, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sæmundur A Halldórsson
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | | | - Simone Cesca
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Freysteinn Sigmundsson
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Thórdís Högnadóttir
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Páll Einarsson
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Olgeir Sigmarsson
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, CNRS-Université Blaise Pascal-IRD, 63038 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Alexander H Jarosch
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Kristján Jónasson
- Faculty of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Iceland, Hjarðarhagi 2-6, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Eyjólfur Magnússon
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | | | - Marco Bagnardi
- Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics (COMET), School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Michelle M Parks
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
- Departamento de Sismología, Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Finnur Pálsson
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Thomas R Walter
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Martin P J Schöpfer
- Department for Geodynamics and Sedimentology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sebastian Heimann
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Hannah I Reynolds
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Stéphanie Dumont
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Eniko Bali
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Gudmundur H Gudfinnsson
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Torsten Dahm
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Martin Hensch
- Icelandic Meteorological Office, IS-150 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Joaquín M C Belart
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Karsten Spaans
- Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics (COMET), School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Sigurdur Jakobsson
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | | | - Hildur M Fridriksdóttir
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. Icelandic Meteorological Office, IS-150 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Vincent Drouin
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Tobias Dürig
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Morten S Riishuus
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Gro B M Pedersen
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Tayo van Boeckel
- Nordvulk, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Björn Oddsson
- National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police, Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, Skúlagata 21, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | | | - Sara Barsotti
- Icelandic Meteorological Office, IS-150 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | | | - Amy Donovan
- King's College London, King's Building, Strand Campus, London WC2R 2LS, England, UK
| | - Mike R Burton
- University of Manchester, Williamson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
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