Deep long period volcanic earthquakes generated by degassing of volatile-rich basaltic magmas

Oleg Melnik, Vladimir Lyakhovsky, Nikolai M. Shapiro (), Natalia Galina and Olga Bergal-Kuvikas
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Oleg Melnik: Moscow State University
Vladimir Lyakhovsky: Geological Survey of Israel
Nikolai M. Shapiro: Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS (UMR5275), CS 40700
Natalia Galina: Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS (UMR5275), CS 40700
Olga Bergal-Kuvikas: Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, FEB RAS

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Deep long-period (DLP) earthquakes observed beneath active volcanoes are sometimes considered as precursors to eruptions. Their origin remains, however, unclear. Here, we present a possible DLP generating mechanism related to the rapid growth of gas bubbles in response to the slow decompression of over-saturated magma. For certain values of the gas and bubble content, the elastic deformation of surrounding rocks forced by the expanding bubbly magma can be fast enough to generate seismic waves. We show that amplitudes and frequencies of DLP earthquakes observed beneath the Klyuchevskoy volcano (Kamchatka, Russia) can be predicted by our model when considering pressure changes of ~107 Pa in a volume of ~103–104 m3 and realistic magma compositions. Our results show importance of the deep degassing in the generation of volcanic seismicity and suggest that the DLP swarms beneath active volcanoes might be related to the pulses of volatile-rich basaltic magmas rising from the mantle.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17759-4

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