Affiliation:
1. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
2. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USA
3. U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Volcano Observatory Alaska Science Center Anchorage AK USA
4. Geophysical Institute University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks AK USA
Abstract
AbstractSeismicity during explosive volcanic eruptions remains challenging to observe through the eruptive noise, leaving first‐order questions unanswered. How do earthquake rates change as eruptions progress, and what is their relationship to the opening and closing of the eruptive vent? To address these questions for the Okmok Volcano 2008 explosive eruption, Volcano Explosivity Index 4, we utilized modern detection methods to enhance the existing earthquake catalog. Our enhanced catalog detected significantly more earthquakes than traditional methods. We located, relocated, determined magnitudes and classified all events within this catalog. Our analysis reveals distinct behaviors for long‐period (LP) and volcano‐tectonic (VT) earthquakes, providing insights into the opening and closing cycle. LP earthquakes occur as bursts beneath the eruptive vent and do not coincide in time with the plumes, indicating their relationship to an eruptive process that occurs at a high pressurization state, that is, partially closed conduit. In contrast, VT earthquakes maintain a steadier rate over a broader region, do not track the caldera deflation and have a larger b‐value during the eruption than before or after. The closing sequence is marked by a burst of LPs followed by small VTs south of the volcano. The opening sequence differs as only VTs extend to depth and migrate within minutes of the eruption onset. Our high‐resolution catalog offers valuable insights, demonstrating that volcanic conduits can transition between partially closed (clogged) and open (cracked) states during an eruption. Utilizing modern earthquake processing techniques enables clearer understanding of eruptions and holds promise for studying other volcanic events.
Funder
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
National Science Foundation
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Subject
Space and Planetary Science,Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous),Geochemistry and Petrology,Geophysics
Reference87 articles.
1. Maximum likelihood estimate of b in the formula log N= a‐bM and its confidence limits;Aki K.;Bulletin of Earthquake Research Institute, Tokyo University,1965
2. Hindcasting Magma Reservoir Stability Preceding the 2008 Eruption of Okmok, Alaska
3. Long-period seismicity in the shallow volcanic edifice formed from slow-rupture earthquakes
4. Global volcanic earthquake swarm database and preliminary analysis of volcanic earthquake swarm duration;Benoit J. P.;Annali di Geofisica,1996
5. Laboratory Simulation of Volcano Seismicity