Seismolosical studies of magma injection processes: volcano monitoring and imaging of magma chambers

• Main Author: Konstantinou, Konstantinos I.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2001
• Subjects: Ice cap; Iceland
• Online Access: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3847/; http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3847/1/3847_1408.pdf

The processes associated with magma injection at shallow depths within the crust have been the topic of many geophysical studies, some investigating the seismicity that accompanies volcanic activity and others attempting to map the subsurface extent and geometry of the resulting magma bodies. The aim of this study is to obtain a better understanding of these processes by investigating the nature of seismic signals that accompany volcanic eruptions and by seismically imaging a magma body beneath a mid-ocean ridge, both located on, or adjacent to Iceland. The seismic phenomena associated with the 1996 Vatnajӧkull subglacial eruption in central Iceland, have been studied using data recorded by both temporary (HOTSPOT) and permanent (SIL) seismic networks. These networks comprise 60 broadband and short-period three-component seismographs and cover most parts of the country. Two very active volcanic systems, Bárdarbunga and Grimsvӧtn, are situated underneath the Vatnajokull ice cap. The volcanoseismic signals recorded there were categorised according to their waveform shape and frequency content, into three groups: (a) low-frequency events (1-2 Hz); (b) mixed-frequency events (1-4 Hz); and (c) volcanic tremor. The eruption was preceded by intense seismic activity which began with a = 5.6 earthquake located at the Bárdarbunga volcanic system. The epicentres of the earthquake swarm that followed the M(_w), = 5.6 event initially delineated the Bárdarbunga caldera rim and then migrated towards Grimsvӧtn, to a place where a fissure was later observed. Pre-eruptive tremor started at least two days before the eruption as a harmonic signal around five narrow frequency bands (0.5-0.7, 1.6, 2.2, 2.8 and 3.2 Hz). Co-eruptive tremor started as a broadband, continuous signal which evolved into low-amplitude background tremor interrupted by high-amplitude, cigar-shaped bursts. Further analysis revealed that continuous tremor and the cigar-shaped bursts had all the characteristics of low- dimensional chaotic signals. Geophysical ...