Interpretation of spatiotemporal gravity changes accompanying the earthquake of 21 August 2017 on Ischia (Italy)

We analyse spatiotemporal gravity changes observed on the Ischia island (Italy) accompanying the destructive earthquake of 21 August 2017. The 29 May 2016 to 22 September 2017 time-lapse gravity changes observed at 18 benchmarks of the Ischia gravimetric network are first corrected for the gravitational effect of the surface deformation using the deformation-induced topographic effect (DITE) correction. The co-seismic DITE is computed by Newtonian volumetric integration using the Toposk software, a high-resolution LiDAR DEM and the co-seismic vertical displacement field derived from Sentinel-1 InSAR data. We compare numerically the DITE field with its commonly used Bouguer approximation over the island of Ischia with the outcome that the Bouguer approximation of DITE is adequate and accurate in this case. The residual gravity changes are then computed at gravity benchmarks by correcting the observed gravity changes for the planar Bouguer effect of the elevation changes at benchmarks over the same period. The residual gravity changes are then inverted using an inversion approach based on model exploration and growing source bodies, making use of the Growth-dg inversion tool. The found inversion model, given as subsurface time-lapse density changes, is then interpreted as mainly due to a co-seismic or post-seismic disturbance of the hydrothermal system of the island. Pros and weak points of such interpretation are discussed.

Gravity acceleration changes in Russian stations of comparing absolute gravimeters

The article deals with the study of changes in the values of gravitational accelerations at the Russian comparison’s sites of the absolute gravimeters “Pulkovo”, “Svetloye” and “Zvenigorod” for the years of 2007–2013. A significant increase of the values instead of the expected decrease was obtained. The authors make an attempt to reveal the reasons for that basing on the calculation of the change in the gravitational field using the Bouguer and Faye corrections. The estimates do not fully explain the phenomenon, according neither to gravimeters nor to satellite data. At the sites of “Pulkovo” and “Svetloye”, the measured changes in the values differ from the calculated ones by +5,7 and 6,6 μGal, which significantly exceeds the errors of the absolute gravimeters. The change of the gravity varies from satellites GRACE data by 9,4 μGal at the “Zvenigorod” site. This may be due to local hydrological reasons. Determining the causes of gravity changes at the absolute stations of gravity network is an urgent task.

Hydrologic changes of in-situ gravimetry

Inter-seasonal and geodynamics-related gravity changes are important geoscientific signals that are extractable from gravimeter observations after deducing background information as local hydrology gravity effect. With two superconducting gravimeters (SGs, OSG-053 and iGrav-007) located in different tectonic units, continuous Global Navigation Satellite System data, and AG observations, Wuhan (China) is an ideal location for investigating the effects of gravity resulting from significant local hydrology mass variations. We processed ∼26 months of gravity data collected from the SGs in Wuhan and obtain residuals of -40 nm.s2 for OSG-053 and 100 for iGrav-007. The hydrological observations show an estimated gravity increase of 42 nm.s2 near iGrav-007, which mainly resulted from the increased unconfined water level with an aquifer-specific yield of approximately 0.1. However, the gravity changes around OSG-053 are mainly from soil moisture and reach -90 nm.s2. The soil type, thickness and water content parameters were obtained from hydrogeological survey and drilling data. The deep confined water level rose by 2.5 m, which introduced a 1 nm.s2 gravity variation with a specific storage about 0.00001 from field unsteady flow pumping test. The modeled gravity is approximately -40 nm.s2 around OSG-053 and 90 around iGrav-007, in accordance with the observed gravity variations. The difference in gravity changes between the two SG observations can be explained by different local water storage environments. Our results suggest that unconfined and soil water significantly impact the in-situ gravimetry, which indicates that further detailed hydrogeological surveys are required. A combined investigation of gravity and water levels can be a useful approach to monitor aquifer storage conditions and groundwater management.

Minimum Detectable Mass and Volume Fluxes During Magmatic Recharge at High Prominence Volcanoes: An Application to Erciyes Dağ Volcano (Turkey)

Magma reservoir recharge is widely recognised as a precursor of eruptive activity. However, the causative relationships between reservoir rejuvenation and surface observables such as gravitational potential field changes and ground deformation are still poorly understood. At intermediate and silicic intra-plate volcanoes where crustal mechanical heterogeneity combined with high-prominence are expected to fundamentally affect the crustal stress and strain relationship, protracted period of repose and absence of monitoring data raise questions about the detectability of magma recharge. Here we report results from integrated geodetic forward modelling of ground displacements and gravity changes from reservoir recharge at Erciyes Dağ, a large prominence (∼2,800 m), yet poorly studied, stratovolcano of the Central Anatolian Volcanic Province in Turkey. The most recent eruption at ∼7000 BC, close proximity to the Kayseri Metropolitan Area and absence of dedicated volcano monitoring set a precedent to explore stealth magmatic processes at the volcano. Using finite element analysis we systematically explore the influence of subsurface mechanical heterogeneities and topography on surface deformation and gravity changes from magmatic recharge of Erciyes Dağ’s reservoir. We show that whilst crustal heterogeneity amplifies ground displacements and gravity variations, the volcano’s substantial prominence has the opposite effect. For generic reservoir pressure and density changes of 10 MPa and 10 kg m−3 predicted vertical displacements vary by a factor of 5 while residual gravity changes vary by a factor of 12 between models ignoring topography or mechanical heterogeneity and those that do not. We deduce reservoir volume and mass changes of order 10–3 km3 and 1010 kg, respectively, at the detectability limit of conventional surveying techniques at the volcano. Though dependent on model assumptions, all results indicate that magma recharge at Erciyes Dağ may go undetected at fluxes 1) sufficient to maintain an active reservoir containing eruptable magma and 2) similar to those reported for intermediate/silicic volcanoes with repose times of 100–1,000s of years (e.g., Parinacota) and persistently active mafic volcanoes such as Mt. Etna and Stromboli. Our findings may be utilised to inform integrated geodetic and gravimetric monitoring at Erciyes Dağ and other large prominence silicic volcanoes and could provide early insights into reservoir rejuvenation with implications for the development of disaster risk reduction initiatives.

Gravity Variations and Ground Deformations Resulting from Core Dynamics

Fluid motion within the Earth’s liquid outer core leads to internal mass redistribution. This occurs through the advection of density anomalies within the volume of the liquid core and by deformation of the solid boundaries of the mantle and inner core which feature density contrasts. It also occurs through torques acting on the inner core reorienting its non-spherical shape. These in situ mass changes lead to global gravity variations, and global deformations (inducing additional gravity variations) occur in order to maintain the mechanical equilibrium of the whole Earth. Changes in Earth’s rotation vector (and thus of the global centrifugal potential) induced by core flows are an additional source of global deformations and associated gravity changes originating from core dynamics. Here, we review how each of these different core processes operates, how gravity changes and ground deformations from each could be reconstructed, as well as ways to estimate their amplitudes. Based on our current understanding of core dynamics, we show that, at spherical harmonic degree 2, core processes contribute to gravity variations and ground deformations that are approximately a factor 10 smaller than those observed and caused by dynamical processes within the fluid layers at the Earth’s surface. The larger the harmonic degree, the smaller is the contribution from the core. Extracting a signal of core origin requires the accurate removal of all contributions from surface processes, which remains a challenge. Article Highlights Dynamical processes in Earth's fluid core lead to global gravity variations and surface ground deformations We review how these processes operate, how signals of core origin can be reconstructed and estimate their amplitudes Core signals are a factor 10 smaller than the observed signals; extracting a signal of core origin remains a challenge

Delineating a Volcanic Aquifer Using Groundwater-induced Gravity Changes in the Tatun Volcano Group, Taiwan

The Tatun Volcanic Group (TVG) is an active volcano that could cause volcanic hazards in northern Taiwan. The latest phreatic eruption of the TVG occurred some 6000 years ago. Understanding the state of groundwater around the TVG can be a crucial step towards effectively assessing the risk of phreatic explosion by providing information about the sources of groundwater and the media it flows. We measured gravity changes at a superconducting gravity station and several groundwater-sensitive sites to examine the way the groundwater altered the gravity values around the TVG. Groundwater-induced gravity changes are simulated by two hydrological models (A and B). Both models show coherent seasonal variations in groundwater level and gravity value in the center of the TVG (Chintiengang). This coherence indicates inter-connected porous media for free groundwater flows below Chintiengang. However, inconsistencies between the modeled and observed gravity changes occurred in the eastern part of the TVG, suggesting here highly heterogeneous formations with fractures and barriers may exist below Chihsinshan and Dayoukeng. The gravity consistencies and inconsistencies between the observations and the models are used to delineate a volcanic aquifer, which can provide additional information for assessing the probability of a potential phreatic eruption over the TVG.

A model for gravity changes induced by lava fountaining at Mt Etna

<div> <p><span>Lava fountains represent a common eruptive phenomenon at basaltic volcanoes, which consist of jets of fluid lava ejected into the atmosphere from active vents or fissures. They are driven by rapid formation and expansion of gas bubbles during magma ascent. The dynamics of lava fountains is thought to be controlled by the gas accumulation in the foam layer at the top of a shallow magmatic reservoir, which eventually collapses triggering the lava fountaining. Gravity measurements taken from a location close to summit of Mt. Etna during the 2011 lava fountain episodes showed a pre-fountaining decrease of the gravity signal. The interplay between gas accumulation in the foam layer and its subsequent exsolution in the conduit has been interpreted as the mechanism producing the gravity decrease and eventually leading to the foam collapse and onset of the lava fountaining activity. Gravity measurements have proved helpful in recording the earliest phases anticipating the lava fountain episodes and inferring the amount of gas involved. However, more accurate estimates of the accumulating and ascending gas volume and total magma mass require considering the possible effect of non-spherical magma chamber geometries and magma compressibility. </span></p> </div><div> <p><span>Under task 4.4 of the H2020 NEWTON-g project, we are accomplishing a detailed study aimed to simulate the gravity signal produced in the stage prior to a lava fountain episode, through a magma chamber - conduit model. We use a prolate ellipsoidal chamber matching the inferred shape of the shallow chamber active at Mt. Etna during the lava fountain episodes, and calculate the surface gravity changes induced by inflow of new magma into the chamber-conduit system. We use a two-phase magma with fixed amount of gas mass fraction and account for magma compressibility. We find that a realistic chamber shape and magma compressibility play a key role and must be considered to produce realistic gravity changes simulations. We combine our physical model with empirical distributions of recurrence time and eruption size of the past lava fountains at Mt. Etna to stochastically simulate realistic time series of gravity changes. The final goal of this study is to develop a prediction model for the amount of magma and duration of lava fountains at Mt. Etna.</span></p> </div>

Comparison between a six-year (2015-2020) continuous time series from an iGrav superconducting gravimeter and absolute gravity data at Mt. Etna volcano (Italy).

<p>Since September 2014, iGrav#016 superconducting gravimeter (SG; by GWR) has recorded continuously at the Serra La Nave Astrophysical Observatory (SLN; 1730 m elevation; ~6.5 km from the Etna’s summit craters; Italy).</p><p>Here we present results of a comparison between a six-year (2015-2020) time series from iGrav#16 and absolute gravity data collected through the Microg LaCoste FG5#238 absolute gravimeter (AG), in the framework of repeated measurements that were performed at the same installation site of the SG. Both AG and SG records have been corrected for the local tides, local atmospheric pressure and for the polar motion effect.</p><p>The comparison allows to estimate the long-term drift of the SG, defined as the total SG trend minus the observed trend in AG measurements, which is of the order of 9 microGal/year. Once the drift effect is removed,  there is a remarkably good fit between the two data sets. The differences between absolute gravity changes and corresponding relative data in the continuous time series from the SG are within 1-2 microGal (the total error on AG measurements at this station is typically +/- 3 microGal).</p><p>After being corrected for the effect of instrumental drift, the time series from the SG reveals gravity changes that are due to hydrological and volcanological effects.</p><p>Our study shows how the combination of repeated AG measurements and continuous gravity observations through SGs can be used to obtain a fuller and more accurate picture of the temporal characteristics of the studied processes.</p>

Analytical modelling and joint inversion of surface displacements and gravity changes at volcanoes

<p>Gravity change observations at volcanoes provide information on the location and mass change of intruded magma bodies. Gravity change and surface displacement observations are often combined in order to infer the density of the intruded materials. Previous studies have highlighted that it is crucial to account for magma compressibility and the shape of the gravity change and deformation source to avoid large biases in the density estimate. Currently, an analytical model for the deformation field and gravity change due to a source of arbitrary shape is lacking, affecting our ability to perform rapid inversions and assess the nature of volcanic unrest.  </p><p>Here, we propose an efficient approach for rapid joint-inversions of surface displacement and gravity change observations associated with underground pressurized reservoirs. We derive analytical solutions for deformations and gravity changes due to the volume changes of triaxial point-sources in an isotropic elastic half-space. The method can be applied to  volcanic reservoirs that are deep compared to their size (far field approximation). We show that the gravity changes not only allow inferring mass changes within the reservoirs, but also help better constrain location, shape and the volume change of the source. We discuss how the inherent uncertainties in the realistic shape of volcanic reservoirs are reflected in large uncertainties on the density estimates. We apply our approach to the surface displacements and gravity changes at Long Valley caldera over the 1985-1999 time period. We show that gravity changes together with only vertical displacements are sufficient to constrain the mass change and all the other source parameters. We also show that while mass change is well constrained by gravity change observations the density estimate is more uncertain even if the magma compressibility is accounted for in the model.</p>