Volcano-sedimentary processes at Las Derrumbadas rhyolitic twin domes, Serdán-Oriental basin, Eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt

The eruption of the ∼10 km3 rhyolitic Las Derrumbadas twin domes about 2000 yrs ago has generated a wide range of volcano-sedimentary deposits in the Serdán-Oriental lacustrine basin, Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Some of these deposits have been quarried, creating excellent exposures. In this paper we describe the domes and related products and interpret their mode of formation, reconstructing the main phases of the eruption as well as syn-and-post eruptive erosional processes. After an initial phreatomagmatic phase that built a tuff ring, the domes grew as an upheaved plug lifting a thick sedimentary pile from the basin floor. During uplift, the domes collapsed repeatedly to form a first-generation of hetero-lithologic hummocky debris avalanche deposits. Subsequent dome growth produced a thick talus and pyroclastic density currents. Later, the hydrothermally-altered over-steepened dome peaks fell to generate 2nd generation, mono-lithologic avalanches. Subsequently, small domes grew in the collapse scars. From the end of the main eruptive episode onwards, heavy rains remobilized parts of the dome carapaces and talus, depositing lahar aprons. Las Derrumbadas domes are still an important source of sediments in the basin, and ongoing mass-wasting processes are associated with hazards that should be assessed, given their potential impact on nearby populations.Supplementary material at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5752296

The Evolution of Peteroa Volcano (Chile–Argentina) Crater Lakes Between 1984 and 2020 Based on Landsat and Planet Labs Imagery Analysis

One of the major challenges in the understanding of the crater lakes dynamics and their connection with magmatic/hydrothermal processes is the continuous tracking of the physical behavior of lakes, especially in cases of remote and poorly accessible volcanoes. Peteroa volcano (Chile–Argentina border) is part of the Planchón–Peteroa–Azufre Volcanic Complex, one of the three volcanoes in the Southern Volcanic Zone of the Andes with crater lakes. Peteroa volcano is formed by a ∼5 km diameter caldera-type crater, which hosts four crater lakes and several fumarolic fields. Peteroa volcano has a large history of eruptive activity including phreatic-and-phreatomagmatic explosions and several episodes of strong degassing from its crater lakes. Here, we used TIR and SWIR bands from Landsat TM, ETM+, and OLI images available from October 1984 to December 2020 to obtain thermal parameters such as thermal radiance, brightness temperature, and heat fluxes, and Planet Labs Inc. images (RapidEye and PlanetScope) available between May 2009 and December 2020 to obtain physical parameters such as area, color, and state (liquid or frozen) of the crater lakes. We reviewed the historical eruptive activity and compared it with thermal and physical data obtained from satellite images. We determined the occurrence of two eruptive/thermal cycles: 1) Cycle 1 includes the formation of a new fumarolic field and two active craters during a short eruptive period, which includes thermal activity in three of the four crater lakes, and a strong degassing process between October 1998 and February 2001, coincident with a peak of volcanic heat flux (Qvolc) in two craters. The cycle finished with an eruptive episode (September 2010–July 2011). 2) Cycle 2 is represented by the thermal reactivation of two crater lakes, formation and detection of thermal activity in a new nested crater, and occurrence of a new eruptive episode (October 2018–April 2019). We observed a migration of the thermal and eruptive activity between the crater lakes and the interconnection of the pathways that feed the lakes, in both cases, partially related to the presence of two deep magma bodies. The Qvolc in Peteroa volcano crater lakes is primarily controlled by volcanic activity, and seasonal effects affect it at short-term, whilst at long-term, seasonal effects do not show clear influences in the volcanic heat fluxes. The maximum Qvolc measured between all crater lakes during quiescent periods was 59 MW, whereas during unrest episodes Qvolc in single crater lakes varied from 7.1 to 38 MW, with Peteroa volcano being classified as a low volcanic heat flux system. The detection of new thermal activity and increase of Qvolc in Peteroa volcano previous to explosive unrest can be considered as a good example of how thermal information from satellite images can be used to detect possible precursors to eruptive activity in volcanoes which host crater lakes.

Seismo-acoustic characterisation of the 2018 Ambae (Manaro Voui) eruption, Vanuatu

A new episode of unrest and phreatic/phreatomagmatic/magmatic eruptions occurred at Ambae volcano, Vanuatu, in 2017–2018. We installed a multi-station seismo-acoustic network consisting of seven 3-component broadband seismic stations and four 3-element (26–62 m maximum inter-element separation) infrasound arrays during the last phase of the 2018 eruption episode, capturing at least six reported major explosions towards the end of the eruption episode. The observed volcanic seismic signals are generally in the passband 0.5–10 Hz during the eruptive activity, but the corresponding acoustic signals have relatively low frequencies (< 1 Hz). Apparent very-long-period (< 0.2 Hz) seismic signals are also observed during the eruptive episode, but we show that they are generated as ground-coupled airwaves and propagate with atmospheric acoustic velocity. We observe strongly coherent infrasound waves at all acoustic arrays during the eruptions. Using waveform similarity of the acoustic signals, we detect previously unreported volcanic explosions at the summit vent region based on constant-celerity reverse-time-migration (RTM) analysis. The detected acoustic bursts are temporally related to shallow seismic volcanic tremor (frequency content of 5–10 Hz), which we characterise using a simplified amplitude ratio method at a seismic station pair with different distances from the vent. The amplitude ratio increased at the onset of large explosions and then decreased, which is interpreted as the seismic source ascent and descent. The ratio change is potentially useful to recognise volcanic unrest using only two seismic stations quickly. This study reiterates the value of joint seismo-acoustic data for improving interpretation of volcanic activity and reducing ambiguity in geophysical monitoring.

Anatomy of a Paroxysmal Lava Fountain at Etna Volcano: The Case of the 12 March 2021, Episode

On 13 December 2020, Etna volcano entered a new eruptive phase, giving rise to a number of paroxysmal episodes involving increased Strombolian activity from the summit craters, lava fountains feeding several-km high eruptive columns and ash plumes, as well as lava flows. As of 2 August 2021, 57 such episodes have occurred in 2021, all of them from the New Southeast Crater (NSEC). Each paroxysmal episode lasted a few hours and was sometimes preceded (but more often followed) by lava flow output from the crater rim lasting a few hours. In this paper, we use remote sensing data from the ground and satellite, integrated with ground deformation data recorded by a high precision borehole strainmeter to characterize the 12 March 2021 eruptive episode, which was one of the most powerful (and best recorded) among that occurred since 13 December 2020. We describe the formation and growth of the lava fountains, and the way they feed the eruptive column and the ash plume, using data gathered from the INGV visible and thermal camera monitoring network, compared with satellite images. We show the growth of the lava flow field associated with the explosive phase obtained from a fixed thermal monitoring camera. We estimate the erupted volume of pyroclasts from the heights of the lava fountains measured by the cameras, and the erupted lava flow volume from the satellite-derived radiant heat flux. We compare all erupted volumes (pyroclasts plus lava flows) with the total erupted volume inferred from the volcano deflation recorded by the borehole strainmeter, obtaining a total erupted volume of ~3 × 106 m3 of magma constrained by the strainmeter. This volume comprises ~1.6 × 106 m3 of pyroclasts erupted during the lava fountain and 2.4 × 106 m3 of lava flow, with ~30% of the erupted pyroclasts being remobilized as rootless lava to feed the lava flows. The episode lasted 130 min and resulted in an eruption rate of ~385 m3 s−1 and caused the formation of an ash plume rising from the margins of the lava fountain that rose up to 12.6 km a.s.l. in ~1 h. The maximum elevation of the ash plume was well constrained by an empirical formula that can be used for prompt hazard assessment.

Monitoring diffuse CO2 emissions by means of an automatic geochemical station at Cumbre Vieja volcano, La Palma, Canary Islands.

&lt;p&gt;La Palma Island (708.3 km&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;) is located at the north-west and is one of the youngest (~2.0My) of the Canarian Archipelago. Volcanic activity has taken place exclusively at the southern part of the island, where Cumbre Vieja volcano, the most active basaltic volcano in the Canaries, has been constructed in the last 123 ky. Cumbre Vieja has suffered seven eruptions in the last 500 years, being the last in 1971 (Tenegu&amp;#237;a volcano). Since the last eruptive episode, Cumbre Vieja volcano has remained in a relative seismic calm that was interrupted on October 7th and 13rd, 2017, by two remarkable seismic swarms with earthquakes located beneath Cumbre Vieja volcano at depths ranging between 14 and 28 km with a maximum magnitude of 2.7. The frequency of these seismic episodes increased in 2020 with the occurrence of five more seismic swarms&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As part of the volcano monitoring program of Cumbre Vieja, diffuse degassing of CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; has been continuously monitored since 2005 at the southernmost part of Cumbre Vieja according to the accumulation chamber method. The monitoring site (LPA04) was selected because it shows anomalous diffuse CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; degassing emission values with respect to the background values that had been measured in different surveys (Padr&amp;#243;n et al., 2015). Meteorological and soil physical variables are also measured in an hourly basis and transmitted to ITER facilities about 150 Km far away.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Since its installation, CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; emissions ranged from non-detectable (&lt;1.5 gm&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt;d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) to 1,464.0 gm&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt;d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;. The time series was characterized by a strong variability in the measured values that are modulated mainly by the atmospheric and soil parameters. Soil moisture is the monitored parameter that explains the highest variability of the data, being the dry season (spring y summer) the period with the highest observed diffuse emission values. This behavior in the time series has changed after 2017 as an increasing trend in being observed in a good temporal agreement with the increase of seismic activity recorded. The observed diffuse CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; emissions trend in the LPA04 geochemical station support the occurrence of an upward magma migration towards a subcrustal magma reservoir beneath La Palma island.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Padr&amp;#243;n et al., (2015). Bull Volcanol 77:28. DOI 10.1007/s00445-015-0914-2&lt;/p&gt;

Forecasting the dispersion and fallout of volcanic ash during a crisis: Assessment of the September 20, 2020 eruption at Sangay volcano in Ecuador

&lt;p&gt;Sangay volcano (2.00&amp;#176;S, 78.34&amp;#176;W, 5326 m asl), located at the southern end of the Northern Volcanic Zone of the Andes (Morona Santiago province, Ecuador), has frequently been referred as one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Its most recent eruptive period began on May 7, 2019 and is still ongoing. It is characterized by a semi-continuous viscous lava flow emission accompanied by frequent low magnitude explosions (Vasconez et al., this meeting). This eruptive episode is the first in more than two decades to produce significant impacts both locally and regionally, and reached its paroxysm on September 20, 2020 without clear precursory signals. The eruption started at 9:20 (UTC) and lasted about one and a half hours. The eruptive column rapidly split into a high-altitude (15 km asl) gas-rich cloud, drifting eastward at 5-8 m/s and a lower (12 km asl) ash-rich cloud, drifting westward at 10-14 m/s. The ash began to fall at 11:00 (UTC) in the communities near the volcano and reached the city of Guayaquil, the second largest city in Ecuador, at 13:00 (UTC), forcing the closure of the international airport.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this work, we evaluate the ash dispersion simulations performed by the IG-EPN using the Ash3D model before, during and after the eruption using different eruptive source parameters (ESP), by comparison with the available satellite images (GOES-16). The simulated ash fallout for each set of ESP is compared to reports from the community and volcanic observers, as well as with a fallout map obtained from a four-days field trip initiated immediately after the eruption to ensure good quality of samples and measurements (September 20-23). Ash fallout was estimated using thickness measurements where possible and area density at 40 sites located between 30 and 180 km from the volcano. The grain size distribution of 35 samples was obtained by laser diffraction.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our results show that the general westward direction and speed of the ash cloud in the simulations is coherent with the satellite images, except for the high-altitude, gas-rich cloud. However, large discrepancies were found when comparing the simulated and measured ash fallout. Field data shows that the first simulation using ESP based on the previous activity at Sangay, underestimated the eruption size, while the second simulation using the eruption column height estimated in near-real time overestimated it. As expected, the simulation carried out immediately after the eruption, based on the first field results shows the best correlation with field data, although there are still some second-order discrepancies. In particular, the plume axis was shifted about 12&amp;#176; northward in the simulation, which is attributed to the atmospheric model. We also noted that the deposition pattern was slightly different between the field data and the simulation. Grain size analysis reveals uni- to multimodal distributions, associated with complex eruptive dynamics and aggregation that probably influenced the sedimentation process. Further research is needed to better understand the eruptive dynamics at Sangay in order to improve forecasts.&lt;/p&gt;

Multiparametric monitoring of the ongoing eruption of Sangay volcano, Ecuador

&lt;p&gt;During the last two decades, Sangay has been one of the most active Ecuadorian volcanoes. However, because of its remote location and logistically difficult access, monitoring Sangay is a challenging task. The IG-EPN tackled this problem by expanding its terrestrial monitoring network and complementing it with the available satellite data. On 7&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; May 2019, the most recent and ongoing eruptive episode commenced. Compared to the previously monitored and observed eruptive activity at Sangay since the 2000&amp;#8217;s, this episode is by far the most intense and the first to affect populated areas due to ash fallouts and numerous lahars. Surface activity is generally characterized by frequent low-to-moderate magnitude ash emissions and a semi-continuous viscous lava flow extrusion. This activity is punctuated by occasional lava flow collapse events, probably associated with pulses of high lava extrusion and that produced long-runout pyroclastic density currents towards the southeastern flank.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here, we present the most complete data set of long-term instrumental observations performed at Sangay. SO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;&amp;#160;degassing, seismic activity, ground deformation, ash emissions and thermal anomalies are depicted as a multiparametric sequence to better understand the link between these parameters and the dynamism and eruptive style of this isolated volcano. &amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Correlations between the depicted parameters are not straight-forward, making it hard to identify patterns that might lead to enhanced eruptive activity. High values of SO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;&amp;#160;recorded by the DOAS instruments as well as the TROPOMI satellite sensor seem to coincide with periods of increased eruption rate. Nevertheless, increases in SO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; flux do not occur systematically before or after these episodes. Seismic activity, characterized by daily counts of individual seismic events, does not demonstrated a clear precursory pattern either. These results indicate that none of the available monitoring parameters currently allow for a timely forecast of the largest and potentially most dangerous eruptions. However, looking at the entire time series we are able to distinguish a slightly but progressive change in the ground deformation displacement associated with a higher number of earthquakes per day prior to the 20 September 2020 paroxysmic event. This eruption produced regional ash fallout which affected significant swaths of farming lands and livestock. Since then, a different ground deformation pattern has taken hold, and coincides with a step decrease in the number of daily earthquakes and a significant increase in the SO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;&amp;#160;mass measured by TROPOMI.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This behavior matches an open-vent system, where punctual increases in eruptive activity show few precursory signals. The observed increase in all the parameters compared to previous eruptions before 2019 allows us to propose that this eruptive phase is fed by batches of deep and volatile-rich magma which rise to the surface at high ascent rates. The interpretations presented here are an important step towards a better understanding of the dynamism and eruptive style of this very active and isolated volcano. Moreover, the various monitoring parameters from terrestrial to satellite provide a better picture of the behavior of Sangay that could be applied to other remote and open-system volcanoes.&lt;/p&gt;

Very high-resolution terrain surveys of the Chã das Caldeiras lava fields (Fogo Island, Cape Verde)

Fogo in the Cape Verde archipelago off Western Africa is one of the most prominent and active ocean island volcanoes on Earth, posing an important hazard to both local populations and at a regional level. The last eruption took place between 23 November 2014 and 8 February 2015 in the Chã das Caldeiras area at an elevation close to 1,800 m above sea level The eruptive episode gave origin to extensive lava flows that almost fully destroyed the settlements of Bangaeira, Portela and Ilhéu de Losna. In December 2016 a survey of the Chã das Caldeiras area was conducted using a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle and RTK GNSS, with the objective of improving the mapping accuracy derived from satellite platforms. The main result is an ultra-high resolution 3D point cloud with a Root Mean Square Error of 0.08 m in X, 0.11 m in Y and 0.12 m in Z, which provides unprecedented accuracy. The survey covers an area of 23.9 km2 and used 2909 calibrated images with an average ground sampling distance of 7.2 cm. A digital surface model and an orthomosaic with 25 cm resolution are provided, together with elevation contours with an equidistance of 50 cm and a 3D texture mesh for visualization purposes. The delineation of the 2014–15 lava flows shows an area of 4.53 km2 by lava, which is smaller but more accurate than the previous estimates from 4.8 to 4.97 km2. The difference in the calculated area, when compared to previously reported values, is due to a more detailed mapping of flow geometry and the exclusion of the areas corresponding to kīpukas. Our study provides an ultra high-resolution dataset of the areas affected by Fogo's latest eruption – crucial for local planning – and provides a case study to determine the advantages of ultra high-resolution UAV surveys in disaster-prone areas. The dataset is available for download at http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4035038 (Vieira et al., 2020).

The age of the Tseax volcanic eruption, British Columbia, Canada

A recent volcanic eruption occurred at Tseax volcano that formed a series of tephra cones in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. The explosive to effusive eruption also formed a 32 km long sequence of Fe-rich Mg-poor basanite–trachybasalt lavas covering ∼40 km2. Oral histories of the Nisg_a’a Nation report that the eruption may have caused as many as 2000 fatalities. The actual eruption date and question of whether there was one or multiple eruptive episodes in the 14th and 18th centuries are, as of yet, unresolved. New radiocarbon dating of wood charcoal from immediately beneath vent-proximal tephra deposits and complementary age information suggest an eruption in 1675–1778 CE (95.4% probability) was responsible for the formation of the tephra cone. New paleomagnetic and geochemical data from the tephra cone and lava flows suggest there is, in fact, no statistically significant difference in time between the explosive and effusive deposits and that they formed during a single eruptive episode.

The remarkable volcanism of Shastina, a stratocone segment of Mount Shasta, California

Mount Shasta, a 400 km3 volcano in northern California (United States), is the most voluminous stratocone of the Cascade arc. Most Mount Shasta lavas vented at or near the present summit; relatively smaller volumes erupted from scattered vents on the volcano’s flanks. An apron of pyroclastic and debris flows surrounds it. Shastina, a large and distinct cone on the west side of Mount Shasta, represents a brief but exceptionally vigorous period of eruptive activity. Its volume of ∼13.5 km3 would make Shastina itself one of the larger Holocene Cascade stratovolcanoes. Its andesite-dacite lavas average 63 wt% SiO2 and have little compositional or petrographic variation; they erupted almost entirely from one central vent, although a single vent below Shastina’s north side erupted a flow of the same composition. Eruptions ended with explosive enlargement and breaching of the central crater and successive emplacement of four, more-silicic dacite domes within the crater and pyroclastic flows down its flank. Black Butte, a large volcanic dome and pyroclastic complex below the west flank of Shastina, is petrographically and chemically distinct but only slightly younger than Shastina itself, part of a nearly continuous Shastina–Black Butte eruptive episode. Shastina overlies the widespread pumice of Red Banks, erupted from the Mount Shasta summit area and 14C dated at ca. 10,900 yr B.P. (calibrated). Shastina and Black Butte pyroclastic deposits have calibrated 14C ages indistinguishable from one another at ca. 10,700 cal. yr B.P. A cognate granitic-textured inclusion in a late Shastina lava flow yields a 238U-230Th date on zircons within error of those ages. Our conclusion that the entire, voluminous Shastina–Black Butte episode lasted no more than a few hundred years is confirmed by almost identical remanent magnetic directions of all of the lavas and pyroclastic deposits. Although extremely similar, the remanent magnetic directions do reveal a short path of secular variation through the eruptive sequence. We conclude that the entire Shastina–Black Butte eruptive episode lasted no more than ∼200 yr. The magmas that produced the Shastina and Black Butte eruptions were separate individual bodies at different crustal levels. Each of these eruptive sequences probably represents magma approximating a liquid composition that experienced only minimal differentiation or crustal contamination and remained separated from the main central conduit for most eruptions of Mount Shasta. The probability of another rapidly developing, brief but voluminous eruptive episode at Mount Shasta is low but should not be ignored in evaluating future possible eruptive hazards.