The 2019 Eruptive Activity at Stromboli Volcano: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Reveal Hidden Features of the “Unexpected” 3 July Paroxysm

In July and August 2019, Stromboli volcano underwent two dangerous paroxysms previously considered “unexpected” because of the absence of significant changes in usually monitored parameters. We applied a multidisciplinary approach to search for signals able to indicate the possibility of larger explosive activity and to devise a model to explain the observed variations. We analysed geodetic data, satellite thermal data, images from remote cameras and seismic data in a timespan crossing the eruptive period of 2019 to identify precursors of the two paroxysms on a medium-term time span (months) and to perform an in-depth analysis of the signals recorded on a short time scale (hours, minutes) before the paroxysm. We developed a model that explains the observations. We call the model “push and go” where the uppermost feeding system of Stromboli is made up of a lower section occupied by a low viscosity, low density magma that is largely composed of gases and a shallower section occupied by the accumulated melt. We hypothesize that the paroxysms are triggered when an overpressure in the lower section is built up; the explosion will occur at the very moment such overpressure overcomes the confining pressure of the highly viscous magma above it.

Volcanic Unrest at Hakone Volcano after the 2015 phreatic eruption — Reactivation of a Ruptured Hydrothermal System?

Since the beginning of the 21st century, volcanic unrest has occurred every 2–5 years at Hakone volcano. After the 2015 eruption, unrest activity changed significantly in terms of seismicity and geochemistry. In this paper, characteristics of the post-eruptive volcanic unrest that occurred in 2017 and 2019 are described, and changes in the hydrothermal system of the volcano caused by the eruption are discussed. Like the pre- and co-eruptive unrest, each post-eruptive unrest episode was detected by deep inflation below the volcano (~ 10 km) and deep low frequency events, which can be interpreted as reflecting supply of magma or magmatic fluid from depth. The seismic activity during the post-eruptive unrest episodes also increased; however, seismic activity beneath the eruption center during the unrest episodes was significantly lower, especially in the shallow region (~2 km), while sporadic seismic swarms were observed beneath the caldera rim, ~3 km away from the center. The 2015 eruption established routes for steam from the hydrothermal system (≥ 150 m deep) to the surface through the cap-rock, allowing emission of super-heated steam (~ 160 ºC), which was absent before the eruption. This steam showed an increase in magmatic/hydrothermal gas ratios (SO2/H2S and HCl/H2S) in the 2019 unrest, which may be interpreted as magmatic intrusion at shallow depth; however, no indicative seismic and geodetic signals were observed. Net SO2 emission during the post-eruptive unrest episodes, which remained within the usual range of the post-eruptive period, is also inconsistent with shallow intrusion. We consider that the post-eruptive unrest episodes were also triggered by newly derived magma or magmatic fluid from depth; however, the breached cap-rock was unable to allow subsequent pressurization of the hydrothermal system beneath the volcano center and suppressed seismic activity significantly. The heat released from the newly derived magma or fluid dried the vapor-dominated portion of the hydrothermal system and inhibited scrubbing of SO2 and HCl to allow a higher magmatic/hydrothermal gas ratio. The 2015 eruption could have also breached the sealing zone near the brittle–plastic transition and the subsequent self-sealing process seems not to have completed based on the observations during the post-eruptive unrest episodes.

Petrographic Analysis of the Volcanic Bombs and Blocks from Poás Volcano: April-June 2017 Eruptive Period

Durante el primer semestre del 2017, el volcán Poás situado en el arco volcánico centroamericano (AVCA) inició un periodo de actividad volcánica que incluyó erupciones freatomagmáticas y magmáticas. Las erupciones más destacadas ocurrieron los días 14 y 22 de abril del año 2017. Estas erupciones produjeron la dispersión de ceniza y abundantes materiales balísticos en la forma de bloques y bombas. En este trabajo, presentamos los resultados de los análisis petrográficos realizados en los productos eruptivos de Poás para el mes de abril de 2017. Las texturas minerales observadas a partir del análisis petrográfico muestran la evidencia de la reactivación y fragmentación de un agregado cristalino en la cámara magmática y el disparo de episodios de fusión, exsolución de volátiles y un incremento en la presión del sistema. Todas estas condiciones son de esperar en un proceso eruptivo. Los análisis realizados en material juvenil y no juvenil sugieren que los procesos de mezcla de magmas e inyección de volúmenes nuevos de material con distinta composición han tenido una influencia importante en procesos eruptivos anteriores y en la nueva fase de actividad volcánica en Poás.