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Caldera resurgence driven by magma viscosity contrasts
Federico Galetto1, Valerio Acocella2, Luca Caricchi3
1Dipartimento Scienze Università Roma Tre, L.S.L. Murialdo, 1, Roma, 00146, Italy. federico.galetto@uniroma3.it.
Nature Communications
|November 25, 2017
Summary
Caldera resurgence, or ground uplift, occurs when magma accumulates instead of erupting. A low viscosity contrast in the magma reservoir creates a barrier, causing magma to stagnate and drive this uplift.
Area of Science:
- Volcanology
- Geophysics
Background:
- Calderas are large volcanic depressions formed by major eruptions.
- Caldera resurgence, characterized by ground uplift, results from magma accumulation beneath the surface.
- The reasons for magma accumulation driving resurgence over large eruptions remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conditions that promote caldera resurgence.
- To explain the transition from magma eruption to magma accumulation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized thermal and experimental modeling.
- Developed thermal models to simulate magma reservoir behavior.
- Conducted experiments to analyze magma rheology and dike propagation.
Main Results:
- Thermal modeling indicated the development of a transition zone in magma reservoirs with low viscosity contrast.
- Experimental results demonstrated that viscosity contrast acts as a rheological barrier, impeding magma propagation.
- This barrier causes injected magma to stagnate, leading to caldera resurgence.
Conclusions:
- The viscosity contrast within magma reservoirs is a critical factor controlling magma behavior.
- This mechanism explains the transition from large volcanic eruptions to magma accumulation and resurgence.
- Understanding these processes is vital for predicting the development of large magma reservoirs and volcanic hazards.
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