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Updated: Aug 16, 2025
07:58
Data Processing Methods for 3D Seismic Imaging of Subsurface Volcanoes: Applications to the Tarim Flood Basalt
Published on: August 7, 2017
9.4K
The magmatic web beneath Hawai'i.
John D Wilding1, Weiqiang Zhu1, Zachary E Ross1
1Seismological Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|December 22, 2022
Summary
Scientists discovered a deep magma system beneath Hawaii using advanced earthquake monitoring. This mantle sill complex acts as a crucial nexus, connecting deep magma sources to volcanoes like Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.
Area of Science:
- Geophysics
- Volcanology
- Seismology
Background:
- Understanding deep magma transport is key to deciphering Hawaiian volcanic system dynamics.
- The 2018 Kīlauea caldera collapse preceded a significant increase in mantle earthquake activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To image and characterize the deep magmatic structures beneath the Hawaiian volcanic system.
- To investigate the connection between mantle earthquakes and volcanic plumbing.
Main Methods:
- Utilized advanced earthquake monitoring techniques.
- Applied deep learning algorithms to analyze a large seismic dataset (nearly 200,000 events).
- Mapped seismic activity to resolve subsurface structures.
Main Results:
- Identified a 15-km-long, near-horizontal sill complex at depths of 36-43 km.
- Revealed a 25-km-long seismicity belt connecting the sill complex to Kīlauea's deeper plumbing.
- Observed a seismicity column linking the sill complex to a shallow décollement near Mauna Loa.
Conclusions:
- The mantle sill complex serves as a critical nexus for magma transport beneath Hawai'i.
- Demonstrated widespread magmatic connectivity within the Hawaiian volcanic system.
- Highlighted the utility of deep learning in seismic imaging for understanding volcanic architecture.
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