Spatio-temporal evolution of the magma plumbing system at Masaya Caldera, Nicaragua

Volcanic unrest in calderas can be exhibited through a variety of different mechanisms, such as changes in seismicity and ground deformation, as well as variations in thermal and/or gas emissions. However, not all caldera unrest results in explosive caldera-forming volcanic activity. Alternative activity may include periods of quiescence, passive degassing, effusive activity (e.g., lava flows lava lakes and dome formation), and/or magma injection into the shallow magma system. In this study, we perform a long-term study (spanning 2011–2019) of ground deformation at Masaya using six Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) datasets. Masaya exhibited bi-modal eruptive behavior between 2011 and 2019, dominated by open-vent lava lake activity and punctuated by short-lived summit explosions. The Multidimensional Small BAseline Subset time-series analysis approach was used to take advantage of the temporally dense SAR datasets. Between 2012 and early 2015, we observed degassing-induced pressurization of the Masaya Central Reservoir (MCR) at an estimated volume change rate of ~ 0.28 × 10^6 m^3/year. In May 2015, magma was supplied into the MCR at a rate of ~ 5.6 × 10^6 m^3/year, leading to the appearance of a summit lava lake in December 2015. Over the next 6 months, rapid magma supply continued to drive lava lake activity and was followed by a cessation of magma supply into the MCR for another 11 months. From mid-2017 to end-2019, we observed depressurization (~ − 0.67 × 10^6 m^3/year) of the MCR due to a lack of magma supply and continued high rates of degassing in-conjunction with declining lava lake activity.

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Work Title Spatio-temporal evolution of the magma plumbing system at Masaya Caldera, Nicaragua
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Kirsten J. Stephens
  2. Christelle Wauthier
Keyword
  1. Caldera
  2. Open-vent
  3. Masaya
  4. InSAR
  5. Long-term deformation
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Bulletin of Volcanology
Publication Date January 26, 2022
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-022-01533-z
Deposited July 21, 2022

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Version 1
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  • Created
  • Added MSBAS_tsplot_InSAR_gas-act_EQs_5May2021_final_v2.pdf
  • Added Creator Kirsten J. Stephens
  • Added Creator Christelle Wauthier
  • Published
  • Updated Publication Date Show Changes
    Publication Date
    • 2022-02-01
    • 2022-01-26
  • Updated Description Show Changes
    Description
    • <p>Volcanic unrest in calderas can be exhibited through a variety of different mechanisms, such as changes in seismicity and ground deformation, as well as variations in thermal and/or gas emissions. However, not all caldera unrest results in explosive caldera-forming volcanic activity. Alternative activity may include periods of quiescence, passive degassing, effusive activity (e.g., lava flows lava lakes and dome formation), and/or magma injection into the shallow magma system. In this study, we perform a long-term study (spanning 2011–2019) of ground deformation at Masaya using six Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) datasets. Masaya exhibited bi-modal eruptive behavior between 2011 and 2019, dominated by open-vent lava lake activity and punctuated by short-lived summit explosions. The Multidimensional Small BAseline Subset time-series analysis approach was used to take advantage of the temporally dense SAR datasets. Between 2012 and early 2015, we observed degassing-induced pressurization of the Masaya Central Reservoir (MCR) at an estimated volume change rate of ~ 0.28 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup>/year. In May 2015, magma was supplied into the MCR at a rate of ~ 5.6 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup>/year, leading to the appearance of a summit lava lake in December 2015. Over the next 6 months, rapid magma supply continued to drive lava lake activity and was followed by a cessation of magma supply into the MCR for another 11 months. From mid-2017 to end-2019, we observed depressurization (~ − 0.67 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup>/year) of the MCR due to a lack of magma supply and continued high rates of degassing in-conjunction with declining lava lake activity.</p>
    • <p>Volcanic unrest in calderas can be exhibited through a variety of different mechanisms, such as changes in seismicity and ground deformation, as well as variations in thermal and/or gas emissions. However, not all caldera unrest results in explosive caldera-forming volcanic activity. Alternative activity may include periods of quiescence, passive degassing, effusive activity (e.g., lava flows lava lakes and dome formation), and/or magma injection into the shallow magma system. In this study, we perform a long-term study (spanning 2011–2019) of ground deformation at Masaya using six Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) datasets. Masaya exhibited bi-modal eruptive behavior between 2011 and 2019, dominated by open-vent lava lake activity and punctuated by short-lived summit explosions. The Multidimensional Small BAseline Subset time-series analysis approach was used to take advantage of the temporally dense SAR datasets. Between 2012 and early 2015, we observed degassing-induced pressurization of the Masaya Central Reservoir (MCR) at an estimated volume change rate of ~ 0.28 × 10^6 m^3/year. In May 2015, magma was supplied into the MCR at a rate of ~ 5.6 × 10^6 m^3/year, leading to the appearance of a summit lava lake in December 2015. Over the next 6 months, rapid magma supply continued to drive lava lake activity and was followed by a cessation of magma supply into the MCR for another 11 months. From mid-2017 to end-2019, we observed depressurization (~ − 0.67 × 10^6 m^3/year) of the MCR due to a lack of magma supply and continued high rates of degassing in-conjunction with declining lava lake activity.</p>
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  • Created
  • Added Stephens-Wauthier2022_Article_Spatio-temporalEvolutionOfTheM.pdf
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  • Updated Keyword Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Caldera, Open-vent, Masaya, InSAR, Long-term deformation
  • Updated