Rapid degassing in basaltic sills as a source of Deep Long Period
volcanic earthquakes
Abstract
In this paper, we present numerical modeling aimed to explain Deep Long
Period (DLP) events occurring in middle-to-lower crust beneath volcanoes
and often observed in association with volcanic eruptions or their
precursors. We consider a DLP generating mechanism caused by the rapid
growth of gas bubbles in response to the slow decompression of
H\textsubscript{2}O–CO\textsubscript{2}
over-saturated magma. The nucleation and rapid growth of gas bubbles
lead to rapid pressure change in the magma and elastic rebound of the
host rocks, radiating seismic waves recorded as DLP events. The magma
and host rocks are modeled as Maxwell bodies with different relaxation
times and elastic moduli. Simulations of a single sill-shaped intrusion
with different parameters demonstrate that realistic amplitudes and
frequencies of P and S seismic waves can be obtained when considering
intrusions with linear sizes of the order of 100 m. We then consider a
case of two closely located sills and model their interaction. We
speculate on conditions that can result in consecutive triggering of the
bubble growth in multiple closely located batches of magma, leading to
the generation of earthquake swarms or seismic tremors.