Resonances in fluid-filled cracks of complex geometry and application to
very long period (VLP) seismic signals at Mayotte submarine volcano
Abstract
Fluid-filled cracks sustain a slow guided wave (Krauklis wave or crack
wave) whose resonant frequencies are widely used for interpreting long
period (LP) and very long period (VLP) seismic signals at active
volcanoes. Significant efforts have been made to model this process
using analytical developments along an infinite crack or numerical
methods on simple crack geometries. In this work, we develop an
efficient hybrid numerical method for computing resonant frequencies of
complex-shaped fluid-filled cracks and networks of cracks and apply it
to explain the ratio of spectral peaks in the VLP signals from the Fani
Maoré submarine volcano that formed in Mayotte in 2018. By coupling
triangular boundary elements and the finite volume method, we
successfully handle complex geometries and achieve computational
efficiency by discretizing solely the crack surfaces. The resonant
frequencies are directly determined through eigenvalue analysis. After
proper verification, we systematically analyze the resonant frequencies
of rectangular and elliptical cracks, quantifying the effect of aspect
ratio and crack stiffness ratio. We then discuss theoretically the
contribution of fluid viscosity and seismic radiation to energy
dissipation. Finally, we obtain a crack geometry that successfully
explains the characteristic ratio between the first two modes of the VLP
seismic signals from the Fani Maoré submarine volcano in Mayotte. Our
work not only reveals rich eigenmodes in complex-shaped cracks but also
contributes to illuminating the subsurface plumbing system of active
volcanoes. The developed model is readily applicable to crack wave
resonances in other geological settings, such as glacier hydrology and
hydrocarbon reservoirs.