Compartmentalization of Axial Seamount's magma reservoir inferred by
analytical and numerical deformation modeling with realistic geometry
Abstract
Axial Seamount is a submarine volcano on the Juan de Fuca Ridge with
enhanced magma supply from the Cobb Hotspot. Here we compare several
deformation model configurations to explore how the spatial component of
Axial’s deformation time series relates to magma reservoir geometry
imaged by multi-channel seismic (MCS) surveys. To constrain the models,
we use vertical displacements from pressure sensors at seafloor
benchmarks and repeat autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) bathymetric
surveys covering 2016-2020. We show that implementing the MCS-derived 3D
main magma reservoir (MMR) geometry with uniform pressure in a finite
element model poorly fits the geodetic data. To test the hypothesis that
there is compartmentalization within the MMR that results in
heterogeneous pressure distribution, we compare analytical models using
various horizontal sill configurations constrained by the MMR geometry.
Using distributed pressure sources significantly improved the Root Mean
Square Error (RMSE) between the inflation data and the models by an
order of magnitude. The RMSE between the AUV data and the models was not
improved as much, likely due to the relatively larger uncertainty of the
AUV data. The models estimate the volume change for the 2016-2020
inter-eruptive inflation period to be between 0.054-0.060 km3 and
suggest that the MMR is compartmentalized, with most magma accumulating
in sill-like bodies embedded in crystal mush along the western-central
edge of the MMR. The results reveal the complexity of Axial’s plumbing
system and demonstrate the utility of integrating geodetic data and
seismic imagery to gain deeper insights into magma storage at active
volcanoes.