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Determining Earth's structure is paramount to unravel its interior dynamics. Seismic tomography reveals positive wave speed anomalies throughout the mantle that spatially correlate with the expected locations of subducted slabs. This correlation has been widely applied in plate reconstructions and geodynamic modelling. However, global travel-time tomography typically incorporates only a limited number of easily identifiable body wave phases and is therefore strongly dependent on the source-receiver geometry. Here, we show how global full-waveform inversion is less sensitive to source-receiver geometry and reveals numerous previously undetected positive wave speed anomalies in the lower mantle. Many of these previously undetected anomalies are situated below major oceans and continental interiors, with no geologic record of subduction, such as beneath the western Pacific Ocean. Moreover, we find no statistically significant correlation positive anomalies as imaged using full-waveform inversion and past subduction. These findings suggest more diverse origins for these anomalies in Earth's lower mantle, unlocking full-waveform inversion as an indispensable tool for mantle exploration., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Tectonic plate motions drive the earthquake cycle, as they result in the slow accrual and sudden release of energy along plate boundaries. Steadiness of plate motions over the earthquake cycle is a central tenet of the plate tectonics theory and has long been a main pillar in models of earthquake genesis, or of plate-margins seismic potential inferred from slip-deficit estimates. The advent of geodesy in the geosciences and the availability of multi-year-long series of position measurements permit tracking the motions of tectonic plates from before to after the time of significant seismic events that occur along their margins. Here, we present evidence that large earthquakes are capable of modifying the motions of entire microplates. We use high precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) position time-series covering the periods 2001-2004 and 2014-2017 to demonstrate that, contrary to the tenet above, the South China microplate motion changed after the 2008 M W 7.9 Great Wenchuan earthquake. The GNSS data and associated uncertainties indicate a plate motion slowdown of up to 20% that is beyond the possible impact of data noise and is thus tectonically meaningful. We use quantitative models of torque balance to show that generating this kinematic change requires a force upon the South China microplate compatible with that imparted by the Great Wenchuan earthquake of 2008. The existence of a kinematic signal linked to the earthquake cycle that impacts an entire microplate might offer an additional, novel perspective to assessing the hazards of earthquake-prone tectonic regions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The mid-eastern segment of the Qilianshan fault zone (QLF) on the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is considered one of the key seismic hazard areas. The Zhangye Ms5.0 earthquake and Menyuan Ms6.9 earthquake are the two Ms ≥ 5.0 earthquakes in recent years. The spatio-temporal evolution of Rn across the fault before the two Ms ≥ 5.0 earthquakes were explored by combining a solid seismogenic model and numerical simulation results in this study. The results demonstrates the spatial distribution of Rn concentration intensity varies over time, indicating the evolving characteristics of fracture zone activity. The time-series variation characteristics are closely related the Zhangye Ms5.0 earthquake and Menyuan Ms6.9 earthquake. Overall, in the seismic source area and surrounding medium area of Zhangye Ms5.0 earthquake, the soil gas Rn anomaly across faults characterized by a turning upward trend after continuous decline. The closer to the source area, the more obvious the upward trend. For Menyuan Ms6.9 earthquake, the survey line (HT1) located in the main fracture zone of the earthquake and the survey line (HT7,30km from the epicenter) closer to the epicenter also showed a similar trend, while the other measurement lines in far-field exhibit declining trend before the Menyuan Ms6.9 earthquake. Therefore, the continuous decline trend of soil gas may be crucial information for medium-term earthquake preparation in the seismogenic zone, and the trend of turning upward after continuous decline is a significant signal of short-term seismogenic event in far-field. This research could improve the understanding of the anomalous features of soil gas precursors and tracking the active sections of the fault. According to the model, the earthquake area canseismic source area, the surrounding medium area be divided into three sections: the seismic source area, the surrounding medium area, and the fracture fragmentation area., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

A magnetotelluric (MT) geophysical survey for the first time has been conducted for the geoelectric characterization of the junction of the contact zone of NNE-SSW striking Delhi Hardwar Ridge (DHR) and NW-SE trending Delhi Sargodha Ridge (DSR) in the Rohtak area, Haryana which has experienced 15 earthquakes of M2.0-M4.4 from April to August 2020. A total of 08 MT sites are acquired along a NW-SE profile of length 50 km. From the 2D MT data inversion, the DHR and DSR are for the first time characterized by equal values of moderate resistivity of 100 Ohm m at two depths. The resistivity variation for DHR corresponds to 100 Ohm m from the surface to the depth of 20 km, whilst DSR is found associated with the same value of resistivity extending in the NW direction. The DHR has been found striking NE-SW with a very shallow central axis (less than 400 m) having a width of 12-15 km forming half grabens on both limbs supported by shallow faults. The DSR has been found bifurcated from DHR at a depth of 12-13 km and extended in the NW direction. The DSR has been generated due to flexure bulging caused by collision and anticlockwise rotation of the Indian plate in the Eocene period. A NE striking steep dipping reverse fault (F1) has also been identified about 15 km west of the DHR. It is inferred that the DSR got upthrusted along this fault and became shallower in the NW region. The seismicity in the Rohtak and surroundings is located at the bifurcation points of DHR and DSR and the contact zone of DSR and reverse fault F1. The reverse fault F1 is also active and has generated microseismicity in the past., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Continuous seismic monitoring could play a pivotal role in deep geothermal energy exploration. We monitored seismicity near geothermal production areas of the Kuju volcanic complex with a dense seismic network and automated event detection. Most events were shallow (less than 3 km below sea level) and distributed along a boundary between regions of high and low resistivity and S-wave velocity, interpreted as a lithological boundary or related fracture zone. Deeper events located on top of subvertical conductors may reflect fracturing associated with magmatic fluid intrusion. A correlation may exist between seismicity and heavy rainfall three days prior to increased pore pressure in pre-existing fractures. Our findings support the presence of supercritical geothermal fluids and demonstrate the importance of continuous seismic monitoring in supercritical geothermal energy exploration., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The advancements in electrochemical capacitors have noticed a remarkable enhancement in the performance for smart electronic device applications, which has led to the invention of novel and low-cost electroactive materials. Herein, we synthesized nanostructured Al 2 O 3 and Al 2 O 3 -reduced graphene oxide (Al 2 O 3 -rGO) hybrid through hydrothermal and post-hydrothermal calcination processes. The synthesized materials were subject to standard characterisation processes to verify their morphological and structural details. The electrochemical performances of nanostructured Al 2 O 3 and Al 2 O 3 - rGO hybrid were evaluated through computational and experimental analyses. Due to the superior electrical conductivity of reduced graphene oxide and the synergistic effect of both EDLC and pseudocapacitive behaviour, the Al 2 O 3 - rGO hybrid shows much improved electrochemical performance (~ 15-fold) as compared to bare Al 2 O 3 . Further, a symmetric supercapacitor device (SSD) was designed using the Al 2 O 3 - rGO hybrid electrodes, and detailed electrochemical performance was evaluated. The fabricated Al 2 O 3 - rGO hybrid-based SSD showed 98.56% capacity retention when subjected to ~ 10,000 charge-discharge cycles. Both the systems (Al 2 O 3 and its rGO hybrid) have been analysed extensively with the help of Density Functional Theory simulation technique to provide detailed structural and electronic properties. With the introduction of reduced graphene oxide, the available electronic states near the Fermi level are greatly enhanced, imparting a significant increment in the conductivity of the hybrid system. The lower diffusion energy barrier for electrolyte ions and higher quantum capacitance for the hybrid structure compared to pristine Al 2 O 3 justify improvement in charge storage performance for the hybrid structure, supporting our experimental findings., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Microseism is the continuous background seismic signal caused by the interaction between the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the solid Earth. Several studies have dealt with the relationship between microseisms and the tropical cyclones, but none focused on the small-scale tropical cyclones that occur in the Mediterranean Sea, called Medicanes. In this work, we analysed the Medicane Apollo which impacted the eastern part of Sicily during the period 25 October-5 November 2021 causing heavy rainfall, strong wind gusts and violent sea waves. We investigated the microseism accompanying this extreme Mediterranean weather event, and its relationship with the sea state retrieved from hindcast maps and wave buoys. The spectral and amplitude analyses showed the space-time variation of the microseism amplitude. In addition, we tracked the position of Apollo during the time using two different methods: (i) a grid search method; (ii) an array analysis. We obtained a good match between the real position of Apollo and the location constraint by both methods. This work shows that it is possible to extract information on Medicanes from microseisms for both research and monitoring purposes., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The epidemic-type aftershock sequence (ETAS) model provides an effective tool for predicting the spatio-temporal evolution of aftershock clustering in short-term. Based on this model, a fully probabilistic procedure was previously proposed by the first two authors for providing spatio-temporal predictions of aftershock occurrence in a prescribed forecasting time interval. This procedure exploited the versatility of the Bayesian inference to adaptively update the forecasts based on the incoming information provided by the ongoing seismic sequence. In this work, this Bayesian procedure is improved: (1) the likelihood function for the sequence has been modified to properly consider the piecewise stationary integration of the seismicity rate; (2) the spatial integral of seismicity rate over the whole aftershock zone is calculated analytically; (3) background seismicity is explicitly considered within the forecasting procedure; (4) an adaptive Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation procedure is adopted; (5) leveraging the stochastic sequences generated by the procedure in the forecasting interval, the N-test and the S-test are adopted to verify the forecasts. This framework is demonstrated and verified through retrospective early forecasting of seismicity associated with the 2017-2019 Kermanshah seismic sequence activities in western Iran in two distinct phases following the main events with Mw7.3 and Mw6.3, respectively., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Fast detection and characterization of seismic sources is crucial for decision-making and warning systems that monitor natural and induced seismicity. However, besides the laying out of ever denser monitoring networks of seismic instruments, the incorporation of new sensor technologies such as Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) further challenges our processing capabilities to deliver short turnaround answers from seismic monitoring. In response, this work describes a methodology for the learning of the seismological parameters: location and moment tensor from compressed seismic records. In this method, data dimensionality is reduced by applying a general encoding protocol derived from the principles of compressive sensing. The data in compressed form is then fed directly to a convolutional neural network that outputs fast predictions of the seismic source parameters. Thus, the proposed methodology can not only expedite data transmission from the field to the processing center, but also remove the decompression overhead that would be required for the application of traditional processing methods. An autoencoder is also explored as an equivalent alternative to perform the same job. We observe that the CS-based compression requires only a fraction of the computing power, time, data and expertise required to design and train an autoencoder to perform the same task. Implementation of the CS-method with a continuous flow of data together with generalization of the principles to other applications such as classification are also discussed., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Our detailed 3-D seismic tomographic assimilation using high-quality phase arrival time data recorded by the local seismographic network demonstrated that heterogeneities in the crustal faults have contributed significantly to the pop-up tectonics beneath the Shillong Plateau, characterized by high-V and low-σ. The major seismogenic faults, namely, the north-dipping Dapsi thrust in association with Dauki fault in the south and south dipping Brahmaputra fault in the north, located either side of the Shillong Plateau that acted as the causative factors for the pop-up, which attributed to the lithostatic (high-V, low-σ) and sedimentary (low-V, high-σ) load, respectively. Seismicity is found confined to a depth ≤ 60 km. Uneven distribution of structural heterogeneities in the upper crust is responsible for earthquake genesis of varying strengths. It is intriguing to note that high-velocity anomalies and low-ϭ in the uppermost crust, interpreted as the Shillong Plateau that acted as a geometric asperity and the juxtaposition of high-V and low-V became the source zone of the 1897 Shillong earthquake (M s 8.7) as a novel observation for the region. Structural heterogeneities are distinctly distributed between low-V, high-σ and high-V, low-σ in the lower crust plays a major role for future intense seismogenesis due to differential strain accumulation., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Silicate and oxide glasses are often chemically doped with a variety of cations to tune for desirable properties in technological applications, but their performances are often limited by relatively lower mechanical and elastic properties. Finding a new route to synthesize silica-based glasses with high elastic and mechanical properties needs to be explored. Here, we report a dense SiO 2 -glass with ultra-high elastic moduli using sound velocity measurements by Brillouin scattering up to 72 GPa at 300 K. High-temperature measurements were performed up to 63 GPa at 750 K and 59 GPa at 1000 K. Compared to compression at 300 K, elevated temperature helps compressed SiO 2 -glass effectively overcome the kinetic barrier to undergo permanent densification with enhanced coordination number and connectivity. This hot compressed SiO 2 -glass exhibits a substantially high bulk modulus of 361-429 GPa which is at least 2-3 times greater than the metallic, oxide, and silicate glasses at ambient conditions. Its Poisson's ratio, an indicator for the packing efficiency, is comparable to the metallic glasses. Even after temperature quench and decompression to ambient conditions, the SiO 2 -glass retains some of its unique properties at compression and possesses a Poisson's ratio of 0.248(11). In addition to chemical alternatives in glass syntheses, coupled compression and heating treatments can be an effective means to enhance mechanical and elastic properties in high-performance glasses., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

As the largest water conservancy and hydropower project in China, the Three Gorges Reservoir is a weak seismic activity area before impoundment, but the frequency of earthquakes increases significantly after impoundment. The spatial density scanning method was used to obtain the characteristics of spatio-temporal earthquake distribution in the reservoir area during loading and unloading processes. The results show that the frequencies of earthquakes during the loading and unloading processes were higher than that during the low-water-level operation period, which is well explained by the acoustic emission test results. The seismic b-value, fractal dimension D, and spatial correlation length SCL can be used together to indicate stress criticality. To analyze the impacts of reservoir water loading and unloading on seismicity in the reservoir area, time-scan analyses were performed on the b-value, D-value, and SCL of earthquakes near the Zigui segment and the Badong segment. Previous studies argued that the time-varying characteristics of b-values do not hold predictive significance for earthquakes in the M4.0-6.2 range. However, our study found that the time-varying characteristics of b-values are of predictive significance for earthquakes around M4.0. These seismic parameters decrease significantly before moderate earthquakes but at different rates in different regions., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Semisopochnoi Island is a remote and little-studied volcanic island in the western part of the Aleutian Arc. The existence of several active volcanic centers and a 5000-7000-year-old large caldera makes this island an important site for volcanic hazard assessment in the Northern Pacific. Based on local seismicity data recorded by six permanent seismic stations, we created the seismic tomography model, including the 3D distributions of Vp, Vs, and Vp/Vs ratios to a depth of 10 km. This model provides the first geophysical insight into the interior structure of Semisopochnoi Island and sheds light on the processes in the magma plumbing system beneath all volcanic centers on the island. At depths of 5-10 km, we observed a columnar-shaped high Vp/Vs-ratio anomaly below the caldera in the central part of the island, which likely represents the steady magma conduit. This conduit is headed by a prominent high Vp/Vs-ratio anomaly located 3-5 km directly below the caldera, which represents the magma reservoir feeding Cerberus and other Holocene-aged volcanic centers on Semisopochnoi Island., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Subsurface structures may control the migration of magma beneath a volcano. We used high-resolution seismic tomography to image a low- P-wave velocity (Vp) zone beneath Unzen Volcano, Japan, at depths of 3-16 km beneath sea level. The top of this low-Vp zone is located beneath Mt. Fugendake of Unzen volcano, which emitted 0.21 km 3 of dacitic magma as lava domes and pyroclastic flows during eruptions in 1990-1995. Based on hypocenter migrations prior to the 1990-1995 eruptions and modeled pressure source locations for recorded crustal deformation, we conclude that the magma for the 1990-1995 eruptions migrated obliquely upward along the top of the low-Vp zone. As tectonic earthquakes occurred above the deeper part of the low-Vp zone, the deep low-Vp zone is interpreted to be a high-temperature region (> 400 °C) overlying the brittle-ductile transition. By further considering Vs and Vp/Vs structures, we suggest that the deeper part of the low-Vp zone constitutes a highly crystalized magma-mush reservoir, and the shallower part a volatile-rich zone., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Understanding the relationship cause/effect between tectonic earthquakes and volcanic eruptions is a striking topic in Earth Sciences. Volcanoes erupt with variable reaction times as a consequence of the impact of seismic waves (i.e. dynamic stress) and changes in the stress field (i.e. static stress). In 2012, three large (M w  ≥ 7.3) subduction earthquakes struck Central America within a period of 10 weeks; subsequently, some volcanoes in the region erupted a few days after, while others took months or even years to erupt. Here, we show that these three earthquakes contributed to the increase in the number of volcanic eruptions during the 7 years that followed these seismic events. We found that only those volcanoes that were already in a critical state of unrest eventually erupted, which indicates that the earthquakes only prompted the eruptions. Therefore, we recommend the permanent monitoring of active volcanoes to reveal which are more susceptible to culminate into eruption in the aftermath of the next large-magnitude earthquake hits a region., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The discrepancy between Na-rich compositions of modern carbonatitic lavas (Oldoinyo Lengai volcano) and alkali-poor ancient carbonatites remains a topical problem in petrology. Although both are supposedly considered to originate via fractional crystallization of a "common parent" alkali-bearing Ca-carbonatitic magma, there is a significant compositional gap between the Oldoinyo Lengai carbonatites and all other natural compositions reported (including melt inclusions in carbonatitic minerals). In an attempt to resolve this, we investigate the petrogenesis of Ca-carbonatites from two occurrences (Guli, Northern Siberia and Tagna, Southern Siberia), focusing on mineral textures and alkali-rich multiphase primary inclusions hosted within apatite and magnetite. Apatite-hosted inclusions are interpreted as trapped melts at an early magmatic stage, whereas inclusions in magnetite represent proxies for the intercumulus environment. Melts obtained by heating and quenching the inclusions, show a progressive increase in alkali concentrations transitioning from moderately alkaline Ca-carbonatites through to the "calcite CaCO 3  + melt = nyerereite (Na,K) 2 Ca 2 (CO 3 ) 3 " peritectic, and finally towards Oldoinyo Lengai lava compositions. These results give novel empirical evidence supporting the view that Na-carbonatitic melts, similar to those of the Oldoinyo Lengai, may form via fractionation of a moderately alkaline Ca-carbonatitic melt, and therefore provide the "missing piece" in the puzzle of the Na-carbonatite's origin. In addition, we conclude that the compositions of the Guli and Tagna carbonatites had alkali-rich primary magmatic compositions, but were subsequently altered by replacement of alkaline assemblages by calcite and dolomite., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Delhi region in northern India experiences frequent shaking due to both far-field and near-field earthquakes from the Himalayan and local sources, respectively. The recent M3.5 and M3.4 earthquakes of 12th April 2020 and 10th May 2020 respectively in northeast Delhi and M4.4 earthquake of 29th May 2020 near Rohtak (~ 50 km west of Delhi), followed by more than a dozen aftershocks, created panic in this densely populated habitat. The past seismic history and the current activity emphasize the need to revisit the subsurface structural setting and its association with the seismicity of the region. Fault plane solutions are determined using data collected from a dense network in Delhi region. The strain energy released in the last two decades is also estimated to understand the subsurface structural environment. Based on fault plane solutions, together with information obtained from strain energy estimates and the available geophysical and geological studies, it is inferred that the Delhi region is sitting on two contrasting structural environments: reverse faulting in the west and normal faulting in the east, separated by the NE-SW trending Delhi Hardwar Ridge/Mahendragarh-Dehradun Fault (DHR-MDF). The WNW-ESE trending Delhi Sargoda Ridge (DSR), which intersects DHR-MDF in the west, is inferred as a thrust fault. The transfer of stress from the interaction zone of DHR-MDF and DSR to nearby smaller faults could further contribute to the scattered shallow seismicity in Delhi region.

Volcanoes are traditionally considered isolated with an activity that is mostly independent of the surrounding, with few eruptions only (< 2%) associated with a tectonic earthquake trigger. Evidence is now increasing that volcanoes forming clusters of eruptive centers may simultaneously erupt, show unrest, or even shut-down activity. Using infrared satellite data, we detail 20 years of eruptive activity (2000-2020) at Klyuchevskoy, Bezymianny, and Tolbachik, the three active volcanoes of the Klyuchevskoy Volcanic Group (KVG), Kamchatka. We show that the neighboring volcanoes exhibit multiple and reciprocal interactions on different timescales that unravel the magmatic system's complexity below the KVG. Klyuchevskoy and Bezymianny volcanoes show correlated activity with time-predictable and quasiperiodic behaviors, respectively. This is consistent with magma accumulation and discharge dynamics at both volcanoes, typical of steady-state volcanism. However, Tolbachik volcano can interrupt this steady-state regime and modify the magma output rate of its neighbors for several years. We suggest that below the KVG the transfer of magma at crustal level is modulated by the presence of three distinct but hydraulically connected plumbing systems. Similar complex interactions may occur at other volcanic groups and must be considered to evaluate the hazard of grouped volcanoes.

With a minimum of three reported waves, the 2011 Tohoku-oki tsunami's destructive force caused massive damage along the northern Japanese Aomori coast. At Misawa the coastal control area was inundated up to 550 m inland and sandy sediment remnants can be traced to c. 350 m (c. 61-63% of the maximum inundation) from the shoreline. Linking the discovery of floatable plastic objects within a woody and organic layer to our analytical data lead to the detection of a yet undocumented woody-organic tsunami deposit first appearing on top of the sandy deposit but then reaching even further inland (approx. 69-72% of the max. inundation). By this observation our understanding of the documented part of the tsunami inundation may be improved. As a consequence, sand sheets of historic and paleo-tsunamis represent minimum estimates for the coastal inundation and underestimation may be reduced by addressing the woody and organic fraction of a tsunami's inundation.

The 2011 magnitude (M) 9.0 Tohoku-oki earthquake was followed by seismicity activation in inland areas throughout Japan. An outstanding case is the M6.2 Northern Nagano earthquake, central Japan, occurred 13-h after the megathrust event, approximately 400 km away from its epicenter. The physical processes relating the occurrence of megathrust earthquakes and subsequent activation of relatively large inland earthquakes are not well understood. Here we use waveform data of a dense local seismic network to reveal with an unprecedented resolution the complex mechanisms leading to the occurrence of the M6.2 earthquake. We show that previously undetected small earthquakes initiated along the Nagano earthquake source fault at relatively short times after the Tohoku-oki megathrust earthquake, and the local seismicity continued intermittently until the occurrence of the M6.2 event, being likely 'modulated' by the arrival of surface waves from large, remote aftershocks off-shore Tohoku. About 1-h before the Nagano earthquake, there was an acceleration of micro-seismicity migrating towards its hypocenter. Migration speeds indicate potential localized slow-slip, culminating with the occurrence of the large inland earthquake, with fluids playing a seismicity-activation role at a regional scale.

Lithosphere extension, which plays an essential role in plate tectonics, occurs both in continents (as rift systems) and oceans (spreading along mid-oceanic ridges). The northern Red Sea area is a unique natural geodynamic laboratory, where the ongoing transition from continental rifting to oceanic spreading can be observed. Here, we analyze travel time data from a merged catalogue provided by the Egyptian and Saudi Arabian seismic networks to build a three-dimensional model of seismic velocities in the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the northern Red Sea and surroundings. The derived structures clearly reveal a high-velocity anomaly coinciding with the Red Sea basin and a narrow low-velocity anomaly centered along the rift axis. We interpret these structures as a transition of lithospheric extension from continental rifting to oceanic spreading. The transitional lithosphere is manifested by a dominantly positive seismic anomaly indicating the presence of a 50-70-km-thick and 200-300-km-wide cold lithosphere. Along the forming oceanic ridge axis, an elongated low-velocity anomaly marks a narrow localized nascent spreading zone that disrupts the transitional lithosphere. Along the eastern margins of the Red Sea, several low-velocity anomalies may represent crustal zone of massive Cenozoic basaltic magmatism.

The Tatun Volcanic Group (TVG) is proximal to the metropolis of Taipei City (population of ca. 7 million) and has long been a major concern due to the potential risks from volcanic activity to the population and critical infrastructure. While the TVG has been previously considered a dormant or extinct volcano, recent evidence suggests a much younger age of the last eruption event (~ 6000 years) and possible existence of a magma reservoir beneath the TVG. However, the location, dimension, and detailed geometry of the magma reservoir and plumbing system remains largely unknown. To examine the TVG volcanic plumbing structure in detail, the local P-wave travel time data and the teleseismic waveform data from a new island-wide Formosa Array Project are combined for a 3D tomographic joint inversion. The new model reveals a magma reservoir with a notable P-wave velocity reduction of 19% (ca. ~ 19% melt fraction) at 8-20 km beneath eastern TVG and with possible northward extension to a shallower depth near where active submarine volcanoes that have been detected. Enhanced tomographic images also reveal sporadic magmatic intrusion/underplating in the lower crust of Husehshan Range and northern Taiwan. These findings suggest an active volcanic plumbing system induced by post-collisional extension associated with the collapse of the orogen.

Previous investigation of seismic anisotropy indicates the presence of a simple mantle flow regime beneath the Turkish-Anatolian Plateau and Arabian Plate. Numerical modeling suggests that this simple flow is a component of a large-scale global mantle flow associated with the African superplume, which plays a key role in the geodynamic framework of the Arabia-Eurasia continental collision zone. However, the extent and impact of the flow pattern farther east beneath the Iranian Plateau and Zagros remains unclear. While the relatively smoothly varying lithospheric thickness beneath the Anatolian Plateau and Arabian Plate allows progress of the simple mantle flow, the variable lithospheric thickness across the Iranian Plateau is expected to impose additional boundary conditions on the mantle flow field. In this study, for the first time, we use an unprecedented data set of seismic waveforms from a network of 245 seismic stations to examine the mantle flow pattern and lithospheric deformation over the entire region of the Iranian Plateau and Zagros by investigation of seismic anisotropy. We also examine the correlation between the pattern of seismic anisotropy, plate motion using GPS velocities and surface strain fields. Our study reveals a complex pattern of seismic anisotropy that implies a similarly complex mantle flow field. The pattern of seismic anisotropy suggests that the regional simple mantle flow beneath the Arabian Platform and eastern Turkey deflects as a circular flow around the thick Zagros lithosphere. This circular flow merges into a toroidal component beneath the NW Zagros that is likely an indicator of a lateral discontinuity in the lithosphere. Our examination also suggests that the main lithospheric deformation in the Zagros occurs as an axial shortening across the belt, whereas in the eastern Alborz and Kopeh-Dagh a belt-parallel horizontal lithospheric deformation plays a major role.

Strong explosive eruptions of volcanoes throw out mixtures of gases and ash from high-pressure underground reservoirs. Investigating these subsurface reservoirs may help to forecast and characterize an eruption. In this study, we compare seismic tomography results with remote sensing and petrology data to identify deep and subaerial manifestations of pre-eruptive processes at Bezymianny volcano in Kamchatka shortly before its violent explosion on December 20, 2017. Based on camera networks we identify precursory rockfalls, and based on satellite radar data we find pre-eruptive summit inflation. Our seismic network recorded the P and S wave data from over 500 local earthquakes used to invert for a 3D seismic velocity distribution beneath Bezymianny illuminating its eruptive state days before the eruption. The derived tomography model, in conjunction with the presence of the high-temperature-stable SiO 2 polymorph Tridymite in juvenile rock samples , allowed us to infer the coexistence of magma and gas reservoirs revealed as anomalies of low (1.5) and high (2.0) Vp/Vs ratios, respectively, located at depths of 2-3 km and only 2 km apart. The reservoirs both control the current eruptive activity: while the magma reservoir is responsible for episodic dome growth and lava flow emplacements, the spatially separated gas reservoir may control short but powerful explosive eruptions of Bezymianny.

With the rapid development of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and its wide applications to atmospheric science research, the global ionosphere map (GIM) total electron content (TEC) data are extensively used as a potential tool to detect ionospheric disturbances related to seismic activity and they are frequently used to statistically study the relation between the ionosphere and earthquakes (EQs). Indeed, due to the distribution of ground based GPS receivers is very sparse or absent in large areas of ocean, the GIM-TEC data over oceans are results of interpolation between stations and extrapolation in both space and time, and therefore, they are not suitable for studying the marine EQs. In this paper, based on the GIM-TEC data, a statistical investigation of ionospheric TEC variations of 15 days before and after the 276 M ≥ 6.0 inland EQs is undertaken. After eliminating the interference of geomagnetic activities, the spatial and temporal distributions of the ionospheric TEC disturbances before and after the EQs are investigated and compared. There are no particularly distinct features in the time distribution of the ionospheric TEC disturbances before the inland EQs. However, there are some differences in the spatial distribution, and the biggest difference is precisely in the epicenter area. On the other hand, the occurrence rates of ionospheric TEC disturbances within 5 days before the EQs are overall higher than those after EQs, in addition both of them slightly increase with the earthquake magnitude. These results suggest that the anomalous variations of the GIM-TEC before the EQs might be related to the seismic activities.

Polyoxometalate (POM) chemistry is an important avenue of comprehensive chemical research, due to the broad chemical, topological and structural variations of multinuclear polyoxoanions that result in advanced functionality of their derivatives. The majority of compounds in the polyoxometalate kingdom are synthesized under laboratory conditions. However, Nature has its own labs with the conditions often unconceivable to the mankind. The striking example of such a unique environment is volcanic fumaroles - the natural factories of gas-transport synthesis. We herein report on the discovery of a novel class of complex polyoxocuprates grown in the hot active fumaroles of the Tolbachik volcano at the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. The cuboctahedral nanoclusters {[MCu 12 O 8 ](AsO 4 ) 8 } are stabilized by the core Fe(III) or Ti(IV) cations residing in the unique cubic coordination. The nanoclusters are uniformly dispersed over the anion- and cation-deficient NaCl matrix. Our discovery might have promising implications for synthetic chemistry, indicating the possibility of preparation of complex polyoxocuprates by chemical vapor transport (CVT) techniques that emulate formation of minerals in high-temperature volcanic fumaroles.

Geophysical processes of the pre-earthquake activities are difficult to be determined since less pre-seismic signal is observed directly. Crustal density changes derived from the periodical terrestrial gravimetry may provide meaningful deep information for the pre-earthquake cue. In this study, the crustal density changes following the 2016 M S 6.4 Menyuan earthquake are estimated using ground-based gravity-change data from 2011 to 2015 in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. The results show that negative density changes dominate the region between the South Longshou Mountain fault and the Daban Mountain fault except the southeast of this region (the seismic region) during 2011-2012. Positive density changes appeared in the middle crust near the epicenter during 2012-2013 and in the upper and middle crust east of the epicenter approximately 1.5 years before the earthquake (2013-2014), and then negative density changes appeared under and northeast of the epicenter approximately four months before the earthquake (2014-2015). The state of the crustal materials near the seismic region changed from convergence to expansion, in turn, indicating that the characteristics of the deep seismogenic process was corresponding to Amos Nur's 1974 dilatancy-fluid diffusion model.

Saucer-shaped intrusions of tens of meters to tens of kilometres across have been observed both from surface geological mapping and geophysical observations. However, there is only one location where they have been reported to extend c. 100 km laterally, and emplaced both in a sedimentary basin and the crystalline basement down to 12 km depth. The legacy BABEL offshore seismic data, acquired over the central Fennoscandian Shield in 1989, have been recovered and reprocessed with the main goal of focusing on this series of globally unique crustal-scale saucer-shaped intrusions present onshore and offshore below the Bothnian Sea. The intrusions (c. 1.25 Ga), emplaced in an extensional setting, are observed within both sedimentary rocks (<1.5 Ga) and in the crystalline basement (>1.5 Ga). They have oval shapes with diameters ranging 30-100 km. The reprocessed seismic data provide evidence of up-doming of the lower crust (representing the melt reservoir) below the intrusions that, in turn, are observed at different depths in addition to a steep seismically transparent zone interpreted to be a discordant feeder dyke system. Relative age constraints and correlation with onshore saucer-shaped intrusions of different size suggest that they are internally connected and fed by each other from deeper to shallower levels. We argue for a nested emplacement mechanism and against a controlling role by the overlying sedimentary basin as the saucer-shaped intrusions are emplaced in both the sedimentary rocks as well as in the underlying crystalline basement. The interplay between magma pressure and overburden pressure, as well as the, at the time, ambient stress regime, are responsible for their extensive extent and rather constant thicknesses (c. 100-300 m). Saucer-shaped intrusions may therefore be present elsewhere in the crystalline basement to the same extent as observed in this study some of which are a significant source of raw materials.

The forearc in Northeast Japan subsided (3-4 mm/year) in the interseismic ~100 years before the 2011 Tohoku earthquake (M W 9.1) just like it did during this event. This study attempts to understand the mechanism of the vertical displacement of the forearc during gigantic earthquake cycles via numerical modeling. The results suggest that the interseismic subsidence rate in the forearc increases with the duration of the locking of the asperity of the gigantic earthquake over several hundred years, due to the increasing slip deficit rate on the deeper parts of the plate interface. The increasing slip deficit rate is caused by both the decreasing the shear stress in the shear zone owing to the continuous locking of the asperity and the increasing the mobility of the continental lithosphere owing to the viscoelastic relaxation in the mantle wedge. The deep slip deficit rate extending to ~100 km depth of the plate interface is necessary to explain the observed interseismic forearc subsidence rate. The results also suggest hundreds of years of continuous locking of the asperities of a gigantic earthquake in the western Kuril subduction zone, where fast forearc subsidence has been observed as well.

Young rifts are shaped by combined tectonic and surface processes and climate, yet few records exist to evaluate the interplay of these processes over an extended period of early rift-basin development. Here, we present the longest and highest resolution record of sediment flux and paleoenvironmental changes when a young rift connects to the global oceans. New results from International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 381 in the Corinth Rift show 10s-100s of kyr cyclic variations in basin paleoenvironment as eustatic sea level fluctuated with respect to sills bounding this semi-isolated basin, and reveal substantial corresponding changes in the volume and character of sediment delivered into the rift. During interglacials, when the basin was marine, sedimentation rates were lower (excepting the Holocene), and bioturbation and organic carbon concentration higher. During glacials, the basin was isolated from the ocean, and sedimentation rates were higher (~2-7 times those in interglacials). We infer that reduced vegetation cover during glacials drove higher sediment flux from the rift flanks. These orbital-timescale changes in rate and type of basin infill will likely influence early rift sedimentary and faulting processes, potentially including syn-rift stratigraphy, sediment burial rates, and organic carbon flux and preservation on deep continental margins worldwide.

Over the last four decades, space-based nadir observations of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) proved to be a key data source for assessing the environmental impacts of volcanic emissions, for monitoring volcanic activity and early signs of eruptions, and ultimately mitigating related hazards on local populations and aviation. Despite its importance, a detailed picture of global SO 2 daily degassing is difficult to produce, notably for lower-tropospheric plumes, due largely to the limited spatial resolution and coverage or lack of sensitivity and selectivity to SO 2 of current (and previous) nadir sensors. We report here the first volcanic SO 2 measurements from the hyperspectral TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) launched in October 2017 onboard the ESA's Sentinel-5 Precursor platform. Using the operational processing algorithm, we explore the benefit of improved spatial resolution to the monitoring of global volcanic degassing. We find that TROPOMI surpasses any space nadir sensor in its ability to detect weak degassing signals and captures day-to-day changes in SO 2 emissions. The detection limit of TROPOMI to SO 2 emissions is a factor of 4 better than the heritage Aura/Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). Here we show that TROPOMI SO 2 daily observations carry a wealth of information on volcanic activity. Provided with adequate wind speed data, temporally resolved SO 2 fluxes can be obtained at hourly time steps or shorter. We anticipate that TROPOMI SO 2 data will help to monitor global volcanic daily degassing and better understand volcanic processes and impacts.

Mt. Spurr is the largest active volcano in Alaska of high explosive potential. The most recent activity, including two recent magmatic eruptions in 1953 and 1992, has occurred via the flanking Crater Peak. From 2004 to 2006, strong seismicity, gas flux, and heating were observed in the summit area, which had remained inactive for more than 5 Ka. To understand the cause of this reactivation, we performed repeated tomography inversions that clearly imaged the magma reservoir beneath Mt. Spurr and showed temporal changes in its shape and intensity. During the two years preceding the unrest, we observed ascension of the upper limit of the reservoir-related anomaly from a depth of 5 to 3 km below the surface, accompanied by strong seismicity. During the following years, the shape of the anomaly remained unchanged, but its intensity weakened. These observations may indicate the release of fluids from the ductile reservoir and fast upward ascent through the brittle cover that caused intensive seismicity and gas flux during the unrest from 2004 to 2006. The origin of this zone will possibly cause a resumption of explosive eruptions in the summit area of Mt. Spurr.

The giant 1771 Yaeyama tsunami occurred in the southwestern part of the Ryukyu Arc, a region on an obliquely subducting plate boundary, which shows no direct evidence of inter-plate coupling. Studies of tsunami boulders and deposits suggest that the recurrence interval of comparably giant tsunamis is roughly 500 to 1000 years. Tsunami source models, which include either slip on a shallow plate boundary or active faulting plus a landslide on the overriding plate, are controversial because of inconsistencies in the geophysical and geological data. We discovered a seafloor depression that is approximately 30 km wide and 80 km long extending in the ESE-WNW direction. This depression is accompanied by a seaward bulge on the accretionary prism along the Ryukyu Trench, which is based on detailed bathymetric data and interpreted to be the result of accretionary prism collapse and seaward displacement by rotational slide. A simple tsunami simulation shows that the slide is a plausible source of the 1771 tsunami. We propose a collapse model, in which the accretionary prism remained over-steepened as strike-slip faulting removed the prism toe. Our model indicates that some oblique subduction zones are capable of generating giant tsunamis regardless of weak or strong coupling.

GPS-derived Total Electron Content (TEC) is an integrated quantity; hence it is difficult to relate the detection of ionospheric perturbations in TEC to a precise altitude. As TEC is weighted by the maximum ionospheric density, the corresponding altitude (hmF2) is, generally, assumed as the perturbation detection altitude. To investigate the validity of this assumption in detail, we conduct an accurate analysis of the GPS-TEC measured early ionospheric signatures related to the vertical surface displacement of the Mw 7.4 Sanriku-Oki earthquake (Sanriku-Oki Tohoku foreshock). Using 3D acoustic ray tracing model to describe the evolution of the propagating seismo-acoustic wave in space and time, we demonstrate how to infer the detection altitude of these early signatures in TEC. We determine that the signatures can be detected at altitudes up to ~130 km below the hmF2. This peculiar behaviour is attributed to the satellite line of sight (LOS) geometry and station location with respect to the source, which allows one to sound the co-seismic ionospheric signatures directly above the rupture area. We show that the early onset times correspond to crossing of the LOS with the acoustic wavefront at lower ionospheric altitudes. To support the proposed approach, we further reconstruct the seismo-acoustic induced ionospheric signatures for a moving satellite in the presence of a geomagnetic field. Both the 3D acoustic ray tracing model and the synthetic waveforms from the 3D coupled model substantiate the observed onset time of the ionospheric signatures. Moreover, our simple 3D acoustic ray tracing approach allows one to extend this analysis to azimuths different than that of the station-source line.

Complex core-rim zoning of Mg-Fe-Ni-Ca-Cr-Al-P in high-Mg olivine crystals from a tuff ring of Shiveluch volcano, Kamchatka, enables reconstruction of the entire olivine crystallization history from mantle conditions to eruption. Bell-shaped Fo 86-92 and Ni profiles in crystal cores were formed by diffusion after mixing with evolved magma. Diffusion proceeded to the centres of crystals and completely equilibrated Fo and Ni in some crystals. Diffusion times extracted from Fo and Ni core profiles range from 100 to 2000 days. During subsequent mixing with mafic mantle-equilibrated melt, the cores were partially dissolved and overgrown by Fo 90 olivine. Times extracted from Fo and Ni diffusion profiles across the resorption interface between the core and its overgrowth range within 1-10 days, which corresponds to the time of magma ascent to the surface. The overgrowth shows identical smooth Fo-Ni decreasing zoning patterns for all crystals towards the margin, indicating that all crystals shared the same growth history after last mixing event prior to eruption. At the same time, Ca, and to an even greater extent Cr, Al, and P have oscillatory growth patterns in the crystals overgrowth. Our data show that magma ascent can be extremely short during maar/tuff ring eruption.

Several unusual strong earthquakes occurred in central India along the Narmada-Son Lineament (NSL) zone, far from active plate boundaries. To understand the role of collisional processes in the origin of this seismicity, we develop a numerical thermomechanical model of shortening between the Indian Plate and Asia. We show that at the final stage of collision, the shortening rate of the high mountain areas slows. The continuing convergence of India and Asia triggers the initiation of a new collision zone in continental part of India. Various geological and geophysical observations indicate that the NSL is a weakest zone with northward thrusting of the thinner central Indian lithosphere underneath the thicker northern part of the Indian Plate. We hypothesize that the NSL was reactivated during the final stage of the India Asia convergence and it will possibly form a new mountain belt within the Indian continent.

A long-standing question in Earth Science is the extent to which seismic and volcanic activity can be regulated by tidal stresses, a repeatable and predictable external excitation induced by the Moon-Sun gravitational force. Fortnightly tides, a ~14-day amplitude modulation of the daily tidal stresses that is associated to lunar cycles, have been suggested to affect volcano dynamics. However, previous studies found contradictory results and remain mostly inconclusive. Here we study how fortnightly tides have affected Ruapehu volcano (New Zealand) from 2004 to 2016 by analysing the rolling correlation between lunar cycles and seismic amplitude recorded close to the crater. The long-term (~1-year) correlation is found to increase significantly (up to confidence level of 5-sigma) during the ~3 months preceding the 2007 phreatic eruption of Ruapehu, thus revealing that the volcano is sensitive to fortnightly tides when it is prone to explode. We show through a mechanistic model that the real-time monitoring of seismic sensitivity to lunar cycles may help to detect the clogging of active volcanic vents, and thus to better forecast phreatic volcanic eruptions.

Groundwater is a vital freshwater resource for both humans and ecosystems. Achieving sustainable management requires a detailed knowledge of the aquifer structure and of its behavior in response to climatic and anthropogenic forcing. Traditional monitoring is carried out using piezometer networks, and recently complemented with new geophysical or satellite-based observations. These techniques survey either local (small-scale) water systems or regional areas (large scale) but, to date, adequate observation tools are lacking at the water management scale (i.e. several tens of kms), which is generally explored by modeling. Using 30 years of continuous recording by four seismic stations of the Gräfenberg Array (Germany), we demonstrate that long-term observations of velocity variations (approximately 0.01%) of surface waves can be extracted from such recordings of ocean-generated seismic noise. These small variations can be explained by changes to mechanical properties of the complex aquifer system in the top few hundred meters of the crust. The velocity changes can be interpreted as effects of temperature diffusion and water storage changes. Seismic noise recordings may become a new and valuable tool to monitor heterogeneous groundwater systems at mesoscale, in addition to existing observation methods.

The Kamchatka Peninsula is a prominent and wide volcanic arc located near the northern edge of the Pacific Plate. It has highly active volcanic chains and groups, and characteristic lavas that include adakitic rocks. In the north of the peninsula adjacent to the triple junction, some additional processes such as hot asthenospheric injection around the slab edge and seamount subduction operate, which might enhance local magmatism. In the forearc area of the northeastern part of the peninsula, monogenetic volcanic cones dated at <1 Ma were found. Despite their limited spatiotemporal occurrence, remarkable variations were observed, including primitive basalt and high-Mg andesite containing high-Ni (up to 6300 ppm) olivine. The melting and crystallization conditions of these lavas indicate a locally warm slab, facilitating dehydration beneath the forearc region, and a relatively cold overlying mantle wedge fluxed heterogeneously by slab-derived fluids. It is suggested that the collapse of a subducted seamount triggered the ascent of Si-rich fluids to vein the wedge peridotite and formed a peridotite-pyroxenite source, causing the temporal evolution of local magmatism with wide compositional range.

The 2015/11/17 Lefkada (Greece) earthquake ruptured a segment of the Cephalonia Transform Fault (CTF) where probably the penultimate major event was in 1948. Using near-source strong motion and high sampling rate GPS data and Sentinel-1A SAR images on two tracks, we performed the inversion for the geometry, slip distribution and rupture history of the causative fault with a three-step self-consistent procedure, in which every step provided input parameters for the next one. Our preferred model results in a ~70° ESE-dipping and ~13° N-striking fault plane, with a strike-slip mechanism (rake ~169°) in agreement with the CTF tectonic regime. This model shows a bilateral propagation spanning ~9 s with the activation of three main slip patches, characterized by rise time and peak slip velocity in the ranges 2.5-3.5 s and 1.4-2.4 m/s, respectively, corresponding to 1.2-1.8 m of slip which is mainly concentrated in the shallower (<10 km) southern half of the causative fault. The inferred slip distribution and the resulting seismic moment (M 0  = 1.05 × 10 19 N m) suggest a magnitude of M w 6.6. Our best solution suggests that the occurrence of large (M w  > 6) earthquakes to the northern and to the southern boundaries of the 2015 causative fault cannot be excluded.

Since 2006 wastewater has been injected below the Val d'Agri Quaternary basin, the largest on-land oilfield in Europe, inducing micro-seismicity in the proximity of a high-rate injection well. In this study, we have the rare opportunity to revise a massive set of 2D/3D seismic and deep borehole data in order to investigate the relationship between the active faults that bound the basin and the induced earthquakes. Below the injection site we identify a Pliocene thrusts and back-thrusts system inherited by the Apennines compression, with no relation with faults bounding the basin. The induced seismicity is mostly confined within the injection reservoir, and aligns coherently with a NE-dipping back-thrust favorably oriented within the current extensional stress field. Earthquakes spread upwards from the back-thrust deep portion activating a 2.5-km wide patch. Focal mechanisms show a predominant extensional kinematic testifying to an on-going inversion of the back-thrust, while a minor strike-slip compound suggests a control exerted by a high angle inherited transverse fault developed within the compressional system, possibly at the intersection between the two fault sets. We stress that where wastewater injection is active, understanding the complex interaction between injection-linked seismicity and pre-existing faults is a strong requisite for safe oilfield exploitation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.