1. Persistent shallow micro-seismicity at Llaima volcano, Chile, with implications for long-term monitoring.
- Author
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Lamb, Oliver D., Lees, Jonathan M., Franco-Marin, Luis, Lazo, Jonathan, Rivera, Andrés, Shore, Michael J., and Lee, Stephen J.
- Subjects
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VOLCANOES , *ATMOSPHERIC temperature , *MELTWATER , *EARTHQUAKES , *VOLCANIC soils - Abstract
Identifying the source mechanisms of low-frequency earthquakes at ice-covered volcanoes can be challenging due to overlapping characteristics of glacially and magmatically derived seismicity. Here we present an analysis of two months of seismic data from Llaima volcano, Chile, recorded by the permanent monitoring network in 2019. We find over 2000 repeating low-frequency events split across 82 families, the largest of which contains over 200 events. Estimated locations for the largest families indicate shallow sources directly beneath or near the edge of glaciers around the summit vent. These low-frequency earthquakes are part of an annual cycle in activity at the volcano that is strongly correlated with variations in atmospheric temperature, leading us to conclude that meltwater from ice and snow strongly affects the seismic source mechanisms related to glacier dynamics and shallow volcanic processes. The results presented here should inform future assessments of eruptive potential at Llaima volcano, as well as other ice-covered volcanoes in Chile and worldwide. • We investigate micro-seismic activity at Llaima volcano in early 2019. • We observe dozens of families of persistent repeating earthquakes. • Estimated locations suggest sources at shallow depths near or beneath glaciers. • Long-term activity suggests strong relationship with snow and ice meltwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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