Artículos científicos

URI permanente para esta colecciónhttp://10.0.96.45:4000/handle/11056/17882

Examinar

Mostrando 1 - 20 de 123

Slow Slip and Inter‐Transient Locking on the Nicoya Megathrust in the Late and Early Stages of an Earthquake Cycle
(Advancing Earth and Space Sciences, 2020-10-20) Xie, Surui; Dixon, Timothy H; Malservisi, Rocco; Jiang, Yan; Muller, Cyril; Protti, Marino
We analyzed continuous GPS data collected from 2002–2020 to characterize slow slip events (SSEs) in and near the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. These data are bisected by the 5 September 2012 Mw 7.6 earthquake. The displacement time series contain multiple signals, including plate convergence, plate interface locking, coseismic and postseismic deformation, seasonal oscillations, SSEs, and noise. GPS‐measured coseismic and postseismic displacements associated with the Mw 7.6 earthquake are modeled and removed by a step function plus multiple timescale relaxation processes with four characteristic times: 11, 94, 470, and 1,865 days. Seasonal oscillations are eliminated using a multichannel singular spectrum analysis (M‐SSA). Ten major SSEs (Mw > 6.6) are observed in the remaining time series, with a constant recurrence interval of 21.7 ± 2.6 months. SSEs occur in both shallow (~10 km) and deep (~35 km) portions of the plate interface, but the latter last longer and have larger magnitudes. There is minimum to no slow slip in theMw 7.6 seismic rupture area and a persistent slow slip patch beneath the Nicoya Gulf entrance. Despite strong earthquake‐related stress perturbations, the inter‐SSE locking status on the megathrust is very similar between the late and early stages of the earthquake cycle and includes locked patches that ruptured in the 2012 earthquake or continue to rupture via SSEs. Some locked patches offshore south of the Nicoya Peninsula did not rupture in 2012, do not participate in SSEs, and may be indicative of supercycle behavior, that is, strain accumulation over several seismic cycles. These areas warrant heightened monitoring.
Slow Slip Events in the Early Part of the Earthquake Cycle
(Advancing Earth and Space Sciences, 2017-07-07) Voss, Nicholas; Malservisi, Rocco; Dixon, Timothy H.; Protti, Marino
In February 2014 a Mw = 7.0 slow slip event (SSE) took place beneath the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. This event occurred 17 months after the 5 September 2012, Mw = 7.6, earthquake and along the same subduction zone segment, during a period when significant postseismic deformation was ongoing. A second SSE occurred in the middle of 2015, 21 months after the 2014 SSE and 38 months after the earthquake. The recurrence interval for Nicoya SSEs was unchanged by the earthquake. However, the spatial distribution of slip for the 2014 event differed significantly from previous events, having only deep (~40 km) slip, compared to previous events, which had both deep and shallow slip. The 2015 SSE marked a return to the combination of deep plus shallow slip of preearthquake SSEs. However, slip magnitude in 2015 was nearly twice as large (Mw=7.2) as preearthquake SSEs.WeemployCoulomb Failure Stress change modeling in order to explain these changes. Stress changes associated with the earthquake and afterslip were highest near the shallow portion of the megathrust, where preearthquake SSEs had significant slip. Lower stress change occurred on the deeper parts of the plate interface, perhaps explaining why the deep (~40 km) region for SSEs remained unchanged. The large amount of shallow slip in the 2015 SSE may reflect lack of shallow slip in the prior SSE. These observations highlight the variability of aseismic strain release rates throughout the earthquake cycle.
The 5 September 2012 Nicoya, Costa Rica Mw 7.6 earthquake rupture process from joint inversion of high-rate GPS, strong-motion, and teleseismic P wave data and its relationship to adjacent plate boundary interface properties
(Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, 2013-10-03) Yue, Han; Lay, Thorne; Schwartz, Susan; Rivera Pérez, Luis; Protti, Marino; Dixon, Timothy; Owen, Susan E.; Newman, Andrew V.
On 5 September 2012, a large thrust earthquake (Mw 7.6) ruptured a densely instrumented seismic gap on the shallow-dipping plate boundary beneath the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Ground motion recordings directly above the rupture zone provide a unique opportunity to study the detailed source process of a large shallow megathrust earthquake using very nearby land observations. Hypocenter relocation using local seismic network data indicates that the event initiated with small emergent seismic waves from a hypocenter ~10 km offshore, 13 km deep on the megathrust. A joint finite-fault inversion using high-rate GPS, strong-motion ground velocity recordings, GPS static offsets, and teleseismic P waves reveals that the primary slip zone (slip>1 m) is located beneath the peninsula. The rupture propagated downdip from the hypocenter with a rupture velocity of ~3.0 km/s. The primary slip zone extends ~70 km along strike and ~30 km along dip, with an average slip of ~2 m. The associated static stress drop is ~3 MPa. The seismic moment is 3.5 × 1020 Nm, giving Mw = 7.6. The coseismic large-slip patch directly overlaps an onshore interseismic locked region indicated by geodetic observations and extends downdip to the intersection with the upper plate Moho. At deeper depths, below the upper plate Moho, seismic tremor and low-frequency earthquakes have been observed. Most tremor locates in adjacent areas of the megathrust that have little coseismic slip; a region of prior slow slip deformation to the southeast also has no significant coseismic slip or aftershocks. An offshore locked patch indicated by geodetic observations does not appear to have experienced coseismic slip, and aftershocks do not overlap this region, allowing the potential for a comparable size rupture offshore in the future.
Using Drones and Miniaturized Instrumentation to Study Degassing at Turrialba and Masaya Volcanoes, Central America
(Advancing Earth and Space Sciences, 2018-07-05) Stix, John; de Moor, Joost Maarten; Rüdiger, Julian; Alan, Alfredo; Corrales, Ernesto; D´Arcy, Fiona; Diaz, Jorge Andres; Liotta, Marcello
Gas measurements using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, were undertaken at Turrialba volcano, Costa Rica, and Masaya volcano, Nicaragua, in 2016 and 2017. These two volcanoes are the largest time-integrated sources of gas in the Central American Volcanic Arc, and both systems are currently extremely active with potential for sudden destabilization. We employed a series of miniaturized drone-mounted instrumentation including a mini-DOAS, two MultiGAS instruments, and an optical particle counter, supplemented by ground-based measurements. Payloads were typically 1–1.5 kg and flight times were 10–15 min. The measurements were both accurate and precise due to the inherent sensitivity of the instrumentation and the high gas concentrations, which the drones were able to sample. The quality of data obtained by our drones was comparable to that obtained by our ground-based measurements. At Turrialba in April 2017, we measured an average SO2 flux of 1,380 ± 280 T/day, CO2/SO2 of 6.5, and H2O/SO2 of 27.8. Using these values, we calculated a CO2 flux of 6,170 T/day and an H2O flux of 10,790 T/day. At Masaya in May 2017, the average SO2 flux was 1,560 ± 180 T/day, with CO2/SO2 of 3.9 and H2O/SO2 of 62.3, giving a mean CO2 flux of 4,150 T/day and mean H2O flux of 27,330 T/day. The elevated carbon and water fluxes and ratios are indicative of underlying magmas that are enriched in these components, resulting in the high levelsof activity observed.
Active Deformation near the Nicoya Peninsula, Northwestern Costa Rica, Between 1996 and 2010: Interseismic Megathrust Coupling
(Advancing Earth and Space Sciences, 2012-06-26) Feng, Lujia; Protti, Marino; González, Victor; Jiang, Yan; Dixon, Timothy; Newman, Andrew V.
We use campaign and continuous GPS measurements at 49 sites between 1996 and 2010 to describe the long-term active deformation in and near the Nicoya Peninsula, northwestern Costa Rica. The observed deformation reveals partial partitioning of the Cocos-Caribbean oblique convergence into trench-parallel forearc sliver motion and less oblique thrusting on the subduction interface. The northern Costa Rican forearc translates northwestward as a whole ridge block at 11 1 mm/yr relative to the stable Caribbean. The transition from the forearc to the stable Caribbean occurs in a narrow deforming zone of 16 km wide. Subduction thrust earthquakes take 2/3 of the trench-parallel component of the plate convergence; however, surface deformation caused by interseismic megathrust coupling is primarily trench-normal. Two fully coupled patches, one located offshore Nicoya centered at 15 km depth and the other located inland centered at 24 km depth, are identified in Nicoya with the potential to generate an Mw 7.8 1950-type earthquake. Another fully coupled patch SE of Nicoya coincides with the rupture region of the 1990 Nicoya Gulf earthquake. Interface microearthquakes, non-volcanic tremor, low-frequency earthquakes, and transient slow-slip events generally occur in the intermediately to weakly coupled regions.
Detailed spatiotemporal evolution of microseismicity and repeating earthquakes following the 2012Mw 7.6 Nicoya earthquake
(Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, 2017-01-04) Yao, Dongong; Walter, Jacob l.; Meng, Xiaofeng; Hobbs, Teigan E.; Peng, Zhigang; Newman, Andrew V.; Schawartz, Susan Y.; Protti, Marino
We apply a waveform matching technique to obtain a detailed earthquake catalog around the rupture zone of the 5 September 2012 moment magnitude 7.6 Nicoya earthquake, with emphasis on its aftershock sequence. Starting from a preliminary catalog, we relocate ~7900 events using TomoDD to better quantify their spatiotemporal behavior. Relocated aftershocks are mostly clustered in two groups. The first is immediately above the major coseismic slip patch, partially overlapping with shallow afterslip. The second one is 50 km SE to the main shock nucleation point and near the terminus of coseismic rupture, in a zone that exhibited little resolvable afterslip. Using the relocated events as templates, we scan through the continuousrecording from 29 June 2012 to 30 December 2012, detecting approximately 17 times more than template events. We find 190 aftershocks in the first half hour following the main shock, mostly along the plate interface. Later events become more scattered in location, showing moderate expansion in both along- trench and downdip directions. From the detected catalog we identify 53 repeating aftershock clusters with mean cross-correlation values larger than 0.9, and indistinguishably intracluster event locations, suggesting slip on the same fault patch. Most repeating clusters occurred within the first major aftershock group. Very few repeating clusters were found in the aftershock grouping along the southern edge of the Peninsula, which is not associated with substantial afterslip. Our observations suggest that loading from nearby afterslip along the plate interface drives spatiotemporal evolution of aftershocks just above the main shock rupture patch, while aftershocks in the SE group are to the SE of the observed updip afterslip and poorly constrained.
La percepción del riesgo volcánico por la actividad del Turrialba (2010-2017) en las comunidades de la pastora y el Tapojo, Costa Rica
(Geo UERJ, 2019-09-17) Campos, D. D.; Alvarado, G. E.
El 5 de enero de 2010, el volcán Turrialba inició su periodo eruptivo asociado a la caída de ceniza, actividad que se mantiene hasta el presente (mayo de 2019), destacando las erupciones del 29 de octubre de 2014, del 12 de marzo de 2015 y del 19 de setiembre de 2016, que afectaron las actividades productivas de las comunidades localizadas en el flanco sur del volcán, en los sectores pecuario (producción de leche y queso) y agrícola (cultivo de papa, repollo, cebolla y zanahoria), por lo que presentaron condiciones de vulnerabilidad ante la actividad volcánica con pérdidas económicas entre el 2010 y el 2017. El presente artículo analiza la percepción de la población de La Pastora y El Tapojo en relación con los peligros volcánicos asociados al Turrialba y su nivel de vulnerabilidad. Para ello, se realizaron grupos focales con líderes comunales con el objetivo de conocer su percepción sobre las condiciones de riesgo, lo cual se contrastó con información científica existente sobre los peligros volcánicos. El análisis demostró que existe una importante coincidencia entre los datos científicos de los peligros volcánicas del Turrialba y la percepción de la población, ya que señalan que la caída de ceniza, los gases, la sismicidad, la lluvia ácida y los lahares representan una amenaza para elementos que podrían verse afectados en la comunidad, principalmente en las actividades agropecuarias, viviendas y puentes.
Sulfur Degassing at Erta Ale (Ethiopia) and Masaya (Nicaragua) Volcanoes : Implications for Degassing Processes and Oxygen Fugacities of Basaltic Systems
(Advancing Earth ans Space Sciencess, 2013-10-02) De Moor, J. M.; Fischer, T. P.; Sharp, Z. D.; King, P. L.; Wilke, M.; Botcharnikov, R. E.; Cottrell, E.; Zelenski, M.; Marty, B.; Klimm, K.; Rivard, C.; Ayalew, D.; Ramirez, C.; Kelley, K. A.
We investigate the relationship between sulfur and oxygen fugacity at Erta Ale and Masaya volcanoes. Oxygen fugacity was assessed utilizing Fe3þ/ PFe and major element compositions measured in olivine-hosted melt inclusions and matrix glasses. Erta Ale melts have Fe3þ/ PFe of 0.15–0.16, reflecting fO2 of DQFM 0.0 6 0.3, which is indistinguishable from fO2 calculated from CO2/CO ratios in high-temperature gases. Masaya is more oxidized at DQFM þ1.7 6 0.4, typical of arc settings. Sulfur isotope compositions of gases and scoria at Erta Ale (34Sgas 0.5%; 34Sscoria þ 0.9%) and Masaya (34Sgas þ 4.8%; 34Sscoria þ 7.4%) reflect distinct sulfur sources, as well as isotopic fractionation during degassing (equilibrium and kinetic fractionation effects). Sulfur speciation in melts plays an important role in isotope fractionation during degassing and S6þ/ PS is <0.07 in Erta Ale melt inclusions compared to >0.67 in Masaya melt inclusions. No change is observed in Fe3þ/ PFe or S6þ/ PS with extent of S degassing at Erta Ale, indicating negligible effect on fO2, and further suggesting that H2S is the dominant gas species exsolved from the S2-rich melt (i.e., no redistribution of electrons). High SO2/H2S observed in Erta Ale gas emissions is due to gas re-equilibration at low pressure and fixed fO2. Sulfur budget considerations indicate that the majority of S injected into the systems is emitted as gas, which is therefore representative of the magmatic S isotope composition. The composition of the Masaya gas plume (þ4.8%) cannot be explained by fractionation effects but rather reflects recycling of high 34S oxidized sulfur through the subduction zone.
Earth's Magnetic Field Strength and the Cretaceous Normal Superchron: New Data From Costa Rica
(American Geophysical Union, 2021-03-12) Di Chiara, A.; Tauxe, L.; Staudigel, H.; Florindo, F.; Protti, M.; Yu, Y.; Wartho, J. A.; Van den Bogaard, P.; Hoernle, K.
Limitar la variabilidad a largo plazo y el promedio de la intensidad del campo magnético terrestre es fundamental para comprender las características y el comportamiento del campo geomagnético. Persisten interrogantes sobre la intensidad del campo promedio y la relación entre esta y la frecuencia de inversión, debido a la dispersión de los datos de intervalos de tiempo clave. En este estudio, nos centramos en el Supercrón Normal Cretácico (CNS; 121-84 Ma), durante el cual no se observaron inversiones. Presentamos nuevos resultados de intensidad de 41 sitios de vidrio basáltico submarino (SBG) recolectados en la Península de Nicoya y las Islas Murciélago, Costa Rica. Las nuevas y revisadas restricciones de edad 40Ar/39Ar y bioestratigráficas de estudios previos indican edades de 141 a 65 Ma. Un sitio con una edad de 135,1 ± 1,5 Ma (2σ) arrojó un resultado de intensidad confiable de 34 ± 8 µT (equivalente a un momento dipolar axial virtual, VADM, valor de 88 ± 20 ZAm2), tres sitios de 121 a 112 Ma, que abarcan el inicio del CNS, varían de 21 ± 1 a 34 ± 4 µT (53 ± 3 a 87 ± 10 ZAm2). Estos resultados del CNS son todos superiores al promedio a largo plazo de ∼42 ZAm2 y los datos de Suhongtu, Mongolia (46–53 ZAm2) y son similares a la ofiolita de Troodos, Chipre (81 ZAm2, reinterpretada en este estudio). Junto con los datos reinterpretados, los nuevos resultados de Costa Rica sugieren que la intensidad del campo geomagnético fue aproximadamente la misma antes y después del inicio del SNC. Por lo tanto, los datos no respaldan una correlación estricta entre la longitud del intervalo de polaridad y la intensidad del campo magnético.
Constraints on upper plate deformation in the Nicaraguan subduction zone from earthquake relocation and directivity analysis
(American Geophysical Union, 2010-03-12) French, S. W.; Warren, L. M.; Fischer, K. M.; Abers, G. A.; Strauch, W.; Protti, J. M.; Gonzalez, V.
In the Nicaraguan segment of the Central American subduction zone, bookshelf faulting has been proposed as the dominant style of Caribbean plate deformation in response to oblique subduction of the Cocos plate. A key element of this model is left‐lateral motion on arc‐normal strike‐slip faults. On 3 August 2005, a Mw 6.3 earthquake and its extensive foreshock and aftershock sequence occurred near Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua. To determine the fault plane that ruptured in the main shock, we relocated main shock, foreshock, and aftershock hypocenters and analyzed main shock source directivity using waveforms from the TUCAN Broadband Seismic Experiment. The relocation analysis was carried out by applying the hypoDD double‐difference method to P and S onset times and differential traveltimes for event pairs determined by waveform cross correlation. The relocated hypocenters define a roughly vertical plane of seismicity with an N60°E strike. This plane aligns with one of the two nodal planes of the main shock source mechanism. The directivity analysis was based on waveforms from 16 TUCAN stations and indicates that rupture on the N60°E striking main shock nodal plane provides the best fit to the data. The relocation and directivity analyses identify the N60°E vertical nodal plane as the main shock fault plane, consistent with the style of faulting required by the bookshelf model. Relocated hypocenters also define a second fault plane that lies to the south of the main shock fault plane with a strike of N350°E– N355°E. This fault plane became seismically active 5 h after the main shock, suggesting the influence of stresses transferred from the main shock fault plane. The August 2005 earthquake sequence was preceded by a small eruption of a nearby volcano, Concepción, on 28 July 2005. However, the local seismicity does not provide evidence for earthquake triggering of the eruption or eruption triggering of the main shock through crustal stress transfer.
Shear wave anisotropy beneath Nicaragua and Costa Rica: Implications for flow in the mantle wedge
(American Geophysical Union, 2009-05-27) Abt, David L.; Fischer, Karen M.; Abers, Geoffrey A.; Strauch, Wilfried; Protti, J. Marino; González, Victor
We present new shear wave splitting data from local events in Costa Rica and Nicaragua recorded by the temporary (July 2004 to March 2006) 48-station TUCAN broadband seismic array. Observed fast polarization directions in the fore arc, arc, and back arc range from arc-parallel to arc-normal over very short distances (<5 km when plotted at raypath midpoints) making the direct interpretation of individual splitting measurements in terms of flow tenuous, even when considering variations in the relationship between lattice-preferred orientation and deformation (e.g., B-type dislocation creep in olivine). Therefore, we tomographically invert the splitting measurements to find a three-dimensional model of crystallographic orientation in the wedge. We assume the elastic constants of olivine and orthopyroxene with hexagonal symmetry and use a damped, iterative least squares approach to account for the nonlinear behavior of splitting when considering three-dimensional ray propagation and distributions of anisotropy. The best fitting model contains roughly horizontal, arc-parallel olivine [100] axes in the mantle wedge down to at least 125 km beneath the back arc and arc, which we interpret to indicate along-arc flow in the mantle wedge. Pb and Nd isotopic ratios in arc lavas provide additional evidence for arc-parallel flow and also constrain the direction (northwest, from Costa Rica to Nicaragua) and minimum flow rate (63–190 mm/a). With only slightly oblique subduction at 85 mm/a of the relatively planar Cocos Plate, the most likely mechanism for driving along-arc transport is toroidal flow around the edge of the slab in southern Costa Rica, generated by greater slab rollback in Nicaragua. Two important implications of this arc-parallel flow are the progressive depletion of the mantle source for arc lavas from Costa Rica to Nicaragua and the possible need for significant decoupling between the wedge and downgoing plate.
Strong along-arc variations in attenuation in the mantle wedge beneath Costa Rica and Nicaragua
(American Geophysical Union, 2008-10-09) Rychert, C. A.; Fischer, K .M.; Abers, G. A.; Plank, T.; Syracuse, E.; Protti, J. M.; Gonzalez, V.; Strauch, W.
La estructura de atenuación en la zona de subducción de Centroamérica se visualizó utilizando eventos locales registrados por el conjunto Tomography Under Costa Rica and Nicaragua, un despliegue de 20 meses (julio de 2004 a marzo de 2006) de 48 sismómetros que abarcaron las regiones de antearco, arco y trasarco de Nicaragua y Costa Rica. Las formas de onda P y S se invirtieron por separado para la frecuencia de esquina y el momento de cada evento y para el operador de atenuación promediado por trayectoria (t*) de cada par evento-estación, asumiendo que la atenuación depende ligeramente de la frecuencia (/ = 0,27). Luego, se realizaron inversiones tomográficas para la atenuación S y P (QS1 y QP1). Dado que las amplitudes de la onda P reflejan tanto el módulo de cizallamiento como el de volumen, también se realizaron inversiones tomográficas para determinar la atenuación de cizallamiento y volumen (QS1 y Qk1), la pérdida de energía por ciclo debido al cizallamiento y la compresión uniforme, respectivamente. El amortiguamiento y otros parámetros tomográficos de inversión se variaron sistemáticamente. Como es típico en los estudios de atenuación de la zona de subducción, se obtuvieron imágenes de una losa, placa superior y esquina de cuña menos atenuantes y una cuña del manto más atenuante. Además, se observaron diferencias de primer orden entre los mantos debajo de Nicaragua y Costa Rica. La losa en Nicaragua es más atenuante que la losa en Costa Rica. Una zona más grande de mayor atenuación por cizalladura también caracteriza la cuña del manto nicaragüense. Dentro de la cuña, los valores máximos de atenuación a 1 Hz corresponden a Qs = 38-73 debajo de Nicaragua y Qs = 62-84 debajo de Costa Rica, y los valores promedio son Qs = 76-78 y Qs = 84-88, respectivamente. Las variaciones de atenuación se correlacionan con las tendencias a lo largo del arco en los indicadores geoquímicos que sugieren que la fusión debajo de Nicaragua ocurre en condiciones más hidratadas, y posiblemente a mayores extensiones y profundidades, en relación con el norte de Costa Rica.
Tracking Formation of a Lava Lake From Ground and Space: Masaya Volcano (Nicaragua), 2014–2017
(American Geophysical Union, 2018-02-22) AIUPPA, Alessandro; de Moor, J. Marteen; Arellano, Santiago; Coppola, Diego; Francofonte, Vincenzo; Galle, Bo; Giudice, Gaetano; Liuzzo, Marco; Mendoza, Elvis; Saballos, Armando; Tamburello, Giancarlo; Battaglia, Angelo; Bitetto, Marcello; Gurrieri, Sergio; Laiolo, Marco; Mastrolia, Andrea; Moretti, Robertto
A vigorously degassing lava lake appeared inside the Santiago pit crater of Masaya volcano (Nicaragua) in December 2015, after years of degassing with no (or minor) incandescence. Here we present an unprecedented-long (3 years) and continuous volcanic gas record that instrumentally characterizes the (re)activation of the lava lake. Our results show that, before appearance of the lake, the volcanic gas plume composition became unusually CO2 rich, as testified by high CO2/SO2 ratios (mean: 12.2 6 6.3) and low H2O/CO2 ratios (mean: 2.3 6 1.3). The volcanic CO2 flux also peaked in November 2015 (mean: 81.3 6 40.6 kg/s; maximum: 247 kg/s). Using results of magma degassing models and budgets, we interpret this elevated CO2 degassing as sourced by degassing of a volatile-rich fast-overturning (3.6–5.2 m3 s21) magma, supplying CO2-rich gas bubbles from minimum equivalent depths of 0.36–1.4 km. We propose this elevated gas bubble supply destabilized the shallow (<1 km) Masaya magma reservoir, leading to upward migration of vesicular (buoyant) resident magma, and ultimately to (re)formation of the lava lake. At onset of lava lake activity on 11 December 2015 (constrained by satellite-based MODIS thermal observations), the gas emissions transitioned to more SO2-rich composition, and the SO2 flux increased by a factor 40% (11.4 6 5.2 kg/s) relative to background degassing (8.0 kg/s), confirming faster than normal (4.4 versus 3 m3 s21) shallow magma convection. Based on thermal energy records, we estimate that only 0.8 of the 4.4 m3 s21 of magma actually reached the surface to manifest into a convecting lava lake, suggesting inefficient transport of magma in the near-surface plumbing system.
The Magmatic Gas Signature of Pacaya Volcano, With Implications for the Volcanic CO2 Flux From Guatemala
(American Geophysical Union, 2018-03-10) Battaglia, A.; Bitetto, M.; Aiuppa, A.; Rizzo, A. L.; Chigna, G.; Watson, I. M.; D’Aleo, R.; Juarez Cacao, F. J.; de Moor, M. J.
Pacaya volcano in Guatemala is one of the most active volcanoes of the Central American Volcanic Arc (CAVA). However, its magmatic gas signature and volatile output have received little attention to date. Here, we present novel volcanic gas information from in-situ (Multi-GAS) and remote (UV camera) plume observations in January 2016. We find in-plume H2O/SO2 and CO2/SO2 ratios of 2-20 and 0.6-10.5, and an end-member magmatic gas signature of 80.5 mol. % H2O, 10.4 mol. % CO2, and 9.0 mol. % SO2. The SO2 flux is evaluated at 885 6 550 tons/d. This, combined with co-acquired volcanic plume composition leads to H2O and CO2 fluxes of 2,230 6 1,390 and 700 6 440, and a total volatile flux of 3,800 tons/d. We use these results in tandem with previous SO2 flux budgets for Fuego and Santiaguito to estimate the total volcanic CO2 flux from Guatemala at 1,160 6 600 tons/day. This calculation is based upon CO2/total S (St) ratios for Fuego (1.5 6 0.75) and Santiaguito (1.4 6 0.75) inferred from a gas (CO2/St ratio) versus traceelement (Ba/La ratio) CAVA relationship. The H2O-poor and low CO2/St ratio (1.0-1.5) signature of Pacaya gas suggests dominant mantle-wedge derivation of the emitted volatiles. This is consistent with 3 He/4 He ratios in olivine hosted fluid inclusions (FIs), which range between 8.4 and 9.0 Ra (being Ra the atmospheric 3 He/4 He ratio) at the upper limit of MORB range (8 6 1 Ra). These values are the highest ever measured in CAVA and among the highest ever recorded in arc volcanoes worldwide, indicating negligible 4 He contributions from the crust/slab.
Multiscale postseismic behavior on a megathrust: the 2012 Nicoya earthquake, Costa Rica
(American Geophysical Union, 2015-06-17) Malservisi, Rocco; Schwartz, Susan Y.; Voss, Nicholas; Protti, Marino; Gonzalez, Victor; Dixon, Timothy H.; Jiang, Yan; Newman, Andy V.; Richardson, Jacob; Walter, Jacob I.; Voyenko, Denis
La Península de Nicoya, en el noroeste de Costa Rica, se encuentra sobre una sección del megaembotamiento de subducción a lo largo de la Fosa Mesoamericana. El 5 de septiembre de 2012, un megaembotamiento de magnitud de momento 7,6 se produjo bajo una densa red de estaciones GPS y sísmicas continuas. Muchas de las estaciones GPS registraron el evento a alta frecuencia, 1 Hz o mejor. Analizamos la evolución temporal y espacial de la deformación superficial tras el terremoto. Nuestros resultados muestran que la ruptura principal fue seguida por un deslizamiento posterior significativo dentro de las primeras 3 h posteriores al evento principal. El comportamiento del desplazamiento superficial puede representarse mediante procesos de relajación con tres tiempos característicos: 7, 70 y más de 400 días. Suponemos que el tiempo de relajación largo corresponde a la relajación viscoelástica y el tiempo de relajación intermedio corresponde al deslizamiento posterior en la falla principal. El tiempo de relajación corto puede representar una combinación de deslizamiento posterior rápido, ajuste poroelástico en la corteza superior u otros procesos. Durante los primeros meses posteriores al terremoto, el deslizamiento posterior probablemente liberó una cantidad significativa del déficit de deslizamiento aún presente tras la ruptura cosímica, en particular el buzamiento ascendente de la ruptura. El deslizamiento posterior parece estar limitado por el buzamiento ascendente de las regiones afectadas por deslizamientos lentos previos al terremoto, lo que sugiere que ambos procesos se ven influenciados por diferentes propiedades de fricción.
Fore-arc motion and Cocos Ridge collision in Central America
(American Geophysical Union, 2009-05-07) LaFemina, Peter; Dixon, Timothy H.; Govers, Rob; Norabuena, Edmundo; Turner, Henry; Saballos, Armando; Mattioli, Glen; Protti, Marino; Strauch, Wilfried
We present the first regional surface velocity field for Central America, showing crustal response to interaction of the Cocos and Caribbean plates. Elastic half-space models for interseismic strain accumulation on the dipping subduction plate boundary fit the GPS data well and show strain accumulation offshore and beneath the Nicoya and Osa peninsulas in Costa Rica but not in Nicaragua. Since large subduction zone earthquakes occur in Nicaragua, we suggest that interseismic locking in Nicaragua and some other parts of Central America occurs but is mainly shallow, <20 km depth, too far offshore to be detected by our on-land GPS measurements. Our data also show significant trench-parallel motion for most of the region, generally interpreted as due to oblique convergence and strong mechanical coupling between subducting and overriding plates. However, trench-parallel motion is also observed in central Costa Rica, where plate convergence is normal to the trench, and in the Nicaraguan fore arc, where trench-parallel motion is fast, up to 9 mm a 1, but mechanical coupling is low. A finite element model of collision (as opposed to subduction) involving the aseismic Cocos Ridge also fits the GPS surface velocity field, most significantly reproducing the pattern of trench-parallel motion. We infer that buoyant, thickened CNS-2-Cocos Ridge crust resists normal subduction and instead acts as an indenter to the Caribbean plate, driving crustal shortening in southern Costa Rica and contributing to trench-parallel fore-arc motion in Costa Rica and perhaps Nicaragua as a type of tectonic escape.
Seismic tomography and earthquake locations in the Nicaraguan and Costa Rican upper mantle
(American Geophysical Union, 2008-07-30) Syracuse, Ellen M.; Abers, Geoffrey A.; Fischer, Karen; MacKenzie, Laura; Rychert, Catherine; Protti, Marino; González, Víctor; Strauch, Wilfried
The Central American subduction zone exhibits large variations in geochemistry, downgoing plate roughness and dip, and volcano locations over a short distance along the arc. Results from joint inversions for Vp, Vp/Vs, and hypocenters from the Tomography Under Costa Rica and Nicaragua (TUCAN) experiment give insight into its geometry and structure. In both Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the intermediate-depth seismic zone is a single layer no more than 10 to 20 km thick. Tomographic images show that throughout Nicaragua and Costa Rica the slowest mantle P wave velocities appear below and behind the volcanic front, indicating likely zones of highest temperature extending 80 to 120 km depth. A sheet of high Vp/Vs, thought to be caused by melt, is imaged directly beneath the Nicaraguan volcanoes, whereas a weaker, broader anomaly is imaged beneath the Costa Rican volcanoes, potentially indicating a greater extent of melting beneath Nicaragua. Within the downgoing plate, anomalously low velocities occur at least 20–30 km below Wadati-Benioff zone seismicity, to depths of 140 km beneath Nicaragua and to 60 km depth beneath Costa Rica. They indicate 10–20% serpentinized upper mantle of the downgoing plate beneath Nicaragua, similar to that inferred from refraction seaward of the trench, but continuing to subarc depths. This unusually hydrated lithosphere may introduce more water into the Nicaraguan mantle, initiating increased amount of melting and fluid flux to the arc.
Horizontal subduction and truncation of the Cocos Plate beneath central Mexico
(American Geophysical Union, 2008-09-27) Pérez-Campos, Xyoli; Kim, YoungHee; Husker, Allen; Davis, Paul M.; Clayton, Robert W.; Iglesias, Arturo; Pacheco, Javier F.; Singh, Shri K.; Manea, Vlad Constantin; Gurnis, Michael
Based on analysis of data from a trans-Mexico temporary broadband seismic network centered on Mexico City, we report that the subducting Cocos Plate beneath central Mexico is horizontal, and tectonically underplates the base of the crust for a distance of 250 km from the trench. It is decoupled from the crust by a very thin low viscosity zone. The plate plunges into the mantle near Mexico City but is truncated at a depth of 500 km, probably due to an E-W propagating tear in the Cocos slab. Unlike the shallow slab subduction in Peru and Chile, there is active volcanism along the Trans Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) that lies much further inland than regions to either side where subduction dip is not horizontal. Geodynamical modeling indicates that a thin weak layer such as imaged by the seismic experiment can explain the flat subduction geometry.
Central American subduction system
(GEOPHYSICISTS, 2007-10) Protti, Marino; Gonzalez, Victor; Alvarado, Guillermo; Hoernle, Kaj; Plank, Terry; Silver, Eli
The driving force for great earthquakes and the cycling of water and climate-influencing volatiles (carbon dioxide, sulfur, halogens) across the convergent margin of Central America have been a focus of international efforts for over 8 years, as part of the MARGINS pro gram of the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Collaborative Research Center (SFB 574) of the German Science Foundation, and the Cen tral American science community. Over 120 scientists and students from 10 countries met in Costa Rica to synthesize this intense effort spanning from land to marine geological and geophysical studies.
Subduction-zone structure and magmatic processes beneath Costa Rica constrained by local earthquake tomography and petrological modelling
(Royal Astronomical Society, 2003-10-01) Husen, S.; Quintero, R.; Kissling, E.; Hacker, B.
A high-quality data set of 3790 earthquakes were simultaneously inverted for hypocentre locations and 3-D P-wave velocities in Costa Rica. Tests with synthetic data and resolution estimates derived from the resolution matrix indicate that the velocity model is well constrained in central Costa Rica to a depth of 70 km; northwestern and southeastern Costa Rica are less well resolved owing to a lack of seismic stations and seismicity. Maximum H2O content and seismic wave speeds of mid-ocean ridge basalt and harzburgite were calculated for metamorphic phase transformations relevant to subduction. Both the 3-D P-wave velocity structure and petrological modelling indicate the existence of low-velocity hydrous oceanic crust in the subducting Cocos Plate beneath central Costa Rica. Intermediate-depth seismicity correlates well with the predicted locations of hydrous metamorphic rocks, suggesting that dehydration plays a key role in generating intermediate-depth earthquakes beneath Costa Rica. Wadati– Benioff zone seismicity beneath central Costa Rica shows a remarkable decrease in maximum depth toward southeastern Costa Rica. The presence of asthenosphere beneath southeastern Costa Rica, which entered through a proposed slab window, may explain the shallowing of seismicity due to increased temperatures and associated shallowing of dehydration of the slab. Tomographic images further constrain the existence of deeply subducted seamounts beneath central Costa Rica. Large, low P-wave velocity areas within the lower crust are imaged beneath the southeasternmost volcanoes in central Costa Rica. These low velocities may represent anomalously hot material or even melt associated with active volcanism in central Costa Rica. Tomographic images and petrological modelling indicate the existence of a shallow, possibly hydrated mantle wedge beneath central Costa Rica.

Examinar

Envíos recientes