Upper crustal structure of an active volcano from refraction/reflection tomography, Montserrat, Lesser Antilles

Paulatto, M.; Minshull, T.A.; Baptie, Brian; Dean, S.; Hammond, J.O.S.; Henstock, T.; Kenedi, C.L.; Kiddle, E.J.; Malin, P.; Peirce, C.; Shalev, E.; Sparks, R.S.J.; Voight, B.. 2010 Upper crustal structure of an active volcano from refraction/reflection tomography, Montserrat, Lesser Antilles. Geophysical Journal International, 180 (2). 685-696. 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2009.04445.x

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Abstract/Summary

To better understand the volcanic phenomena acting on Montserrat, the SEA-CALIPSO seismic experiment (Seismic Experiment with Airgun-source – Caribbean Andesitic Lava Island Precision Seismo-geodetic Observatory) was conducted in 2007 December with the aim of imaging the upper crust and the magmatic system feeding the active Soufriére Hills Volcano. The 3-D survey covered an area of about 50 × 40 km and involved the deployment of 247 land stations and ocean-bottom seismometers (OBSs). A subset of the data, recorded by four OBSs and four land stations on a southeast to northwest line, has been analysed, and traveltimes have been inverted to obtain a 2-D seismic velocity model through the island. Inverted phases include crustal and sediment P waves and wide-angle reflections. The resulting velocity model reveals the presence of a high velocity body (3.5–5.5 km s−1) beneath the island, with highest velocities beneath the Soufriére and Centre Hills, corresponding primarily to the cores of these volcanic edifices, built of a pile of andesite lava domes and subsequent intrusions. In the offshore region, velocities in the surficial sediment layer vary from 1.5 to 3.0 km s−1, consistent with a mainly calcareous and volcaniclastic composition. A wide-angle reflector is observed at a depth of ∼1200 m below the seabed, and appears to deepen beneath the island. The upper crust beneath this reflector has velocities of 4.0–6.0 km s−1 and is inferred to correspond to plutonic and hypabyssal rocks and sedimentary material of the old arc. The high velocity region beneath the island, extends into the crust to a depth of at least 5 km, and is believed to be caused by an intrusive complex, possibly of intermediate composition. A low velocity zone, as would be expected in the presence of an active magma chamber, was not observed perhaps due to the limited resolution beneath ∼5 km depth. Our results so far provide the first wide-angle seismic constraints on the upper crustal structure of the island to a depth of 10 km, and will help understanding the processes that drive volcanism at Montserrat and other island arc volcanoes.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1111/j.1365-246X.2009.04445.x
Programmes:	BGS Programmes 2010 > Earth hazards and systems
ISSN:	0956-540X
Date made live:	10 Jun 2010 08:41 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/9974

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