An understanding of the formation of large magmatic reservoirs is a key issue for the evaluation of possible strong volcanic eruptions in the future. We estimated the size and level of maturity of one of the largest volcanic reservoirs, based on radial seismic anisotropy. We used ambient-noise seismic tomography below the Toba caldera (in northern Sumatra) to observe the anisotropy that we interpret as the expression of a fine-scale layering caused by the presence of many partially molten sills in the crust below 7 kilometers. This result demonstrates that the magmatic reservoirs of present (non-eroded) supervolcanoes can be formed as large sill complexes and supports the concept of the long-term incremental evolution of magma bodies that lead to the largest volcanic eruptions.

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We cross correlate 4 years of seismic noise from the seismic network of Piton de la Fournaise Volcano (La Réunion Island) to measure the group velocity dispersion curves of Rayleigh and Love waves. We average measurements from vertical and radial components to obtain 577 Rayleigh wave dispersion curves. The transverse components provided 395 Love wave dispersion curves. We regionalize the group velocities measurements into 2‐D velocity maps between 0.4 and 8 s. Finally, we locally inverted these maps for a pseudo 3‐D anisotropic shear‐velocity model down to 3 km below the sea level using a Neighborhood Algorithm. The 3‐D isotropic shear‐wave model shows three distinct high‐velocity anomalies surrounded by a low‐velocity ring. The anomaly located below the present “Plaine des Sables” could be related to an old intrusive body at the location of the former volcanic center before it migrated toward its present location. The second high‐velocity body located below the summit of the volcano likely corresponds to the actual preferential dyke intrusion zone as highlighted by the seismicity. The third high‐velocity anomaly located below the “Grandes Pentes” and the “Grand Brûlé” areas and is an imprint of the solidified magma chamber of the dismantled “Les Alizés” Volcano. Radial anisotropy shows two main anomalies: positive anisotropy above sea level highlighting the recent edifice of Piton de la Fournaise with an accumulation of horizontal lava flows and the second one below the sea level with a negative anisotropy corresponding to the ancient edifice of Piton de la Fournaise dominated by intrusions of vertical dykes.

Researchers monitor southwest Greenland’s ice sheet mass changes by measuring seismic velocity variations in Greenland’s crust.

Laboratory experiments report that detectable seismic velocity changes should occur in the vicinity of fault zones prior to earthquakes. However, operating permanent active seismic sources to monitor natural faults at seismogenic depth is found to be nearly impossible to achieve. We show that seismic noise generated by vehicle traffic, and especially heavy freight trains, can be turned into a powerful repetitive seismic source to continuously probe the Earth's crust at a few kilometers depth. Results of an exploratory seismic experiment in Southern California demonstrate that correlations of train‐generated seismic signals allow daily reconstruction of direct P body waves probing the San Jacinto Fault down to 4‐km depth. This new approach may facilitate monitoring most of the San Andreas Fault system using the railway and highway network of California.

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During the past 120 Ma, the Greenland craton drifted over the Iceland hot spot; however, uncertainties in geodynamic modeling and a lack of geophysical evidence prevent an accurate reconstruction of the hot spot track. I image the Greenland lithosphere down to 200‐km depth with both group and phase velocity seismic noise tomography. The 3‐D shear wave velocity model obtained using 4–5 years of continuous seismic records from the Greenland Ice Sheet Monitoring Network is well resolved for most of the Greenland main island. The crustal part of the model clearly shows different tectonic units. The hot spot track is observed as a linear high‐velocity anomaly in the middle and lower crust associated with magmatic intrusions. In the upper mantle, a pronounced low‐velocity anomaly below the east coast might be due to the remnant effect of the Iceland hot spot when it was at its maximum intensity. Thermomechanical modeling suggests that this area has higher temperature and lower viscosity than the surrounding cratonic areas and experiences a higher than average surface heat flow. This new detailed picture of the Greenland lithosphere will drive more accurate geodynamic reconstructions of tectonic plate motions and help to better understand the North Atlantic tectonic history. Models of Greenland glacial isostatic adjustment will benefit from the 3‐D upper‐mantle viscosity model, which in turn will enable more precise estimations of the Greenland ice sheet mass balance.