A review framework of how earthquakes trigger volcanic eruptions

Abstract

It is generally accepted that tectonic earthquakes may trigger volcanic activity, although the underlying mechanisms are poorly constrained. Here, we review current knowledge, and introduce a novel framework to help characterize earthquake-triggering processes. This framework outlines three parameters observable at volcanoes, namely magma viscosity, open- or closed-system degassing and the presence or absence of an active hydrothermal system. Our classification illustrates that most types of volcanoes may be seismically-triggered, though require different combinations of volcanic and seismic conditions, and triggering is unlikely unless the system is primed for eruption. Seismically-triggered unrest is more common, and particularly associated with hydrothermal systems.

Thermal remote sensing reveals communication between volcanoes of the Klyuchevskoy Volcanic Group

“…Examples of such a synchronized volcanic activity are discussed for neighboring volcanoes in Iceland 1 , Alaska 2 , Kamchatka 3 , 4 , Italy 5 , and elsewhere 6 , 7 , although larger time-scale synchronicity has been also reported for global volcanism 8 . Reasons for the linked activity of adjacent volcanoes are only poorly understood and may be locally different, including triggering by large tectonic earthquakes and associated stress changes within the crust 9 – 14 , and the competition of volcanoes for common reservoirs 3 , 15 . Conjoint unrest and deformation activity at clustered volcanoes occurs with temporal delays of days to months (or even more) and appears to be distance-dependent 7 .…”

New Clues to Untangle the Question: Was the Volcanic Eruption Triggered by the Earthquake?

“…This estimate implies that the earthquake itself could not have triggered the eruptions. Nevertheless, the disturbance in the stress regime created by the earthquake could have favored other mechanisms (such as recti ed diffusion, bubble growing, increment the gas dissolved, magma migration, etc 5,14,23,37 ) to facilitate the eruptions. Regarding the role of static stress the respective alignment system could be crucial 38 .…”

“…Nevertheless, it is not clear why some volcanoes change their behavior after a tectonic earthquake, although the majority of them do not. Recent research has proposed that the earthquake alone is not enough to trigger an eruption, if the magmatic system is not ready to erupt 6,22,23 .…”

On synchronous supereruptions

“…Seismic activity has also been suggested as a potential trigger or initiation mechanism of supereruptions from perched magma reservoirs (Davis et al, 2007;Gregg et al, 2015). The dynamic stresses induced by passing seismic waves have been linked to the onset of different magmatic processes affecting the host-rock, magma chamber, or associated hydrothermal system (Seropian et al, 2021). The associated changes in magma overpressure, hydrothermal fluid pressure, and crustal and magmatic mush permeability can ultimately lead to an eruption (Davis et al, 2007;Richards et al, 2015;Seropian et al, 2021).…”