Development and status of active volcano monitoring in China

Abstract

Following decades of geological surveys and studies, 14 active volcanic field have been identified in China. Evidence for Holocene volcanism in several of these areas highlights the need to understand and monitor volcanic hazards in those regions. Six volcano observatories have been established in the past 40 years accordingly. This work reviews China's national capability and history of volcano monitoring, with emphases on the Changbaishan-Tianchi Volcano Observatory and the Tengchong Volcano Observatory. The Changbaishan-Tianchi Volcano Observatory (CTVO) was constructed in 1996 and began monitoring in 1999, with limited recorded observations dating back to 1973. Currently, CTVO is the largest and most advanced observatory in China. The monitoring network of the CTVO incorporates 11 seismic and 15 GPS stations, 2 leveling routes, 3 gas geochemistry sampling points. The Changbaishan-Tianchi volcano experienced unrest during 2002-2005, evidenced in elevated levels of seismicity and ground deformation, as well as shifts in gas geochemistry. After 2006, the volcano returned to quiescence, with activities at background levels as recorded in 1973-2001. The monitoring network of Tengchong Volcano Observatory (TVO) incorporates 8 seismic stations, 20 GPS points, 95 leveling points, and 3 gas geochemistry sampling points. The observations made since 1965 indicate significant seismicity, with more than 3000 events recorded in 2011, mostly related to regional tectonics. Tengchong is known for its widespread hot springs, with temperatures up to 105 °C recorded at Dagunguo spring. The four other observatories are Longgang Volcano Observatory (LVO), Jingbohu Volcano Observatory (JVO), Wudalianchi Volcano Observatory (WVO) and Qiongbei Volcano Observatory (QVO). They are equipped with seismic, geodetic, and geochemical monitoring equipment. These areas saw only low levels of activity over the past several decades, but related fault systems are relatively active. In a relatively short time, China has gained considerable experience in observatory design and volcano monitoring and has trained up a sizeable task force, laying the foundation for sustained volcano monitoring at the national level. Future efforts must focus on maintaining and expanding observational capacity, as well as gaining better dynamic understanding to inform volcano hazard assessment.

Upward Magma Migration Within the Multi-Level Plumbing System of the Changbaishan Volcano (China/North Korea) Revealed by the Modeling of 2018–2020 SAR Data

“…The post-unrest subsidence and the more recent dynamics of Chagbaishan are poorly known, lacking specific studies and available data. The only available data concern the seismicity (Pan et al, 2021); these data show that after 2002-2005, when an average of 500 events/yr with M Lmax 4.4 was detected, the seismicity sharply decreased to 30 events/year with M Lmax 2.8 between 2010 and 2018.…”

Investigation of hot spring gas components and soil gas fluxes in Arxan Holocene volcanic field, Inner Mongolia, NE China

“…During the volcanic eruption intervals, large amounts of volcanic gases are emitted to the atmosphere because of the continuous heating of the country rock caused by the high-temperature chambers (Guo et al, 2015;Aiuppa et al, 2015;Tassi et al, 2016;Liu et al, 2021). It has been demonstrated that 14 volcanoes in mainland China erupted during the Holocene (wei et al, 1998;Wei et al, 2003;Pan et al, 2021) and are currently in a dormant state. Among the current dormant volcanoes in China, the Changbaishan, Tengchong, and Wudalianchi volcanoes have been investigated by numerous studies to determine their fluid backgrounds (Du et al, 1999;Shangguan et al, 2008;Zhang et al, 2011;2018 ;Liu et al, 2011;Guo et al, 2015;Li, 2015;Zhao, 2012;Wei et al, 2021;Zhao et al, 2019).…”

“…Since the early Jurassic, affected by the subduction of the Pacific plate and the blocking of the Eurasian plate, a series of NE-oriented faults and volcanic rock belts with different scales have developed. Since the start of the Cenozoic, extensive basaltic magma has violently erupted (Liu, 1987;Liu et al, 2001;Pan et al, 2021). The volcanism in this region is multi-episodic and can be divided into the Pliocene, Pleistocene and Holocene eruption stages.…”

Construction and Application of Seismic Real-Time Data Analysis Model Based on GPS Monitoring

“…Various disasters caused by crustal movement have serious adverse effects on national economic development and people's lives and properties [13]. Therefore, effective monitoring of crustal deformation and analysis of its movement laws have great theoretical and practical significance for understanding regional crustal deformation and disaster prevention and mitigation [14].…”