A model of volcanic magma transport by fracturing stress mechanisms

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 35; no. 6; pp. L06308 - n/a
• Main Authors: Piegari, E., Cataudella, V., Di Maio, R., Milano, L., Nicodemi, M., Scandone, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Geophysical Union 01.03.2008; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Erosion and weathering; evaporite; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrology and fluvial processes; Mars; Martian sulfates; Planetary Sciences; sedimentary deposits; Solar System Objects; Solid Surface Planets; Surface materials and properties; Martian sulfates; evaporite; sedimentary deposits; fracturing; risk assessment; stress; Conditional distribution; eruptions; Statistical model; probability; Astronomical catalogues; reservoirs; volcanoes; magmas; transport
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2007GL032710

Understanding the mechanisms of magma ascent preceding eruptions, and in particular the subvolcanic system that stores and transports magma to the surface, is of crucial relevance for hazard and risk assessment. We propose here a statistical model describing the rise of magma from the reservoir through the transport region via stress induced fracturing mechanisms of the medium. The model reproduces the general statistical properties of erupted volume, P(V), and inter‐eruption time, P(t), found in catalogue data for closed conduit volcanoes. We also investigate conditional distribution (e.g., the probability, P(V∣t), to have a volume, V, erupted after a waiting time, t), which can have important practical implications.