Stratovolcano growth by co-eruptive intrusion: The 2008 eruption of Tungurahua Ecuador

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 37; no. 21; pp. np - n/a
• Main Authors: Biggs, J., Mothes, P., Ruiz, M., Amelung, F., Dixon, T. H., Baker, S., Hong, S-H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-11-2010; American Geophysical Union
• Subjects: ALOS (satellite); Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecuador; Elongation; Equivalence; Exact sciences and technology; Flux; Intrusion; Magma; volcano deformation; Volcanoes; South America; Ecuador; Southern Europe; Italy; Marches Italy; Europe; satellites; models; eruptions; interferometry; Space remote sensing; volcanoes; Satellite observation; magmas; Aspect ratio; Long term; intrusions; stratovolcanoes; materials; uplifts; sills; deformation; growth; Synthetic aperture radar
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2010GL044942

Volcanic edifices are constructed by a combination of erupted material and internal growth. We use the L‐band satellite ALOS to produce InSAR measurements at Tungurahua Volcano, Ecuador. We find a maximum of 17.5 cm of uplift on the upper western flank between December 2007 and March 2008, coincident with an eruption in February 2008. The deformation can be modeled using an ellipsoidal or sill‐like source within the edifice. The models require an elongated aspect ratio with a length of 4–6 km. The intruded volume of 1.2 × 106 m3 is roughly equivalent to the bulk erupted volume of 1.5 × 106 m3 and together the values are roughly equal to the long‐term magma flux. The question remains whether this uplift is permanent, thus contributing to the internal growth of the edifice, or temporary, in which case the magma will be released in a future eruption.