3D Volumetric Strain Modelling of Eruptions at Soufrière Hills Volcano Montserrat

Abstract:

Volumetric strain data has captured a number of Vulcanian explosions at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, which involve the uppermost part of the magmatic system. We previously used volumetric strain data from during one of these explosions to elucidate the geometry of the shallow plumbing system and crustal mechanics at Montserrat for mechanically plausible depressurisation amplitudes. Our results from both forward and inverse 2D models found that it was necessary to incorporate a mechanically weak shallow crust and mechanically compliant halo of material around the highest part of the SHV magmatic system i.e. the conduit, in order to implement geologically realistic conditions of depressurisation and rock strength. However, this model lacks complexity that cannot be implemented in a 2D environment. Here, in the first study of its kind, we use Finite Element Analysis of volumetric strain data in a 3D domain incorporating topography and mechanical complexities as imaged by seismic and gravimetric data. Our model implements topography from a DEM covering the island and surrounding bathymetry and include the mechanically stiff extinct volcanic cores of the Silver Hills and the Centre Hills. Here we present our preliminary findings from the 3D strain modelling and the effect of the extinct volcanic cores on strain partitioning on Montserrat.