Earthquakes indicated stress field change during the 2006 unrest of Augustine Volcano, Alaska

Geophysical Research Letters
By: , and 

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Abstract

To examine controls on the local stress field at Augustine Volcano, Alaska, before its 2006 eruption, we calculated fault plane solutions for volcano-tectonic earthquakes from 2002 to 2006. The P-axis orientation was first aligned to the regional maximum compression (NW) and then rotated by about 90° (perpendicular to the dike alignment) after the onset of surface deformation in mid-August 2005. Using 3D finite element models, we systematically evaluated the effects of tectonic stresses, volcanic edifice densities, and dike overpressures on the local stress field orientation. Combining data and models to generate “phase diagrams” of different stress controls by these competing effects, we argue that moderate tectonic stress of 2–3 MPa at 600 m above sea level slightly exceeded the edifice loading before the precursory deformation and was then overprinted by a local stress field from dike opening with an overpressure of ~15 MPa.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Earthquakes indicated stress field change during the 2006 unrest of Augustine Volcano, Alaska
Series title Geophysical Research Letters
DOI 10.1029/2022GL097958
Volume 49
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Contributing office(s) Volcano Science Center
Description e2022GL097958, 9 p.
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Augustine Volcano
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