Constructive and Destructive Processes During the 2018–2019 Eruption Episode at Shiveluch Volcano, Kamchatka, Studied From Satellite and Aerial Data

Abstract

Dome-building volcanoes often develop by intrusion and extrusion, recurrent destabilization and sector collapses, and renewed volcanic growth inside the collapse embayment. However, details of the structural architecture affiliated with renewed volcanic activity and the influences of regional structures remain poorly understood. Here, we analyze the recent activity of Shiveluch volcano, Kamchatka Peninsula, characterized by repeated episodes of lava dome growth and destruction due to large explosions and gravity-driven collapses. We collect and process a multisensor dataset comprising high-resolution optical (aerial and tri-stereo Pleiades satellite), radar (TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X satellites), and thermal (aerial and MODIS, Sentinel-2, and Landsat 8 satellites) data. We investigate the evolution of the 2018–2019 eruption episode and evaluate the morphological and structural changes that led to the August 29, 2019 explosive eruption and partial dome collapse. Our results show that a new massive lava lobe gradually extruded onto the SW flank of the dome, concurrent with magmatic intrusion into the eastern dome sector, adding 0.15 km3 to the lava dome complex. As the amphitheater infilled, new eruption craters emerged along a SW-NE alignment close to the amphitheater rim. Then, the large August 29, 2019 explosive eruption occurred, followed by partial dome collapse, which was initially directed away from this SW-NE trend. The eruption and collapse removed 0.11 km3 of the dome edifice and led to the formation of a new central SW-NE-elongated crater with dimensions of 430 m × 490 m, a collapse scar at the eastern part of the dome, and pyroclastic density currents that traveled ∼12 km downslope. This work sheds light on the structural architecture dominated by a SW-NE lineament and the complex interplay of volcano constructive and destructive processes. We develop a conceptual model emphasizing the relevance of structural trends, namely, 1) a SW-NE-oriented (possibly regional) structure and 2) the infilled amphitheater and its decollement surface, both of which are vital for understanding the directions of growth and collapse and for assessing the potential hazards at both Shiveluch and dome-building volcanoes elsewhere.

Nyiragongo Crater Collapses Measured by Multi‐Sensor SAR Amplitude Time Series

“…During unrest or eruption, key information can be provided by studying crater morphology. At explosive volcanoes, this mainly consists of dome growth measurements, to anticipate explosions and pyroclastic flows (e.g., Pallister et al, 2013;Shevchenko et al, 2021). At some effusive volcanoes with lava lake activity, SAR shadows have been used to measure lava lake height within Nyiragongo crater (SAsha method) (Barrière et al, 2018(Barrière et al, , 2022 or at Erta Ale (Moore et al, 2019).…”

Global radiant flux from active volcanoes: the 2000–2019 MIROVA database

“…This reasoning can be equally applied to lava domes, in which a large part of the cooled carapace may likely be below 600 K (Hicks et al, 2009;Sahetapy-Engel and Harris, 2009). In these cases, the VRP provides an estimate of the thermal power radiated mostly from the hotter (thermally younger) surfaces, eventually associated with new spines or lobes, hot cracks, or highly permeable zones that permit continuous outgassing (Shevchenko et al, 2021;Coppola et al, 2022a). On fumarolic fields, the VRP has proved to be a robust parameter for estimating the heat flux vented by high-temperature fumaroles alone, while it is fundamentally insensitive to the diffuse heat dispersed from the crater area at a few degrees above the background (zones of diffuse degassing; Coppola et al, 2022b).…”

CNES-ESA satellite contribution to the operational monitoring of volcanic activity: The 2021 Icelandic eruption of Mt. Fagradalsfjall

“…), with an overall estimate of 2 -4% false alerts detected (Massimetti et al, 2020). The reliability of the applied algorithm has already been successfully tested, firstly with a direct comparison to volcanogenic heat flux (in Watt) through MODIS Middle Infrared images; and then on a variety of different volcanological thermalemitting phenomena worldwide, such as strombolian and effusive eruptions (Laiolo et al, 2019), open-vent and lava lakes (Massimetti et al, 2020) and explosive lava dome behavior (Shevchenko et al, 2021). The algorithm used here is currently part of two online, automated, nearreal time and global volcanic monitoring systems: the MIROVA thermal monitoring system (based on MODIS MIR data, Coppola et al, 2016a, b), and the multiparametric MOUNTS project (presented above; Valade et al, 2019), and was the first SWIR Sentinel-2 thermal algorithm operationally online and publicly available (Massimetti et al, 2020).…”