Strain Localization at Volcanoes Undergoing Extension: Investigation of Long‐Term Deformation at Krafla and Askja Volcanic Systems in North Iceland

Abstract Volcanoes in extensional environments may show gradual subsidence over decades during quiescent periods, due to various processes such as magma withdrawal, cooling, contraction, plate spreading and viscoelastic response. If significant rheological anomalies reside in volcano roots, due to t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chiara Lanzi, Freysteinn Sigmundsson, Michelle Maree Parks, Halldór Geirsson, Vincent Drouin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-11-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110299
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849773202502320128
author Chiara Lanzi
Freysteinn Sigmundsson
Michelle Maree Parks
Halldór Geirsson
Vincent Drouin
author_facet Chiara Lanzi
Freysteinn Sigmundsson
Michelle Maree Parks
Halldór Geirsson
Vincent Drouin
author_sort Chiara Lanzi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Volcanoes in extensional environments may show gradual subsidence over decades during quiescent periods, due to various processes such as magma withdrawal, cooling, contraction, plate spreading and viscoelastic response. If significant rheological anomalies reside in volcano roots, due to the presence of magma and hot rock, they can influence the style of deformation. We use Finite Element Method (FEM) models to explore how strain localization due to extension can lead to volcano deflation. We apply rheological models comprising an elastic layer overlying a viscoelastic domain and include local up‐doming regions of low viscosity material beneath volcanic centers. The models reveal a localized subsidence above the rheological anomaly, influenced by the tectonic extension, and by the up‐doming volume and its viscosity. The models suggest that plate divergence may account for 4–5 mm/yr of observed subsidence at Krafla and Askja volcanic systems (KVS and AVS, respectively) in North Iceland.
format Article
id doaj-art-442cff3b3a254b9cbbd9e25e33cd82d2
institution DOAJ
issn 0094-8276
1944-8007
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-442cff3b3a254b9cbbd9e25e33cd82d22025-08-20T03:02:07ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072024-11-015121n/an/a10.1029/2024GL110299Strain Localization at Volcanoes Undergoing Extension: Investigation of Long‐Term Deformation at Krafla and Askja Volcanic Systems in North IcelandChiara Lanzi0Freysteinn Sigmundsson1Michelle Maree Parks2Halldór Geirsson3Vincent Drouin4Nordic Volcanological Center Institute of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavík IcelandNordic Volcanological Center Institute of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavík IcelandIcelandic Metereological Office Reykjavík IcelandNordic Volcanological Center Institute of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavík IcelandIcelandic Metereological Office Reykjavík IcelandAbstract Volcanoes in extensional environments may show gradual subsidence over decades during quiescent periods, due to various processes such as magma withdrawal, cooling, contraction, plate spreading and viscoelastic response. If significant rheological anomalies reside in volcano roots, due to the presence of magma and hot rock, they can influence the style of deformation. We use Finite Element Method (FEM) models to explore how strain localization due to extension can lead to volcano deflation. We apply rheological models comprising an elastic layer overlying a viscoelastic domain and include local up‐doming regions of low viscosity material beneath volcanic centers. The models reveal a localized subsidence above the rheological anomaly, influenced by the tectonic extension, and by the up‐doming volume and its viscosity. The models suggest that plate divergence may account for 4–5 mm/yr of observed subsidence at Krafla and Askja volcanic systems (KVS and AVS, respectively) in North Iceland.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110299askja calderakrafla calderanumerical modelingInSAR observationsextensional tectonic setting
spellingShingle Chiara Lanzi
Freysteinn Sigmundsson
Michelle Maree Parks
Halldór Geirsson
Vincent Drouin
Strain Localization at Volcanoes Undergoing Extension: Investigation of Long‐Term Deformation at Krafla and Askja Volcanic Systems in North Iceland
Geophysical Research Letters
askja caldera
krafla caldera
numerical modeling
InSAR observations
extensional tectonic setting
title Strain Localization at Volcanoes Undergoing Extension: Investigation of Long‐Term Deformation at Krafla and Askja Volcanic Systems in North Iceland
title_full Strain Localization at Volcanoes Undergoing Extension: Investigation of Long‐Term Deformation at Krafla and Askja Volcanic Systems in North Iceland
title_fullStr Strain Localization at Volcanoes Undergoing Extension: Investigation of Long‐Term Deformation at Krafla and Askja Volcanic Systems in North Iceland
title_full_unstemmed Strain Localization at Volcanoes Undergoing Extension: Investigation of Long‐Term Deformation at Krafla and Askja Volcanic Systems in North Iceland
title_short Strain Localization at Volcanoes Undergoing Extension: Investigation of Long‐Term Deformation at Krafla and Askja Volcanic Systems in North Iceland
title_sort strain localization at volcanoes undergoing extension investigation of long term deformation at krafla and askja volcanic systems in north iceland
topic askja caldera
krafla caldera
numerical modeling
InSAR observations
extensional tectonic setting
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110299
work_keys_str_mv AT chiaralanzi strainlocalizationatvolcanoesundergoingextensioninvestigationoflongtermdeformationatkraflaandaskjavolcanicsystemsinnorthiceland
AT freysteinnsigmundsson strainlocalizationatvolcanoesundergoingextensioninvestigationoflongtermdeformationatkraflaandaskjavolcanicsystemsinnorthiceland
AT michellemareeparks strainlocalizationatvolcanoesundergoingextensioninvestigationoflongtermdeformationatkraflaandaskjavolcanicsystemsinnorthiceland
AT halldorgeirsson strainlocalizationatvolcanoesundergoingextensioninvestigationoflongtermdeformationatkraflaandaskjavolcanicsystemsinnorthiceland
AT vincentdrouin strainlocalizationatvolcanoesundergoingextensioninvestigationoflongtermdeformationatkraflaandaskjavolcanicsystemsinnorthiceland