Geofluid mapping reveals the connection between magmas, fluids, and earthquakes
Abstract Subsurface geofluids drive Earth’s evolution through seismogenesis, volcanism, and plate motion. Previous geofluid-distribution estimates from various geophysical methods show large variations. To quantify the geofluid distribution, we employ a novel inversion method capable of simultaneous...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02351-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849730850587934720 |
|---|---|
| author | Hikaru Iwamori Yasuo Ogawa Tomomi Okada Tohru Watanabe Hitomi Nakamura Tatsu Kuwatani Kenji Nagata Atsushi Suzuki Masahiro Ichiki |
| author_facet | Hikaru Iwamori Yasuo Ogawa Tomomi Okada Tohru Watanabe Hitomi Nakamura Tatsu Kuwatani Kenji Nagata Atsushi Suzuki Masahiro Ichiki |
| author_sort | Hikaru Iwamori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Subsurface geofluids drive Earth’s evolution through seismogenesis, volcanism, and plate motion. Previous geofluid-distribution estimates from various geophysical methods show large variations. To quantify the geofluid distribution, we employ a novel inversion method capable of simultaneously analysing seismic velocity from high-resolution seismic-wave tomography along with electrical conductivity from magnetotelluric data in a volcanic region of Northeast Japan. This study successfully maps the volume and geometrical parameters of aqueous fluids and basaltic and andesitic magmas. A large, slightly leaking fluid reservoir is identified at a depth of 10–20 km. The fluid pressure-depth profile indicates that the seismogenic region corresponds to the area with the highest excess fluid pressure directly above the reservoir. At the bottom of the reservoir near the Moho, the basaltic and andesitic magmatic roots exhibit horizontal distributions to the west and east of the volcanic front, respectively. Andesitic magma is identified directly beneath the front, along with a magma-depleted zone near the Moho. We deduce that magma along the Moho released aqueous fluids, resulting in high pore-fluid pressure that induced earthquakes in the upper crust. Certain magmas ascended to form active volcanoes, leaving behind a magma-depleted zone. Our findings highlight the importance of crustal processes in volcanic-front formation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bc8eec88bb0a401cafa81bdfbc87739e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-bc8eec88bb0a401cafa81bdfbc87739e2025-08-20T03:08:44ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-05-01611910.1038/s43247-025-02351-9Geofluid mapping reveals the connection between magmas, fluids, and earthquakesHikaru Iwamori0Yasuo Ogawa1Tomomi Okada2Tohru Watanabe3Hitomi Nakamura4Tatsu Kuwatani5Kenji Nagata6Atsushi Suzuki7Masahiro Ichiki8Earthquake Research Institute, The University of TokyoMultidisciplinary Resilience Research Center, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of TechnologyResearch Center for Prediction of Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku UniversityDepartment of Earth System Science, Faculty of Sustainable Design, University of ToyamaGeological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)Institute for Marine Geodynamics, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)Center for Basic Research on Materials (CBRM), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), TsukubaJX Metals Resources Exploration & Development Co., Ltd, ChiyodaResearch Center for Prediction of Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku UniversityAbstract Subsurface geofluids drive Earth’s evolution through seismogenesis, volcanism, and plate motion. Previous geofluid-distribution estimates from various geophysical methods show large variations. To quantify the geofluid distribution, we employ a novel inversion method capable of simultaneously analysing seismic velocity from high-resolution seismic-wave tomography along with electrical conductivity from magnetotelluric data in a volcanic region of Northeast Japan. This study successfully maps the volume and geometrical parameters of aqueous fluids and basaltic and andesitic magmas. A large, slightly leaking fluid reservoir is identified at a depth of 10–20 km. The fluid pressure-depth profile indicates that the seismogenic region corresponds to the area with the highest excess fluid pressure directly above the reservoir. At the bottom of the reservoir near the Moho, the basaltic and andesitic magmatic roots exhibit horizontal distributions to the west and east of the volcanic front, respectively. Andesitic magma is identified directly beneath the front, along with a magma-depleted zone near the Moho. We deduce that magma along the Moho released aqueous fluids, resulting in high pore-fluid pressure that induced earthquakes in the upper crust. Certain magmas ascended to form active volcanoes, leaving behind a magma-depleted zone. Our findings highlight the importance of crustal processes in volcanic-front formation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02351-9 |
| spellingShingle | Hikaru Iwamori Yasuo Ogawa Tomomi Okada Tohru Watanabe Hitomi Nakamura Tatsu Kuwatani Kenji Nagata Atsushi Suzuki Masahiro Ichiki Geofluid mapping reveals the connection between magmas, fluids, and earthquakes Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Geofluid mapping reveals the connection between magmas, fluids, and earthquakes |
| title_full | Geofluid mapping reveals the connection between magmas, fluids, and earthquakes |
| title_fullStr | Geofluid mapping reveals the connection between magmas, fluids, and earthquakes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geofluid mapping reveals the connection between magmas, fluids, and earthquakes |
| title_short | Geofluid mapping reveals the connection between magmas, fluids, and earthquakes |
| title_sort | geofluid mapping reveals the connection between magmas fluids and earthquakes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02351-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hikaruiwamori geofluidmappingrevealstheconnectionbetweenmagmasfluidsandearthquakes AT yasuoogawa geofluidmappingrevealstheconnectionbetweenmagmasfluidsandearthquakes AT tomomiokada geofluidmappingrevealstheconnectionbetweenmagmasfluidsandearthquakes AT tohruwatanabe geofluidmappingrevealstheconnectionbetweenmagmasfluidsandearthquakes AT hitominakamura geofluidmappingrevealstheconnectionbetweenmagmasfluidsandearthquakes AT tatsukuwatani geofluidmappingrevealstheconnectionbetweenmagmasfluidsandearthquakes AT kenjinagata geofluidmappingrevealstheconnectionbetweenmagmasfluidsandearthquakes AT atsushisuzuki geofluidmappingrevealstheconnectionbetweenmagmasfluidsandearthquakes AT masahiroichiki geofluidmappingrevealstheconnectionbetweenmagmasfluidsandearthquakes |