Variety and sustainability of volcanic lakes: Response to subaqueous thermal activity predicted by a numerical model. Issue 8 (14th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Terada, Akihiko; Hashimoto, Takeshi
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 122:Issue 8(2017)
• Page Start: 6108
• Page End: 6130
• Publication Date: 2017-08-14
• Subjects: volcanic lake -- precursor to eruptions -- monitoring -- numerical analyses -- Aso volcano -- Kusatsu‐Shirane volcano; Geomagnetism -- Periodicals; Geochemistry -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; 551.1
• DOI: 10.1002/2017JB014387
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9313

Abstract

Abstract: We use a numerical model to investigate the factors that control the presence or absence of a hot crater lake at an active volcano. We find that given a suitable pair of parameters (e.g., the enthalpy of subaqueous fumaroles and the ratio of mass flux of the fluid input at the lake bottom to lake surface area), hot crater lakes can be sustained on relatively long timescales. Neither a high rate of precipitation nor an impermeable layer beneath the lake bottom are always necessary for long‐term sustainability. The two controlling parameters affect various hydrological properties of crater lakes, including temperature, chemical concentrations, and temporal variations in water levels. In the case of low‐temperature crater lakes, increases in flux and enthalpy, which are a common precursor to phreatic or phreatomagmatic eruptions, result in an increase in both temperature and water level. In contrast, a decrease in water level accompanied by a rise in temperature occurs at high‐temperature lakes. Furthermore, our model suggests that crater geometry is a key control on water temperature. For lakes with a conical topography, a perturbation in the water level due to trivial nonvolcanic activity, such as low levels of precipitation, can cause persistent increases in water temperature and chemical concentrations, and a decrease in the water level, even though subaqueous fumarolic activity does not change. Such changes in hot crater lakes which are not caused by changes in volcanic activity resemble the volcanic unrest that precedes eruptions. Key Points: We propose a mechanism to explain persistent hot crater lakes at volcanoes and investigate their controlling parameters Two patterns of change are seen in modeled hot crater lakes before eruptions and applied to field data Apparent volcanic unrest due to topographic effects can occur without increased subaqueous fumarolic activity Plain Language Summary: The existence of a volcanic crater lake can increase volcanic hazard. Volcanic explosions at crater lakes can be accompanied by tsunamis or base surges. In this study, we develop a numerical model to investigate the factors that control the presence or absence of a hot crater lake at an active volcano. Neither a high rate of precipitation nor an impermeable layer beneath the lake bottom is always necessary for long‐term sustainability. Our model predicts two types of a hot crater lake: in the case of low‐temperature crater lakes, increases in subaqueous fumarolic activity, which are a common precursor to eruptions, result in an increase in both temperature and water level. In contrast, boiling dry occurs at high‐temperature lakes. Furthermore, our model predicts that crater geometry is a key control on water temperature. For lakes with a conical topography, a perturbation in the water level due to trivial nonvolcanic activity, such as low levels of precipitation, can cause persistent increases in water temperature and chemical concentrations. Such changes in hot crater lakes resemble the volcanic unrest that precedes eruptions, referred to as "apparent volcanic unrest."