01-16-2010, 09:45 AM
quote:
Originally posted by PunaLeigh
No one really knows the actual size & depth of our local magma chambers...
actually I think a lot more is known than you might be aware of. I was asking my initial question (how was the earthquake at the base of the volcano related to the shallow deformation we are witnessing at the summit's surface) because, when one considers the model of the summit's magma plumbing system, as described by Peter Cervelli and Asta Miklius in "The shallow magmatic system of Kilauea Volcano" the abstract of which can be found at:
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002AGUFM.V71A1251C
and begins as follows:
"Geodetic leveling and Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements image a deflating magma reservoir in the southern part of Kilauea caldera. This reservoir, centered about 3.5 km below ground level, has been slowly deflating (~ 2.5 x 106 km3 per year) since the beginning of the Pu`u `O`o eruption. Electronic borehole tiltmeters reveal a secondary, much shallower magma chamber located just east of Halemaumau Crater at about 750 m below ground level. This secondary reservoir produces episodic deformation events, many of which share striking similarities that suggest a corresponding similarity of process...."
it is hard to see as direct a correlation as you imply. though I love your enthusiasm.. it's great!