NSF Org:	EAR Division Of Earth Sciences
Recipient:	UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
Initial Amendment Date:	July 27, 2021
Latest Amendment Date:	July 27, 2021
Award Number:	2052829
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Wendy Panero wpanero@nsf.gov  (703)292-5058 EAR  Division Of Earth Sciences GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	August 1, 2021
End Date:	July 31, 2026 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$296,022.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$296,022.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2021 = $296,022.00
History of Investigator:	Helen Janiszewski (Principal Investigator) hajanisz@hawaii.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of Hawaii 2425 CAMPUS RD SINCLAIR RM 1 HONOLULU HI  US  96822-2247 (808)956-7800
Sponsor Congressional District:	01
Primary Place of Performance:	University of Hawaii 1680 East-West Road HONOLULU HI  US  96822-2234
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	01
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	NSCKLFSSABF2
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	Geophysics, EPSCoR Co-Funding
Primary Program Source:	01002122DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):	102Z, 9150
Program Element Code(s):	157400, 915000
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.050

ABSTRACT

The subterranean plumbing system beneath volcanoes is still not well understood. Recent advances in the understanding of crustal magmatic storage reveal them as complex, multi-layered systems consisting of both melt and crystal mush. However, it remains unclear how magma is stored and transported from the Earth?s mantle through the crust at volcanic arcs. A volcanic arc is a chain of volcanoes located above a subducting tectonic plate, i.e., a plate diving underneath another. Magmatic systems at arc volcanoes are a critical link between the subducting slab and the shallow magma reservoirs that feed volcanic eruptions. However, many established methods of constraining depth of magma storage have relatively low resolution in the mid-to-deep crust. Receiver functions are a technique of seismic imaging relatively underutilized in volcanic settings. They have recently shown promise in their ability to image magma storage in the deep crust. Here, the researchers apply this technique to image the magmatic system beneath volcanoes in the Aleutian Island arc, in Alaska. Using state-of-the-art seismic analysis, they gradually unveil the complexity of volcanoes? plumbing system. This study also contributes to developing an imaging technique that can be applied to other volcanoes around the Globe. The project?s outcomes improve volcanic hazard assessment in Alaska where eruptions threaten local populations and air traffic. Indeed, its primary target volcanoes are classified as Highest Priority or High Priority for monitoring by the National Volcano Early Warning System. The project also provides support for an early-career female scientist. It fosters training in volcano seismology to graduate and undergraduate students at University of Hawaii. This project is jointly funded by the Geophysics program, and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

Here, the researchers conduct novel receiver function analysis of seismic data to constrain the crustal magmatic structure beneath a transect of volcanoes along the Aleutian Island arc. They calculate P-to-s receiver functions using existing broadband data to determine crustal seismic velocity models with primary sensitivity in the mid- to deep-crust (? 10 km depth). They focus on six Aleutian volcanoes - Okmok, Makushin, Akutan, Westdahl, Pavlof, and Shishaldin - and incorporate previous results from Cleveland Volcano. Receiver functions are well suited to detect low velocity regions in the crust, which can indicate magma storage. This transect samples variations in depth to slab, H2O content, volcanic seismicity distribution, and overriding crustal properties; these factors have been hypothesized to relate to variations in magmatic storage and transport beneath arc volcanoes. The team also calculate receiver functions along a secondary transect in the Western Aleutians (Gareloi, Tanaga, Kanaga, Great Sitkin, Korovin); while significantly less data is available, this gives a basis for future expansion of the technique across the Alaska-Aleutian arc. This project provides new constraints on the depths and structure of magmatic storage throughout the crust beneath the volcanoes. It enables investigation into the sources of variation in volcanic behavior along arcs. Through collaboration with the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), the team utilizes these results to identify future monitoring and research needs in the Aleutians.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

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