Abstract
The Colima Volcanic Complex (CVC), located in western Mexico, is a complex tectonic area dominated by subduction processes and the deformation and fragmentation of the continental plate. The CVC is characterized by three volcanic structures formed during successive periods of different dynamic and magmatic processes. Several studies have been performed; however, the exact mechanism controlling the internal structure of the CVC is still debated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to estimate high-resolution P-wave velocity (VP), S-wave velocity (VS), and VP/VS models to gain new insights into the internal structure of the CVC. To do this, I used P- and S-waves travel times of 383 earthquakes recorded by the Mapping the Rivera Subduction Zone and the Colima Volcano Deep Seismic Experiment. The fast-marching method was implemented to solve the forward problem of travel time prediction and a subspace inversion-gradient-based technique. The robustness of the tomographic results was then assessed through checkerboard and restoring resolution tests. At the southwest of the CVC, approximately at 7-km depth, the resulting models showed a low VP anomaly with an elliptical shape and a northeast-southwest trend, a low VS anomaly with an irregular-shape of interconnected lobes, and high VP/VS with a similar pattern as the S-wave velocity model but confined to the Central Colima Graben. From the resulting tomographic images, I infer: (i) the presence of a shallow, complex system of magmatic reservoirs; (ii) that the southward migration of volcanic activity as an ongoing process; and (iii) the existence of compositional distinct magma reservoirs.
Resumen
El Complejo Volcánico de Colima, CVC, ubicado en el occidente de México, es un área tectónica compleja dominada por procesos de subducción y la deformación y fragmentación de la placa continental. El CVC se caracteriza por tres estructuras volcánicas formadas durante períodos sucesivos de procesos dinámicos y magmáticos diferentes. Se han realizado varios estudios; sin embargo, todavía se debate el mecanismo exacto que controla la estructura interna del CVC. Por lo tanto, el propósito de este estudio fue estimar modelos de alta resolución de la velocidad de la onda P, VP, de la velocidad de la onda S, VS y de VP/VS para obtener nuevos conocimientos sobre la estructura interna del CVC. Para hacer esto, se utilizaron tiempos de viaje de las ondas P y S de 383 terremotos registrados durante los experimentos Mapping the Rivera Subduction Zone y Colima Volcano Deep Seismic Experiment. El método de marcha rápida se implementó para resolver el problema directo de la predicción de los tiempos de viaje y una técnica de inversión basada en gradiente subespacial. La robustez de los resultados tomográficos se evaluó a través pruebas de resolución de tablero de ajedrez y de restitución. En el suroeste del CVC, aproximadamente a 7 km de profundidad, los modelos resultantes mostraron una anomalía de baja VP con forma elíptica y tendencia noreste-suroeste, una anomalía de baja VS con forma irregular de lóbulos interconectados y una anomalía de alta VP/VS con un patrón similar al modelo de velocidad de la onda S pero confinada en el Graben Central de Colima. A partir de las imágenes tomográficas resultantes, se infiriere: (i) la presencia de un sistema complejo y poco profundo de reservorios magmáticos; (ii) la migración hacia el sur de la actividad volcánica como un proceso en curso; y (iii) la existencia de reservorios de magma de distinta composición.
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Acknowledgements
I thank Robert B. Herrmann and Rick Rawlinson for sharing their computer FMM codes. I also used Generic Mapping Tools (GMT) of Wessel et al. (2019). The facilities of IRIS Data Services, and specifically the IRIS Data Management Center, were used for access to waveforms, related metadata, and/or derived products used in this study. IRIS Data Services are funded through the Seismological Facilities for the Advancement of Geoscience and EarthScope (SAGE) Proposal of the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement EAR-1261681. I specially thank the reviewers, the handing editor Andrea Cannata, and the executive editor Andrew Harris for their valuable comments and careful review, which helped improve the manuscript.
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Escudero, C.R. P-, S-wave velocity and VP/VS of the Colima Volcanic Complex from local earthquake tomography. Bull Volcanol 84, 30 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-022-01535-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-022-01535-x