LONG VALLEY OBSERVATORY QUARTERLY REPORT

JANUARY-MARCH 2002

 

Long Valley Observatory

U.S. Geological Survey

Volcano Hazards Program, MS 910

345 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025

 

http://lvo.wr.usgs.gov

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This report is a preliminary description of unrest in Long Valley caldera and Mono-Inyo Craters region of eastern California. Information contained in this report should be regarded as preliminary and is not be cited for publication without approval by the Scientist in Charge of the Long Valley Observatory. The views and conclusions contained in this document do not necessarily represent the official policies, either express or implied, of the U.S. Government.

LONG VALLEY OBSERVATORY QUARTERLY REPORT

January-March 2002

 
CONTENTS

 

 

EARTHQUAKES

CALDERA ACTIVITY

SIERRA NEVADA ACTIVITY

REGIONAL ACTIVITY

DEFORMATION

TWO-COLOR EDM SUMMARY

GPS – CONTINUOUS MEASUREMENTS

DILATATIONAL STRAIN AND TILT

            Instrumentation

            Highlights

MAGNETIC MEASUREMENTS

            INSTRUMENTATION

            HIGHLIGHTS

CO2 STUDIES IN LONG VALLEY CALDERA

HELIUM ISOTOPE VARIATIONS IN MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN FUMAROLE

           

 

SUMMARY

 

The quiescence in Long Valley caldera that began in the spring of 1998 continued through the first quarter of 2002. The resurgent dome, which essentially stopped inflating in early 1998 and showed minor subsidence (of about 1 cm) through 2001, has shown evidence of renewed slow inflation this quarter. The center of the resurgent dome currently stands roughly 80 cm higher than prior to 1980. Seismic activity within the caldera has typically included fewer than five small earthquakes per day, most with magnitudes less than M=2.0. Diffuse emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the tree-kill areas around the flanks of Mammoth Mountain continue at the relatively high levels that have persisted since 1996. The helium isotope ratio, 3He / 4He, sampled at the Mammoth Mountain Fumarole (MMF) increased from a value of ~3 in early 2000 to over 5 in a series of measurements made from early 2001 through early 2002. This increase, which follows the two very-long-period earthquakes detected beneath Mammoth Mountain in July and August 2000, suggests an enhanced magmatic component to the gasses emitted from MMF.

 

Up-to-date plots for most of the data summarized here are available on the Long Valley Observatory web pages (http://lvo.wr.usgs.gov).

 

EARTHQUAKES (D.P. Hill and A.M. Pitt)

 

CALDERA ACTIVITY:

Earthquake activity within Long Valley caldera remains low with only a few (typically fewer than five) events per day large enough to be detected and located by the real-time computer system (generally M > 1). The largest earthquake this quarter was a magnitude M=2.8 event at 12:20 PM PST on March 15th located 1 mile southeast of the Highway 203-395 junction (see Figures S1, S5).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIERRA NEVADA ACTIVITY:

Earthquake activity continued within the in the aftershock zone for the three M5 earthquakes of 8 June 1998 (M=5.1), 14 July 1998 (M=5.1), and 15 May 1999 (M=5.6), which defines a 15-km-long, linear zone of epicenters extending to the south-southwest into the Sierra Nevada from the southeastern margin of the caldera. In late February, activity picked up in the western most limb of Sierra Nevada activity south of Mount Morrison. The largest earthquake during this quarter, a M=3.7 event at 11:59 AM on March 10, was located within this zone. This earthquake, which was centered 2 miles south-southwest of Mount Morrison, was followed by a dozen or so smaller earthquakes including a M=3.0 earthquake at 11:08 PM on the 10th (Figures S3, S4).

 

DEFORMATION

 

TWO-COLOR EDM SUMMARY (John Langbein, Stuart Wilkinson, and Stefon Kirby)

A two-color Electronic Distance Meter (EDM) is used to monitor the lengths of approximately 10 baselines in and near the Long Valley Caldera shown in Figure EDM-1.  The precision of each length measurement is between 0.5 and 1.0 mm.  The 8 baselines shown with heavy lines that use CASA as a common end point are measured several times each week. Other baselines that have CASA in common are measured at less frequent intervals of 1 to 2 months. The remaining baselines are currently measured once per year. With the frequent measurements, we can monitor temporal changes in the deformation. With the annual measurements, we can monitor the spatial extent of deformation.

 

 

 

Figure EDM-1 Map showing 2-color EDM baselines

 

The measurements of length changes shown in Figure EDM-2 for the frequently measured baselines show that the gradual contraction that began in early 1999 appears to have stopped in mid-2000. These two-color data indicate that the baselines spanning the resurgent dome began another episode of extension in early 2002 (Figure G2). Based on the relation between leveling and 2-color data, the center of the resurgent dome remains about 80 cm higher than in the late 1970’s prior to the onset of caldera unrest.

 

 

Figure G2. Line-length changes for the EDM baselines measured from CASA for the period August 1, 2001 to July 30, 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

GPS  – CONTINUOUS MEASUREMENTS. (John Langbein, Elliot Endo, Frank Webb, Tim Dixon, Stuart Wilkinson, and USGS-Menlo Park, USGS-CVO, JPL, and U. Miami)

Over the past 6 years, 12 GPS (Global Position System) receivers have been installed within and near the Long Valley Caldera. Of these, eight were installed in the past 2 years by Elliot Endo of the Cascades Volcano Observatory. The locations of  receivers within the caldera are shown in Figure GPS-1. It is intended that data from these receivers and a few more additional installations will take over the long-term monitoring supplied by the two-color EDM. The three component displacement data are shown in Figure GPS2-4 for all 12 receivers along with two other sites, CMBB and MUSB located on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. The site at CASA now has two receivers; one operating since 1994 and the second one, CA99, installed this past summer.

 

The travel-time measurements from each receiver is processed daily to produce a position in a reference frame with North America fixed. Additional processing involves removing a temporal, common-mode signal from each time-series of displacements as well as the gross outliers. To re-adjust the data to a more local reference frame, a rate is removed from each time series. This rate is the average displacement rate from 1996 to the present of the 2 Sierra Nevada stations, CMBB and MUSB. In the plots, to show any deviation from a constant rate, the local rate is also removed and that rate is posted next to the trace of the residual displacements. These preliminary GPS data are consistent with no significant deformation within Long Valley caldera over the past year.

 

 

 


Figure G4. Displacement rates for continuous GPS sites in mm/year for 2001.1 to 2002.6. Solid arrows are significantly above the noise level with the associated error ellipses indicating the 95% confidence interval. Light arrows are within uncertainly levels.

 

 

 

DILATIONAL STRAIN MEASUREMENTS (Malcolm Johnston, Doug Myren, Bob Mueller and Stan Silverman)

 

I. Instrumentation

Dilational strain measurements are being recorded continuously at the Devil's Postpile, POPS, and at a site, PLV1, just to the north of the town of Mammoth Lakes in Long Valley and at the two new sites, MCX and BSP (Figure D1). The instruments are Sacks-Evertson dilational strain meters and consist of stainless steel cylinders filled with silicon oil that are cemented in th

e ground at a depth of about 200m. Changes in volumetric strain in the ground are translated into displacement and voltage by an expansion bellows attached to a linear voltage displacement transducer. This instrument is described in detail by Sacks et al.(Papers Meteol. Geophys.,22,195,1971).

 

 

Figure D1. Location map for borehole dilatometers (triangles) and tiltmeters (solid circles). LB is the Long Base tiltmeter.

 

Data from the strainmeters are transmitted using satellite telemetry every 10 minutes to a host computer in Menlo Park. The data are also recorded on site on 16-bit digital recorders together with 3-component seismic data and on backup analog recorders. A summary of the high-frequency seismic and strain data is also transmitted by satellite.

 

 

II. Dilatometer Highlights

The borehole dilatometers show no geophysically significant signals this quarter. An important technical achievement concerns our ability to now view the data at high sample rates using seismic data telemetry. Data from the Post Pile (POP) and Motocross (MCX) instruments now come back by 24-bit digital telemetry over phone lines. Data from the Big Springs instrument (BSP) will soon come back by 24-bit satellite telemetry.

The dilatometer data plots for the first quarter will be included in the second quarter monitoring report. Real-time plots for these instruments are available at

http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/QUAKE/crustaldef/longv.html.

 

Figure D2. Dilatometer traces for January 1 through March 31, 2002.

TILT MEASUREMENTS  (Mal Johnston, Vince Keller, Bob Mueller and Doug Myren)

 

I. Instrumentation

Instruments recording crustal tilt in the Long Valley caldera are of two types - 1) a long-base instrument in which fluid level is measured in fluid reservoirs separated by about 500 m and connected by pipes (this instrument (LB) was constructed by Roger Bilham of the University of Colorado), and 2) borehole tiltmeters that measure the position of a bubble trapped under a concave lens.(All Others). Figure D1 shows the locations of the seven tiltmeters that are installed  in Long Valley, California.

 

All data are transmitted by satellite to the USGS headquarters in Menlo Park, Ca. Data samples are taken every 10 minutes. Plots of the changes in tilt as recorded on each of these tiltmeters are shown. Removal of re-zeros, offsets, problems with telemetry and identification of instrument failures is difficult, tedious and time-consuming task. In order to have a relatively up-to-date file of data computer algorithms have been written that accomplish most of these tasks most of the time. Detailed discussion or detailed analysis usually requires hand checking of the data.  Flat sections in the data usually denote a failure in the telemetry Gaps denote missing data. All instruments are scaled using tidally generated scale factors.

 

II. Tiltmeter Highlights

 

The long-base tiltmeter has had operational problems for much of the first quarter. Data from the shallow borehole tiltmeters will be included in the second quarter report. None of these data have shown geophysically significant changes during this quarter.

 

Real time plots of the data from these instruments can be viewed at http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/QUAKE/longv.html.

 

 

 

MAGNETIC MEASUREMENTS (R.J. Mueller and M.J..S. Johnston)

 

BACKGROUND

 Local magnetic fields at Hot Creek (HCR) and Smokey Bear Flat (SBF) in the

Long Valley Caldera have transmitted data via satellite telemetry to Menlo Park since January 18, 1983. Satellite telemetry has been operating at station Sherwin Grade (MGS) since January, 1984. Between August 1998 and August 1999, eight additional magnetometers, together with a 3-component system and a magnetotelluric system (MT), were installed at existing telemetry locations inside and adjacent to the Long Valley Caldera in cooperation with Dr. Yosi Sasai (Univ. of Tokyo) and Dr. J. Zlotnicki (CNRS, France). These and other data provide continuous 'real-time' monitoring in this region through the low frequency data system. The location of these sites is shown on Figure 1. Temporal changes in local magnetic field are isolated using simple differencing techniques.

 

 

 

 

Figure M1. Locations of differential magnetic field stations within Long Valley caldera. The reference station MGS (not shown) is located along Highway 395 approximately 20 km southeast of the caldera.

 

DATA

 Plots of daily averaged data from the telemetered magnetometer stations in the

caldera are shown in Figures 2-5. Each of these stations are referenced to a site on Sherwin Grade (MG) located to the south of the caldera.

 

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Data for the 10 magnetic field stations will be included in the second quarter report. No significant changes in magnetic field are observed during this reporting period. 

 

 

 

 

CO2 STUDIES  (Ken McGee, Terry Gerlach, and Mike Doukas, ; Cascades Volcano Observatory Vancouver, WA)

 

The GOES-telemetered carbon dioxide monitoring network in the Mammoth Lakes area continued to transmit data on soil gas carbon dioxide concentrations throughout the report period.  Station HS1 is located near the central portion of the Horseshoe Lake tree kill in an area of high CO2 ground flux while HS2 is located in a lower flux area near the margin of the tree kill and HS3 is outside the tree-kill zone in the group campground area.  Stations located away from Horseshoe Lake include SKI, located near Chair 19 in the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, SRC, located at Shady Rest Campground adjacent to the USFS Visitor Center in Mammoth Lakes, EQF, located near Earthquake Fault, and LSP, located near Laurel Spring in the inferred Long Valley caldera rim fault.  At all sites, CO2 collection chambers are buried in the soil.  Air from these collection chambers is pumped to nearby carbon dioxide sensors housed in USFS structures or culverts.  Local barometric pressure is also measured at HS1 using a Vaisala Pressure Transducer.  Data are collected from the sensors every hour and are telemetered every three hours via GOES satellite. The GOES transmitting antennas, typically mounted inside adjacent USFS structures, continue to produce strong signals to the satellite even after significant snow buildup on the roofs of the structures.  All monitoring sites have backup data loggers that also record ambient temperature. Snow data are obtained from a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation monitoring station at Mammoth Pass.  Precipitation data are collected by the USFS at the Mammoth Lakes Visitor Center.

Data for the first three months of 2002 from most of the telemetered monitoring stations are shown in the attached figure along with snow depth (SWE) at Mammoth Pass and precipitation events. [Note: all dates and times in UT.  Gas data not corrected for pressure and temperature.]  The record from HS1A and HS1B reflects the usual effect of the winter snow pack.  A minimal snow effect at SKI was recorded last winter but has not been observed yet this year.  The snowpack began to accumulate last fall with steep increases in late November and December.  Snow accumulation in the first three months of 2002 has been considerably less and thus the CO2 levels at the HS1 sensors did not achieve typical winter values until March.  Since we no longer have a technician on the project, any repair of these stations from this point in the year will have to wait until August at the time of the annual maintenance trip

 

Figure C1 Map showing locations of the continuous CO2 -monitoring stations.

 

 

Figure C2. Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations for the monitoring stations in Figure C1 for April-June 2000. CAUTION: Raw Data - not corrected for pressure or temperature.

 

 

 

HYDROLOGIC  MONITORING  (Chris Farrar, Jim Howle, and Michelle Sneed:  U.S. Geological Survey,  Carnelian Bay and Sacramento, CA).

 

Hydrologic data collected for the USGS Volcanic Hazards Program in this report include ground-water level data from five wells; stream flow, water temperature, and specific conductance from one site on Hot Creek; and estimated thermal water discharge in Hot Creek Gorge (figure H1).  Additional data are available upon request – contact:  Chris Farrar or Jim Howle at Carnelian Bay 530.546.0187.

 

 

BACKGROUND

Ground-water levels in wells and the discharge of springs can change in response to strain in the Earth’s crust.  The network of five wells and one surface water station provides hydrologic data that contributes to monitoring deformation and other changes caused from magmatic intrusions and earthquakes in Long Valley Caldera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GROUND-WATER LEVEL MONITORING

Ground-water levels are measured continuously in five wells, LKT, LVEW, SF, CW-3, and CH-10B (figure H1), using pressure transducers that are either submerged below the water surface or placed above ground and sense back-pressure in a nitrogen-filled tube extending below the water surface.  Barometric pressure is also measured at each site using pressure transducers.  The data are recorded by on-site data loggers and telemetered on a three-hour transmit cycle using the GOES satellite and receivers at Menlo Park and Sacramento.   All sites are visited monthly to collect data from on-site recorders and to check instrument calibrations.

 

Data processing is done in the Sacramento Office.  Records of barometric pressure are used in combination with the water-level records to determine aquifer properties from the observed water-level response to atmospheric loading and earth tides.  The influences of barometric pressure changes and earth tides are removed from the water-level records.    The result yields the filtered water-level record that may contain other hydraulic and crustal deformation signals.   Filtered data for wells LKT, CW-3, and CH-10B are given in figures H2, H5, and H6.  The steep pressure drops recorded during late 1997 in all three wells probably are mostly caused by the high rate of crustal extension in the central part of Long Valley Caldera during that same period.  Analysis of the records from LVEW and SF to provide filtered data is not yet complete; therefore raw data are presented for these two sites (figures H3 and H4).

 

 

 

 

 

Periods of missing data are due to use of the well for testing or water supply, or because of instrumentation problems.

 

 

 

 

 

Periods of missing data are due to use of the well for testing or because of instrumentation problems.

 

 

Water levels in CW3 are affected by pumping at the Casa Diablo geothermal field.  Examples of these effects include the large pressure drop in 1991 and the distinct peak in 2000.

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SURFACE WATER MONITORING

Site HCF is located downstream from the thermal springs in Hot Creek Gorge (figure H1).  Stage, water temperature, and specific conductance (figure H7) are recorded every 15-minutes.  The data are recorded by an on-site data logger and telemetered every three hours.  Specific conductance is a measure of total dissolved ionized constituents.  Water at HCF is a mixture of thermal water from springs along Hot Creek and non-thermal water from the Mammoth Creek basin.  Changes in specific conductance are related to changes in the mixing ratio of thermal and non-thermal components of stream flow.   Water temperatures change in response to ambient temperatures and the mixing ratio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THERMAL WATER DISCHARGE ESTIMATE

Estimates of total thermal water discharge (figure H8) are computed from monthly measurements of discharge, and boron and chloride concentrations collected at a non-recording site (HCA) located upstream of the Hot Creek gorge thermal area and at site HCF downstream.    The quantity of thermal water discharged to Hot Creek is known to vary in response to seasonal variations in precipitation, snow-melt, earthquakes, and other processes.  It is believed that spring discharge may change in response to crustal strain.