Magma chamber decompression during explosive caldera-forming eruption of Aira caldera

Abstract

Decompression of a magma chamber is a fundamental condition of caldera collapse. Although theoretical models have predicted the decompression of magma chambers before caldera collapse, few previous studies have demonstrated the amount of magma chamber decompression. Here, we determine water content in quartz glass embayments and inclusions from pyroclastic deposits of a caldera-forming eruption at Aira volcano approximately 30,000 years ago and apply this data to calculate decompression inside the magma chamber. We identify a pressure drop from 140–260 MPa to 20–90 MPa during the extraction of around 50 km3 of magma prior to the caldera collapse. The magma extraction may have caused down-sag subsidence at the caldera center before the onset of catastrophic caldera collapse. We propose that this deformation resulted in the fracturing and collapse of the roof rock into the magma chamber, leading to the eruption of massive ignimbrite.