A shallow-dipping dike fed the 1995 flank eruption at fernandina volcano, galapagos, observed by satellite radar interferometry

Abstract

Satellite radar interferometry data reveal strong localized uplift in a semi- circular pattern on the southwest flank of Fernandina volcano, Galapagos, where an eruption took place in January to April, 1995. The observations show a maximum decrease in radar range of 0.75 m, and they are consistent with a model of a shallow-dipping dike intrusion feeding this fissure eruption. We solve for the best-fit single rectangular dislocation dike source using non-linear inversion techniques where simulated annealing searching algorithm is used to avoid local minima. The best-fit dike is 3.8 km long, 2.3 km high, 0.86 m thick and with a 34° dip. The total dike volume (7.5 × 10-3 km3) is ∼40% of the volume of extrusive materials estimated to have been produced during the eruption. The data do not permit a sub-vertical dike, implying that the least principal stress direction is not horizontal as is usually assumed. Copyright 1999 by the American Geophysical Union.