The Toroidal Volcanic Reservoir of Tofua Volcano, a Possible Predecessor of the Hunga Tonga Present Structure
1. Applied Mathematics and Systems Research Institute, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
2. Department of Earth Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| Abstract: | The recent, powerful outburst of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) volcano gave rise to various phenomena, some of which are in the process of explanation; an important one that has not yet been resolved is the volcanic mechanism that gave rise to the unusually strong eruption. In an attempt at identifying precursors of this type of explosion, we looked into volcanic structures in the same region, with characteristics similar to the HTHH structure. Tofua volcano is located in the Tonga volcanic arc, its structure emerges from the sea forming an island; it experienced explosive volcanism estimated at ~3 ka. Ring fractures and failure of the magma deposit's roof induced the stratovolcano's collapse and the caldera formation. Using high-resolution, satellite-derived gravity data we explore its interior to determine the present distribution of materials; with the complete Bouguer Anomaly of the area we perform 3-D gravity inversions to acquire density distributions. We located a toroidal, low-density deposit linked to the ring fractures developed previous to the stratovolcano’s collapse. The toroidal deposit delimits the perimeter of the collapsed region. Since we formerly inferred a similar ring fracture zone in the structure of the Hunga Tonga volcano, we speculate that a similar toroidal deposit may have existed before its January 15, 2022, violent eruption, giving rise to the unusual dispersion of surficial, low-density regions detected in it. |
| Keywords: | Tofua Volcano; Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Volcano; Bouguer Anomaly; Ring Fractures; Tonga-Kermadec Island Arc |
| DOI: | 10.57237/j.earth.2024.01.001 |
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Received: 4 November 2024
Accepted: 30 December 2024
Published Online: 9 January 2025
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