Decadal volcanic deformation in the Central Andes Volcanic Zone revealed by InSAR time series

2013/02/23 by Scott Henderson, M. E. Pritchard · 104 citations
Engineering · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Applications and Techniques #earthquake and tectonic studies #Landslides and related hazards #Geology #Volcano #Interferometric synthetic aperture radar #Subsidence #Seismology #Series (stratigraphy) #Geodesy #Geomorphology #Synthetic aperture radar #Paleontology #Remote sensing

paper · pdf · doi:10.1002/ggge.20074

published in Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 14(5), 1358-1374 (Wiley)

openalex publication_date 2013/02/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

Decadal trends of volcanic deformation in the Central Andes Volcanic Zone (CVZ) are identified with Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) stacks and time series velocity maps covering an area 19°S–27°S and 66°W–69°W. We combine over 750 ERS and Envisat interferograms from two descending and three ascending tracks. These tracks cover 100,000 km 2 and span 1992–2011. Our analysis extends observations at Cerro Blanco, Uturuncu, and Lazufre volcanic centers and uncovers two previously undocumented deformation centers: Cerro Overo in Northern Chile and Putana Volcano in Southwest Bolivia. Cerro Overo exhibits a transition from steady −0.4 cm/yr deflation to 0.5 cm/yr inflation over several years. Putana Volcano underwent a short‐lived episode of uplift between 13 September 2009 and 31 January 2010, with a maximum uplift of 4.0 cm. Cerro Blanco continues −1.0 cm/yr deflation since 1995. Uplift at Lazufre began between 1997 and 2000 and has gradually accelerated to 3.5 cm/yr since 2005. Uturuncu volcano continues 1.0 cm/yr monotonic uplift since 1992 and shows evidence for a broad moat of subsidence surrounding the uplifting region. Four of the nine deformation events in the CVZ are not obviously associated with a particular volcanic edifice. Furthermore, there is significant spatial and temporal variability of these deformation events within a small geographic area.

Citations

• Gas discharges from four remote volcanoes in northern Chile (Putana, Olca, Irruputuncu and Alitar): a geochemical survey
• An InSAR‐based survey of volcanic deformation in the central Andes
• Episodic construction of batholiths: Insights from the spatiotemporal development of an ignimbrite flare-up
• The 1984 to 1996 cyclic activity of Lascar Volcano, northern Chile: cycles of dome growth, dome subsidence, degassing and explosive eruptions
• The Central Andean Altiplano‐Puna magma body
• Insight into ground deformations at Lascar volcano (Chile) from SAR interferometry, photogrammetry and GPS data: Implications on volcano dynamics and future space monitoring
• Post-depositional fracturing and subsidence of pumice flow deposits: Lascar Volcano, Chile
• Synthetic aperture radar interferometry
• Uplift of the Central Andean Plateau and bending of the Bolivian Orocline
• THE EVOLUTION OF THE ALTIPLANO-PUNA PLATEAU OF THE CENTRAL ANDES
• 40Ar/39Ar chronostratigraphy of Altiplano-Puna volcanic complex ignimbrites reveals the development of a major magmatic province

Cited by

• First estimates of fumarolic SO 2 fluxes from Putana volcano, Chile, using an ultraviolet imaging camera
• Synthesis: PLUTONS: Investigating the relationship between pluton growth and volcanism in the Central Andes
• Volcán Putana [wikipedia]