Crustal seismic velocity responds to a magmatic intrusion and seasonal loading in Iceland’s Northern Volcanic Zone

Abstract

Seismic noise interferometry is an exciting technique for studying volcanoes, providing a continuous measurement of seismic velocity changes (<i>dv</i>/<i>v</i>), which are sensitive to magmatic processes that affect the surrounding crust. However, understanding the exact mechanisms causing changes in <i>dv</i>/<i>v</i> is often difficult. We present <i>dv</i>/<i>v</i> measurements over 10 years in central Iceland, measured using single-station cross-component correlation functions from 51 instruments across a range of frequency bands. We observe a linear correlation between changes in <i>dv</i>/<i>v</i> and volumetric strain at stations in regions of both compression and dilatation associated with the 2014 Bárðarbunga-Holuhraun dike intrusion. Furthermore, a clear seasonal cycle in <i>dv</i>/<i>v</i> is modeled as resulting from elastic and poroelastic responses to changing snow thickness, atmospheric pressure, and groundwater level. This study comprehensively explains variations in <i>dv</i>/<i>v</i> arising from diverse crustal stresses and highlights the importance of deformation modeling when interpreting <i>dv</i>/<i>v</i>, with implications for volcano and environmental monitoring worldwide.