Relationship between helium isotopes and focal depths of low-frequency earthquake, Northeastern Japan

Abstract Low-frequency earthquakes (LFEs) observed around volcanoes are often interpreted as reflecting the boundary of the magma transport channels or magma reservoirs. On the other hand, the occurrence of mantle-derived helium is closely related to current or recent magmatism in subduction zones,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yukino Yamazaki, Arisa Narita, Koji Umeda, Hirochika Sumino, Takuto Maeda, Tadashi Amano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-05-01
Series:Geoscience Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40562-025-00394-6
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849312065874821120
author Yukino Yamazaki
Arisa Narita
Koji Umeda
Hirochika Sumino
Takuto Maeda
Tadashi Amano
author_facet Yukino Yamazaki
Arisa Narita
Koji Umeda
Hirochika Sumino
Takuto Maeda
Tadashi Amano
author_sort Yukino Yamazaki
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Low-frequency earthquakes (LFEs) observed around volcanoes are often interpreted as reflecting the boundary of the magma transport channels or magma reservoirs. On the other hand, the occurrence of mantle-derived helium is closely related to current or recent magmatism in subduction zones, owing to mantle melting being the primary mechanism for the transfer of primordial 3He from the mantle to the lithosphere. The elevated 3He/4He ratios observed surrounding volcanoes could indicate the presence of a magmatic plumbing system. Therefore, it is meaningful to investigate the relationship between the helium isotope variations and the location of LFEs in volcanic regions. There appears to be good correlation between helium isotope ratios and focal depths of LFEs observed in 31 volcanic regions of Northeast Japan. The helium isotope ratio increases as the focal depth of the low-frequency earthquake decreases. These findings indicate that the shallower the depth of the magma reservoir, the smaller the contamination of primordial helium with crustal radiogenic helium, resulting in higher helium isotopes observed at the surface. Many volcanic hazard factors, such as the probability and duration of an eruption, the eruption style, and the probability of triggering large landslides or caldera collapses, are related to the depth of the magma source. Combining helium isotope monitoring with low-frequency earthquake observations has the potential to improve the reliability of future eruption prediction.
format Article
id doaj-art-fb664a1520784b80b6fb1eca71f05bf0
institution Kabale University
issn 2196-4092
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series Geoscience Letters
spelling doaj-art-fb664a1520784b80b6fb1eca71f05bf02025-08-20T03:53:12ZengSpringerOpenGeoscience Letters2196-40922025-05-0112111310.1186/s40562-025-00394-6Relationship between helium isotopes and focal depths of low-frequency earthquake, Northeastern JapanYukino Yamazaki0Arisa Narita1Koji Umeda2Hirochika Sumino3Takuto Maeda4Tadashi Amano5Graduate School of Sustainable Community Studies, Hirosaki UniversityGraduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki UniversityGraduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki UniversityResearch Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of TokyoGraduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki UniversityElectric Power Development Co., Ltd.Abstract Low-frequency earthquakes (LFEs) observed around volcanoes are often interpreted as reflecting the boundary of the magma transport channels or magma reservoirs. On the other hand, the occurrence of mantle-derived helium is closely related to current or recent magmatism in subduction zones, owing to mantle melting being the primary mechanism for the transfer of primordial 3He from the mantle to the lithosphere. The elevated 3He/4He ratios observed surrounding volcanoes could indicate the presence of a magmatic plumbing system. Therefore, it is meaningful to investigate the relationship between the helium isotope variations and the location of LFEs in volcanic regions. There appears to be good correlation between helium isotope ratios and focal depths of LFEs observed in 31 volcanic regions of Northeast Japan. The helium isotope ratio increases as the focal depth of the low-frequency earthquake decreases. These findings indicate that the shallower the depth of the magma reservoir, the smaller the contamination of primordial helium with crustal radiogenic helium, resulting in higher helium isotopes observed at the surface. Many volcanic hazard factors, such as the probability and duration of an eruption, the eruption style, and the probability of triggering large landslides or caldera collapses, are related to the depth of the magma source. Combining helium isotope monitoring with low-frequency earthquake observations has the potential to improve the reliability of future eruption prediction.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40562-025-00394-6Helium isotopeLow-frequency earthquakeMagma plumbing system
spellingShingle Yukino Yamazaki
Arisa Narita
Koji Umeda
Hirochika Sumino
Takuto Maeda
Tadashi Amano
Relationship between helium isotopes and focal depths of low-frequency earthquake, Northeastern Japan
Geoscience Letters
Helium isotope
Low-frequency earthquake
Magma plumbing system
title Relationship between helium isotopes and focal depths of low-frequency earthquake, Northeastern Japan
title_full Relationship between helium isotopes and focal depths of low-frequency earthquake, Northeastern Japan
title_fullStr Relationship between helium isotopes and focal depths of low-frequency earthquake, Northeastern Japan
title_full_unstemmed Relationship between helium isotopes and focal depths of low-frequency earthquake, Northeastern Japan
title_short Relationship between helium isotopes and focal depths of low-frequency earthquake, Northeastern Japan
title_sort relationship between helium isotopes and focal depths of low frequency earthquake northeastern japan
topic Helium isotope
Low-frequency earthquake
Magma plumbing system
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40562-025-00394-6
work_keys_str_mv AT yukinoyamazaki relationshipbetweenheliumisotopesandfocaldepthsoflowfrequencyearthquakenortheasternjapan
AT arisanarita relationshipbetweenheliumisotopesandfocaldepthsoflowfrequencyearthquakenortheasternjapan
AT kojiumeda relationshipbetweenheliumisotopesandfocaldepthsoflowfrequencyearthquakenortheasternjapan
AT hirochikasumino relationshipbetweenheliumisotopesandfocaldepthsoflowfrequencyearthquakenortheasternjapan
AT takutomaeda relationshipbetweenheliumisotopesandfocaldepthsoflowfrequencyearthquakenortheasternjapan
AT tadashiamano relationshipbetweenheliumisotopesandfocaldepthsoflowfrequencyearthquakenortheasternjapan