22 years of satellite imagery reveal a major destabilization structure at Piton de la Fournaise

A major destabilization structure at Piton de la Fournaise, capable of triggering catastrophic volcanic collapses, has been identified through 22 years of satellite imagery analysis. This spoon-shaped structure, characterized by a continuum of displacement from no slip to sheared sills and pure slip, connects arcuate dyke intrusions at depth with sill intrusions transitioning into a fault zone toward the sea. The study highlights how repeated magmatic intrusions into this structure could lead to significant flank failures, posing risks of large earthquakes and tsunamis. Researchers used inverse modeling to map 57 intrusive events between 1998 and 2020, shedding light on the complex interplay between dyke and sill intrusions and their role in volcanic instability.

Dumont, Q., Cayol, V., Froger, J.-L., & Peltier, A. (2022). 22 years of satellite imagery reveal a major destabilization structure at Piton de la Fournaise. Nature Communications, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30109-w