Long‐term mass transfer at Piton de la Fournaise volcano evidenced by strain distribution derived from GNSS network

Piton de la Fournaise, a basaltic volcano on Reunion Island, exhibits long-term mass transfer from its summit to the eastern flank, contributing to the formation of the Grandes Pentes relief. This process is evidenced by strain distribution analysis derived from a dense GNSS network installed since 2007. The study reveals that during summit deflation (2011-2014), the upper eastern flank extended eastward while the lower flank contracted, steepening the topographic slope. This deformation regime indicates progressive loading of the lower flank by the upper one, suggesting a potential instability. The research also highlights how volcanic 'pulsation'—alternating inflation and deflation—enhances rock fracturing, reduces stiffness, and increases permeability, providing insights into the volcano's structural dynamics.

Peltier, A., Got, J.-L., Villeneuve, N., Boissier, P., Staudacher, T., Ferrazzini, V., & Walpersdorf, A. (2015). Long‐term mass transfer at Piton de la Fournaise volcano evidenced by strain distribution derived from GNSS network. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 120(3), 1874–1889. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014jb011738