Evidence for the contemporary magmatic system beneath Long Valley Caldera from local earthquake tomography and receiver function analysis

Abstract

We present a new P wave and S wave velocity model for the upper crust beneath Long Valley Caldera obtained using local earthquake tomography and receiver function analysis. We computed the tomographic model using both a graded inversion scheme and a traditional approach. We complement the tomographic Vp model with a teleseismic receiver function model based on data from broadband seismic stations (MLAC and MKV) located on the SE and SW margins of the resurgent dome inside the caldera. The inversions resolve (1) a shallow, high‐velocity P wave anomaly associated with the structural uplift of a resurgent dome; (2) an elongated, WNW striking low‐velocity anomaly (8%–10 % reduction in Vp) at a depth of 6 km (4 km below mean sea level) beneath the southern section of the resurgent dome; and (3) a broad, low‐velocity volume (∼5% reduction in Vp and as much as 40% reduction in Vs) in the depth interval 8–14 km (6–12 km below mean sea level) beneath the central section of the caldera. The two low‐velocity volumes partially overlap the geodetically inferred inflation sources that drove uplift of the resurgent dome associated with caldera unrest between 1980 and 2000, and they likely reflect the ascent path for magma or magmatic fluids into the upper crust beneath the caldera.