Xenoliths preserve evidence of magma-crust interactions in magmatic reservoirs and conduits. They reveal processes of partial melting of country rock, and disintegration into magma. Widespread evidence for frothy xenoliths in volcanic deposits exists, and these evidently indicate processes of gas liberation, bubble nucleation and bubble growth. This report focuses on textural analysis of frothy sandstone xenoliths from Krakatau in Indonesia, Cerro Negro in Nicaragua, Cerro Quemado in El Salvador and from Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, and involves attempts to experimentally reproduce xenolith textures. To achieve this, magmatic conditions acting upon country rock in volcanoes are simulated by subjecting sandstones to elevated temperature and pressure in closed system-autoclaves. Subsequent decompression imitates magma ascent following xenolith entrainment, and is largely responsible for the formation of frothy xenolith textures. The experiments show a range of successive features, such as partial melting, gas-pressure build up, bubble nucleation, growth and development of bubble networks. The experiments closely reproduced textures of natural xenoliths and help to assess the controlling P-T parameters that encourage efficient bubble growth. Conditions proved ideal between 850˚C and 870˚C and pressure release from 1 kbar. Such conditions limit bubble overprinting by secondary crystallization and melt infilling. Country rock lithology proved vital regarding gas pressure build-up and resulting bubble nucleation during decompression. In particular, increased water content and relict crystals in the melt produced appear to ease and promote gas liberation by enabling early and effective bubble nucleation. Moreover, experiments confirm a decisive role for bubble coalescence. These results attest to the great potential of country rock to develop interconnected bubble networks upon magma contact, exsolving large amounts of crustal volatiles into the magma. Volatile input involves a change in magma viscosity and thus an accompanied change in disruptive behaviour, and may hence be responsible for increased potential to cause explosive volcanic eruptions. Moreover, H2O and CO2 vapour are severe greenhouse gases, which seems to be added to the atmosphere from crustal rocks via recycling by volcanic activity, and may have yet underappreciated effects on Earth’s climate.

Cette étude traite de la dynamique des éruptions volcaniques explosives, depuis les mécanismes de sub-surface jusqu’aux processus d’émission et de dispersion des pyroclastes. A cet effet un radar Doppler sol est utilisé (VOLDORAD), lequel renseigne sur la charge / vitesse des ejectas. Les données sont intégrées avec d’autres techniques géophysiques, et des modèles numériques sont développés afin de simuler les émissions pyroclastiques, générer des signaux radar synthétiques, pour finalement améliorer notre compréhension des processus qui leurs sont sous-jacents. L’Arenal (Costa Rica) est utilisé comme volcan cible, où de fréquentes éruptions de faible magnitude émettent des panaches de cendres et des projections balistiques jusqu’à quelques centaines de mètres au-dessus de l’évent. Dans un premier temps, nous combinons des données sismiques et radar afin d’explorer la relation entre les processus de conduit et les émissions pyroclastiques. Leurs interactions complexes sont interprétées via un modèle conceptuel, lequel décrit les fractures parsemant le bouchon de lave comme responsables du dégazage du système, et en retour des signaux sismiques et radar collectés (ces derniers dépendants de la charge en cendres des émissions de gaz). Par ailleurs, nous investiguons la dynamique des émissions pyroclastiques à travers l’étude de radargrammes Doppler. La distribution spatio-temporelle de la vitesse des ejectas indique l’existence de deux phénomènes aux dynamiques distinctes. Des modélisations numériques permettant la reconstruction de signaux synthétiques indiquent qu’il s’agit de l’émission simultanée de blocs balistiques et de panaches de cendres. Une procédure d’inversion de type Monte Carlo couplée d’un algorithme d’optimisation permet de retrouver les radargrammes synthétiques qui reproduisent au mieux ceux observés. Les résultats apportent des contraintes sur divers paramètres éruptifs, tels que les tailles, trajectoires, vitesses des ejectas et des gaz, ainsi que la vitesse / direction de dispersion des panaches de cendres par le vent. Enfin, nous discutons du potentiel des radars Doppler appliqués à la surveillance opérationnelle des émissions volcaniques. En particulier, la possibilité de quantifier les masses éjectées dans l’atmosphère ou retombant sur les flancs du volcan, fournit des paramètres éruptifs à la source pouvant alimenter les modèles de dispersion de panaches de cendres. / This study investigates the dynamics of explosive volcanic eruptions, from the sub-surface source mechanisms through to the emission dynamics and downwind dispersal of tephra. To this end, we use a ground-based Doppler radar (VOLDORAD) which informs on the loading / velocimetry of the expelled ejecta. Data are integrated with complementary geophysical techniques, and numerical models are developed to simulate pyroclastic emissions, generate synthetic radar data, and in turn enhance our understanding of the underlying dynamical processes. Arenal (Costa Rica) is used as a case study volcano, where frequent mildly-explosive eruptions commonly expel ash plumes and ballistic projections up to a few hundred meters above the vent. Firstly, we combine seismic and radar data to investigate the link between conduit processes and pyroclastic emissions. A conceptual model is proposed to account for their complex interplay, whereby fractures through a rigid lava cap control the system’s degassing, which in turn governs both the seismic and radar signals (the latter depending on the ash load carried by the gas). Secondly, we investigate the dynamics of pyroclastic emissions from the analysis of Doppler radargrams. Time-velocity distribution of the expelled tephra shows the signature of two distinct phenomena. Numerical modeling and computation of synthetic radargrams show that these are consistent with both ballistic projections and ash plume crossing the beam simultaneously, whose respective mass load can be derived. Inverse modeling using a nearneighborhood Monte Carlo procedure was used to find synthetic Doppler radargrams which best matched the observed ones. The results give constrains on eruptive parameters, such as the size, trajectory, exit velocities and source gas velocities of the ballistics, as well as the speed / direction of the ash cloud drifted by trade winds. Lastly, because Doppler radars are powerful tool for real-time allweather monitoring of volcanic activity, we address issues relative to the operational radar monitoring of ash plumes. In particular, the ability to remotely quantify the mass proportions of ejecta either falling on the slopes of the volcano or prone to be ejected into the atmosphere, gives source eruptive parameters which may feed volcanic ash dispersal models.

Magma-crust interaction in magma reservoirs and conduits is a crucial process during magma evolution and ascent. This interaction is recorded by crustal xenoliths that frequently show partial melting, inflation and disintegration textures. Frothy xenoliths are widespread in volcanic deposits from all types of geological settings and indicate crustal gas liberation. To unravel the observed phenomena of frothy xenolith formation we experimentally simulated the behaviour of crustal lithologies in volcanic conduits. We subjected various sedimentary lithologies to elevated temperature (maximum 916 °C) and pressure (maximum 160 MPa) in closed-system autoclaves. Experimental conditions were held constant between 24h and 5 days. Controlled decompression to atmospheric pressure then simulated xenolith ascent. Pressure release was a function of temperature decline in our setup. Temperature lapse rate proceeded exponentially; the mean rate during the first 30 minutes was 17.8 ˚C/min and the mean decompression rate during the same interval was 3.0 MPa/min, eventually reaching room temperature after approximately 5.5 hours of slow cooling. The experimental products have been analysed for internal textures by synchrotron X-ray μ-CT at a resolution of 3.4 – 9 microns/pixel. This method permits visualisation and quantification of vesicle volumes, -networks and-connectivity in 3D without destroying the sample. Experimental products closely reproduced textures of natural frothy xenoliths in 3D and define anevolutionary sequence from partial melting to gas exsolution and bubble nucleation that eventually leads to the development of three-dimensional bubble networks. Experimental P-T-t conditions and especially rock lithology proved decisive for degassing behaviour and ensuing bubble nucleation during decompression. Progressive bubble nucleation leads to subsequent bubble coalescence to form interconnected bubble networks. This, in turn, enables efficient gas liberation and release. Our results attest to significant potential of even very common crustal rock types to release volatiles and develop interconnected bubble networks upon heating and decompression in magmatic systems. Crustal volatile input from xenoliths affects magma rheology and may drive magmas to sudden explosive eruptions. Our experiments offer insight into the mechanism of how such crustal volatile liberation is accomplished.