| Variations in arc volcano spatial distribution and morphology are influenced by the crustal structure beneath the arc. In Colombia and Ecuador, most of the active volcanoes lie on or near regional arc-parallel fault zones, and many of the major volcanoes are aligned or elongated parallel to the faults. Two dominant volcano-fault geometry patterns exist: (1) From north to south, the orientation of the fractures and volcano-shapes changes along the arc from primarily north-northwest trending to east-northeast trending; and (2) From west to east, the fault and volcano alignment patterns vary from north-northwest trends at the outer edges of the arc to east-northeast trending in the middle of the arc.; The fault and volcano orientation patterns are related to the age and type of crust being faulted during oblique subduction. The regionally active strike-slip faults in the Northern Andes and other arcs provide long-lasting paths for magma ascent that penetrate much deeper through the lithosphere than the secondary features. Local zones of extension and pre-existing fractures in the last several kilometers of lithosphere provide the plumbing that diverts magma slightly away from the primary linear volcanic front.; The dissertation also describes a technique for merging multiple remote sensing data sets over the extremely rough terrain of silicic volcanoes. The major focus of this work was on overcoming coregistration errors from geometric distortion induced by local topography. The geometric distortion was compensated for by first creating an accurate base image with a combination of global positioning system (GPS) ground control, high resolution digital elevation models (DEM), and orthorectified aerial photographs. The individual sensor data were then rectified to the new reference base using triangulation geocoding. The final multi-layered, geocoded product is being used to enhance an existing thermal infrared technique for mapping complex textural patterns in silicic domes. Changes in the surface texture of volcanic domes may indicate changes in volatile content or lava extrusion rates. Textural changes on active domes have been difficult to directly observe due to the dangers of continued activity. Mapping the dome textures with remote sensing provides a measure of safety for field investigators. |
