Unveiling magma plumbing systems for volcanic eruptions and crustal accretion via active-seismic matrix imaging

Abstract

Submarine eruptions, accounting for over 80% of Earth's volcanic activity, primarily occur along mid-ocean ridges, where shallow magmatic systems are accessible to high-resolution imaging. Yet, their remoteness often leaves them undetected. Recent seismic studies at the East Pacific Rise (EPR) 9°50'N-one of the most dynamic ridge segments, imaged the detailed architecture of the shallowest magma lens, but no data-constrained model yet explains how magma accumulates, migrates, or triggers eruptions. Similarly, the formation of oceanic crust remains poorly understood. While 2-D seismic data reveal only a few vertically stacked, transient magma lenses, our study applies matrix imaging, a novel technique in controlled-source seismology, to map the inner structure of on- and off-axis magma reservoirs. We uncover a conical on-axis reservoir and interconnected magma-rich zones throughout the crust. Combined with ophiolite evidence, these findings reveal that magma channels dominate the first 3 km for lower crust formation, while in situ crystallization prevails in the final 1 km, resolving a long-standing debate.