Independent component analysis and finite element modelling of the 2004–2005 ground deformation in Tenerife (Canary Islands)

Historic volcanic activity in Tenerife was concentrated within two of the island’s three dorsals and on the Teide-Pico Viejo complex located inside Las Cañadas caldera. Eruptions on the island are primarily characterised by basaltic and trachybasaltic fissural eruptions. However, the Teide-Pico Viejo complex also hosted explosive and effusive phonolitic eruptions. Our study focused on the analysis of the 2004–2005 unrest in Tenerife, which was characterised by an onset of a ground deformation pattern, heightened on-land seismic activity, changes in the chemical composition of fumaroles of the Teide composite volcano, an increase in diffusive emissions of carbon dioxide along the NW rift, and, significant gravity changes. We used the Envisat-ASAR satellite images from 2003 to 2010 to generate the Line-Of-Sight SBAS-DInSAR deformation time series to investigate the source responsible for ground deformation. We applied the Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to separate distinct ground deformation patterns. Specifically, we selected four components for the Independent Component Analysis decomposition: the first one mainly affects the stratovolcano’s summit region of Teide and shows a circular symmetry; the second and third components are possibly related to the topography and atmospheric artifacts, while the fourth contains only a noisy signal. We employed a non-linear optimisation approach in a Finite Element modelling environment to determine the source geometry responsible for the first identified ICA pattern of ground deformation within Las Cañadas. Our results revealed the existence of an ellipsoidal ground deformation source oriented along the E-W axis, located beneath the Teide and Montaña Blanca volcanoes at 1,600 m a.s.l. This source became active during the seismic crisis of 2004–2005, which was associated with the degassing of a magma batch that intruded into the northwest rift of Tenerife island. We propose that the ground deformation observed at Teide volcano during the 2004–2005 crisis was related to hydrothermal activity within the volcano.