Author ORCID Identifier

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5954-4892

Degree Year

2014

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Geology

Advisor(s)

F. Zeb Page
Steven Ingebritsen

Committee Member(s)

Steven Wojtal

Keywords

Volcanoes, Hydrothermal systems, Cascade Range, Heat flux, Carbon dioxide, Bredehoeft and Papadopulos

Abstract

Changes in volcanic hydrothermal systems can shed light on the physical processes associated with volcanic unrest such as changes in an underlying magma body. The U.S. Geological Survey recently implemented an experimental hydrothermal monitoring network throughout the Cascade volcanic arc. Despite being ranked as the 12th highest threat among all Cascade volcanoes, Medicine Lake Volcano in northeastern California is considered under-monitored. The primary hydrothermal-monitoring site at Medicine Lake Volcano is a weak fumarole contained within a small area of heated ground, called the Hot Spot, located near the caldera rim. This study uses data from a survey conducted in August 2013 to estimate the total heat flux at the Hot Spot. Total heat flux was predicted to be 130 ± 6 W·m-2 based on an estimated 46 ± 2 W·m-2 conductive heat flux and an estimated 80 ± 16 W·m-2 advective heat flux, for a total heat flow of ˜1.1 MW for the 8,600 m2 vapor-dominated area. This flow is of a similar magnitude as those in other vapor-dominated areas in active volcanic fields and may be sourced by a deeper magma-hydrothermal system rather than local, cooling rock from the last eruption 950 ya. Results of this research add to the current body of knowledge of the Medicine Lake Volcano hydrothermal system and will serve as a baseline should changes to the hydrothermal system occur in the future.

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