By Mukange, BA; Ntedika, ME; Zana, NA; Tondozi, KF (2023).

Greener Journal of Geology and Earth Sciences

ISSN: 2354-2268

Vol. 5(1), pp. 28-51, 2023

Copyright ©2023, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International.

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Characterization of the Volcano-Seismic Activity around Nyiragongo Volcano and Location of its Crater by Means of Unified Scale

 

 

Mukange Besa Anscaire1, Ntedika Mananga Ephraim1, Zana Ndotoni André1, Tondozi Kento Franck 1, 2

 

1Mention Physics, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR Congo.

2Departement of internal Geophysics, Center of Research in Geophysic (CRG), Kinshasa, DR Congo.

 

 

ARTICLE INFO

ABSTRACT

 

Article No.: 120423152

Type: Research

Ful Text: PDF, PHP, HTML, EPUB, MP3

 

Previous work consisted in characterizing some seismic zones, these include:

·         The DRC area  (10°E-35°E; 6°N-14°S), homogeneous, but once subdivided into square sub-zones of side 5°, was made heterogeneous but homogeneous in the Virunga region (25°E-30°E; 1°N-4°S°), (Mukange,2021b),

·         The previously homogeneous Virunga area, subdivided into square sub-areas of dimension 1°, was made heterogeneous but homogeneous in the area around Nyiragongo volcano (29.00°E-29.50°E; 1.45°S-1.75°S) (Mukange, 2023c).

 

These characterizations were made possible by the design of a model by means of  unified scale that generates  seismic species.

The objective of this work is to characterize the "homogeneous" region around the Nyiragongo volcano, subdividing it into square sub-zones of dimension 0.1° and to find a technique for locating the crater. To do this, we designed a unified scale appropriate for characterization on the one hand, and on the other hand made the following assumptions:

·         The crater is located at the place where the density  volume  of the number of volcanic earthquakes is abnormally high,

·         The crater is located at the place where  density  volume of the energy of tectonic or volcano-tectonic earthquakes is very low.

 

The outcome of the research, following the processing of earthquake data from the area  for a period from 2016 to 2021, revealed the following:

·         The seismic species identified in this area are Iab, Iac, Ibb, Ibc, IIIbb and IIIbc, as structural factors, and (ab,ac,bb, and bc). The area's final degree of heterogeneity is 88%, with a 12% degree of homogeneity. As a result, the notion of a structure's homogeneity is dependent on the scale used to observe it.

·         Hypotheses are confirmed. Indeed, according to our hypotheses and field observations, the crater is located at [29.25°E; 1.50°S].

·         Other significant outcomes include:

·         The number of earthquakes curve and the d-value have a good correlation (which characterizes the structure of the ground). It has been determined and confirmed that in this area, The seismic activity is completely dependent on the soil structure.

These findings support previous research (Mukange,2016), which found that the seismicity of DR C is better described (diversified) in terms of longitude (West to East) than latitude (North to South). Moving from west to east, the shape of the structure is the same for the DRC and Virunga; they are the inverse of Nyiragongo. Moving north to south, all three structures exhibit the same trend: seismic activity decreases from North to South.

 

Accepted:  06/12/2023

Published: 30/12/2023

 

*Corresponding Author

Prof. Mukange Besa Anscaire

E-mail: anscairbesa@ yahoo.fr

 

Keywords: volcano-seismic activity, DRC-Virunga, Nyiragongo volcano, characterization scale, grid-areas, modules, structure factor, seismic species, geo-seismic signature, volume density

 

 

 


 

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

Our previous research (Mukange, 2016; Mukange 2021a-b) on the characterization of seismicity in an area in general, and that of the Democratic Republic of   Congo (DRC) in particular, has highlighted, on a regional study scale, the homogeneity of seismicity in the Virunga area, which is home to  Nyamulagira and Nyiragongo volcanoes. These two volcanoes are of great scientific interest and deserve to be thoroughly studied in order to improve monitoring and develop techniques and models for possible prediction. As a result, our characterization of   Nyiragongo volcano's surroundings will consist of the following:

 

·         Establishing the relationship between soil structure and seismic activity in the area. (modeling),

·         The crater is situated in an area with a high density (volume) of earthquakes.

·         The crater is found in areas with a low density (volume) of energy released by tectonic or volcano-tectonic earthquakes.

The crater is situated in an area where the density of earthquakes and energy released is low.

 

The East African Rifts system is presented as a continental extension of the global system of lithospheric fractures that snake through the middle of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and extend into the Eastern part of Africa via the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea (Mukange, 2016; Boden et al. 1988; Bantidi, 2014a). This fracture system is divided into two branches:

 

·         The Eastern branch, which runs from the Afar triangle through Ethiopia and Kenya to the Tanzanian divergence in the north (Figure 1).

 

·         The Western branch consists of a system of fractures that cross the Great Lakes garland, i.e., from Lake Albert (617 m) through Lake Edward (912 m), Lake Kivu (1462 m), Lake Tanganyika (780 m), Lake Rukwa (782 m), and Lake Malawi (460 m), and continues South to Mount Beira in Mozambique and southwest to Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe (Fig. 1). This branch thus covers most of the Eastern provinces of the DRC from latitude 4°N to latitude 8°S. From the Red Sea to the Zambezi, the East African Rifts are more than 6,000 km long and 40 to 60 km wide. The two branches split in two at the Aswan Lineament and join at Lake Malawi (Figure 1).The two branches are active (Bantidi et al.,2014b ; Mukange et al.,2013 ;Wafula 1999,2009,2011a,2011b ; Zana,1977,1981).

 

Figure 1: The East African Rift System is depicted with major faults as solid lines, water as blue, and volcanoes as red.

 

The Congolese Rift has three main volcanic provinces: Toro-Ankole province in the north, Virunga province (Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira volcanoes...) in the center, and South Kivu province in the south (Zana and Tanaka, 1981; Zana, 1982; Ngindu, 2009). (Wafula et al., 1989; Wafula et al., 2009).

The Virunga volcanic area  is located in the far northwestern corner of Lake Kivu. This area is made up of eight volcanoes that are divided into three groups known as volcanic provinces: the eastern group, which includes  Muhavura volcanoes (4127 m a.s.l.), Gahinga (3474 m), and Sabinyo (3647 m), the central group, which includes  volcanoes Isoke (3911 m), Karisimbi (4506 m), and Mikeno (4437 m), and the western group (3056 m). Except for the brief eruption of Mugogo on August 1, 1957, volcanoes of the first two subgroups are currently dormant. Mugogo is 2350 meters above sea level and 11 kilometers north of Visoke; it is considered a satellite cone of the latter (Visoke).

Geophysical research carried out on the Virunga region in general and the Nyiragongo volcano in particular whose name means in English “ the one that smokes” (Lubemba,2021),indicate that it is characterized by a flow of melilitite and feldpathic lavas of a speed 60 km/h at a temperature of 1.100°C (Bahaya,2021; Kamate, 2018; Ongendangenda, 2020).

 

Figure 2 : The volcanic provinces of the Virunga region

 

The volcanoes of the western group are among the most active in the world today: Nyamulagira because of the frequency of eruptions (on average every two years) and Nyiragongo because of its permanent lava lake in the central crater. Note, in addition, that Nyiragongo is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes on our planet due to its proximity to the city of Goma (15 km from the crater, with an estimated population of over one million) and the superfluidity of its lava, which can flow at speeds of up to more than 40 km/h (Wafula,2013). Both of these volcanoes lie within the same zone of the Rift Axis fractures (Figure 3).

Volcanic rocks of these two volcanoes are basalts rich in alkaline elements with a high potassium concentration; this would explain the lavas' hyperfluidity. The volcanic activity of these two volcanoes is of the Hawaiian type, with effusive and passive emission of lava with low viscosity (100-1000 poises) and very high temperature (1000°C). There are three other volcanoes of this type in the world: Mount Erebus in the Arctic, Kilauea in the Pacific, and Erta Alee in Ethiopia.

The classification based on seismogram frequencies is similar to that of the Redoubt volcano in Alaska: in the Virunga area, we record type A volcanic earthquakes (4-10 Hz), type B (1-4 Hz), type C (peak at 2.6 and 8 Hz), and tremors (1-2 Hz).

The last eruption of Nyiragongo volcano occurred on May 22, 2021.


 

 

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Figure 3: Structural geology of the Virunga region and location of volcanoes

 


 

More than 1300 volcanoes provide a rhythm to the earth's internal activity. The majority of them are active. The Nyiragongo volcano is a complex of three volcanoes aligned north-south: Baruta (3100 m) in the north, Nyiragongo main cone (99, 25°E, 1.50°S, 3470 m) in the center, and Shaheru (2800 m) in the south (Figure 4). Nyiragongo has the morphology of a stratovolcano (a volcano with an undulating shape and a stratified structure caused by the piling up of volcanic materials constituting the cone) (Simkin et al., 1981, cited by Wafula, 2013). Nyiragongo volcano is well-known for its lake, which was discovered in 1928. (Tazieff, 1977; Hamaguchi et al., 1982, cited by Wafula,2013).

Until 1977, the Nyiragongo crater was divided into three platforms: the first 180 meters from the crater's summit, the second 180 meters below the first, and the third 60 meters below the second. This lava lake's level fluctuated constantly, and by December 5, 1976, it had reached the critical level of the first platform (Pouclet, 1973, Tazieff, 1977, cited by Wafula, 2013).


 

 

Description: D:\FIGURES POUR NTEDIKA\cardinal 9.JPG

Figure 4: Panorama of Nyiragongo volcano

 

 

 


2.  METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS

 

2.1. Data Analysis

 

The basic data for Nyiragongo volcano were collected at the Goma Volcanological Observatory (OVG) from 2016 to 2021 over the geographical area between 29°E and 29.5°E longitude and 1.45°S and 1.75°S latitude (Figure 5). The magnitudes, however, are missing from these data. To address the second hypothesis, we linked the tectonic earthquakes to their magnitudes as reported by the USGS.


 

 

Figure 5: Precinct of  the area being investigated

 

Fundamental data for each event contains the elements contained, for illustrative purposes, in the table below.

 

Table 1: Illustration of fundamental seismic data

Year

Month

day

Hour

Minute

Second

Latitude

Longitude

Depth(km)

2016

8

16

9

32

8,7

-1,447

29,181

4,1

2016

11

12

17

11

43,9

-1,447

29,218

5,6

2021

5

20

2

7

13,8

-1,448

28,565

17,1

2016

11

12

17

15

15,5

-1,449

29,204

23

2017

5

18

6

31

51,6

-1,453

29,104

30,8

2016

4

20

22

32

48,9

-1,453

29,156

41,5

2021

3

6

20

44

52,9

-1,457

29,327

52,7

2016

12

2

8

35

18,7

-1,462

29,267

66,9

2019

6

26

19

1

19,7

-1,464

29,27

70,4

2021

8

9

2

29

49,7

-1,465

29,173

79,8

 

 


The figure below depicts the findings of previous investigations (Mukange, 2021b) conducted in an area between 10° E-35° E longitude and 6° N-14° S latitude. The current study area (29.0°E-29.5°E and 1.45°S-1.75°S) falls within the "homogeneous" seismic area A42 (25°E-30°E and 4°S-9°S).


 

Figure 6: Seismic zoning in the Democratic Republic of Congo for seismic hazard assessment (Mukange, 2021b)

 

The results of the preceding figure have been transformed into curves (Figure 7), known as structure curves or "geoseismic signatures."

 

 

 

Figure 7: Seismic hazard curves in the DRC from Figure 6.

 

 


A more detailed study was conducted (Mukange, 2023a) highlighting the heterogeneity of the A42 zone (25-30°E, 1°N-4°S); it was sufficient to subdivide the said zone into square sub-areas  of one degree side (Figure 8).

Figure (8) divides the area into  two sections: the sub-area between 25° and 28°E and the sub-area between 28°E and 30°E. However, the first sub-area  is divided into two parts, one between 25° and 26°E and the other between 26° and 28°E. A study similar to the previous ones will be conducted in this zone to characterize it and highlight its 'heterogeneous' nature.


 

 

Figure 8: Seismic Zoning for Seismic Hazard Assessment in the Virunga area, A42

 

The geoseismic signature of figure (8) is represented by the figure bellow.

Figure 9: Transformation of the results of Figure 8 into curves

 

Figures (10-11) show the distribution of hypocenters around Nyiragongo volcano.

 

 Figure 10: Distribution of hypocenters as a function of longitude around Nyiragongo volcano              

 

 

Figure 11: Distribution of hypocenters as a function of latitude around Nyiragongo volcano

 

 

 


2.2 Method of analysis

 

2.2.1. Introduction

 

Our main objective is to characterize the seismicity around the volcano. To do this, we must design a unified and appropriate scale. This scale must integrate various classical parameters that we will have to calculate in each sub-area; these are the following parameters:

 

- The total number of earthquakes,

- The total energy released by the earthquakes,

- The maximum Magnitude,

- The maximum depth of the hypocenters,

- Surface of each sub-area,

- Volume of each sub-area,

- Density of earthquakes,

- Density of energies,

- The b-value and the "d-value" Lay,1995; Mukange,2016),

- The degree of heterogeneity.

 

 

2.2.2. Method of analysis

 

The data will be processed by dividing the area into vertical (Ai) and horizontal (Bj) sub-areas of width 0.1° each, where we will calculate the above-mentioned parameters and group them in the table (5).

 

2.2.2.1. Vertical subdivision of the area

 

The study area is divided into five vertical sub-areas in 0.1 degree steps from west to east (Figure 12, Table 2).


 

 

Figure 12: Subdivision of the area into vertical sub-areas (Ai)

 

 

Table 2: Limits and numbers of earthquakes in each vertical sub-area

Areas

Limits of area

Number of earthquakes

Longitude(°)

Latitude(°)

1

A1

29°E-29,1°E

1,45°S-1,75°S

101

2

A2

29,1°E-29,2°E

1,45°S-1,75°S

114

3

A3

29,2°E-29,3°E

1,45°S-1,75°S

156

4

A4

29,3°E-29,4°E

1,45°S-1,75°S

30

5

A5

29,4°E-29,5°E

1,45°S-1,75°S

7

Total

A1+A2+A3+A4+A5

29,0°E-29,5°E

1,45°S-1,75°S

408

 

2.2.2.2. Horizontal subdivision of the area

 

The same area  is, this time, subdivided into three horizontal sub-zones by steps of 0.1 degree. (Figure 13, Table 3).

Figure 13: Subdivision of the area into horizontal sub-areas (Bj)

 

 

Table 3: Limits and number of earthquakes of each horizontal sub-area

areas

Limits of the area

Number of earthquakes

Longitude(°)

Latitude(°)

1

B1

29,0°E-29,5°E

1,45°S-1,55°S

183

2

B2

29,0°E-29,5°E

1,55°S-1,65°S

72

3

B3

29,0°E-29,5°E

1,65°S-1,75°S

153

Total

B1+B2+B3

29,0°E-29,5°E

1,45°S-1,75°S

408

 


2.2.2.3. Calculation of seismic parameters

 

The classical seismic parameters for each sub-zone are calculated as follows:

 

2.2.2.3.1. The number of earthquakes

 

This consists of counting all the earthquakes that have occurred in each sub-area for the period from 2016 to 2021 (Tables 1-2).

 

These results are converted into percentages according to the following relationship:   

 

                                                   (1)

 

Where N_j is the total number of earthquakes in each Ai or Bj subarea. N_k is the total number of earthquakes in the whole study area.

 

2.2.2.3.2. The maximum magnitude

 

The operation consists in locating the largest magnitude recorded in each sub-area.

 

2.2.2.3.3. The energy of the earthquakes

 

The seismic energy released by each earthquake is determined, in Erg, through the formula

 

                      (2)

 

Thus, the total energy (E_Tk) in the sub-zone (k) is the sum of the energies of each event.

 

In percent, we use the following formula:

 

                                                    (3)

 

With E_k, the total energy released by all recorded earthquakes in the entire study area.

 

2.2.2.3.4. The maximum and minimum depth

 

This identifies the greatest depth (hypocenter) recorded in each sub area.

 

2.2.2.3.5. The surface of each sub-area

 

Each sub-area has a rectangular shape whose surface (S) is calculated using the following formula:

 

    S=L.l                                               (4)

 

With L and l, respectively the length and width of the subarea.

 

Recall that 1°=111.11km

 

2.2.2.3.6. The volume of each sub-area

 

The determination of the volume (V) of each sub-area is done using the formula below:

 

   volume=area*maximum depth            (5)

 

2.2.2.3.7. The volume density of earthquakes

 

The volume density (Ds ) of earthquakes in each sub-area is obtained by the following formula:

 

                                                           (6)

 

Ns is the total number of earthquakes in each sub-zone (Ai or Bj), (V) the volume of each sub-zone.

The volume density of earthquakes in percentage is determined by the following relation:

 

                                              (7)

 

With                     

 

DT, VT, NT  represent respectively the total density, the total volume and the total number of earthquakes of the whole area constituted by the sub-areas Ai or Bi.

 

2.2.2.3.8. The volume density of energy

 

The volume density of energy in percentage is calculated in the same way as that of the earthquakes provided that the number of earthquakes in the zone or subzone is replaced by the energy. Hence:

 

                                                (8)

 

In percentage it is demined for each sub-area by the following relationship:

                            

      .100                            (9)

 

2.2.2.3.9. The b-value and the d-value

 

The relationship

:

                                  (10)

 

Used to characterize the seismic activity through the calculation of the value of the angular coefficient b, called the b-value (reference). This parameter has not attracted our attention.

In the same way as before,

 

The relationship:

 

                                (11)

 

is used to characterize the soil structure through the calculation of the value of the angular coefficient d, introduced by us, called the d-value (Table 4, Figure 14).

 

Where ,m_b is replaced by H , the depth in relation.     

                         

 


Table 4: Statistics on the number of earthquakes by depth range

H≥

N

LOG(N)

0

114

2,00432

5

77

1,72428

10

39

1,41497

15

25

1,38021

20

19

1,36173

25

14

1,36173

30

14

1,27875

35

11

1,25527

40

9

1,17609

45

6

1,04139

50

5

0,95424

55

4

0,90309

60

4

0,8451

65

4

0,69897

70

2

0,30103

75

1

0

 

Figure 14: An illustration of how the parameter d-value is determined.

 

At the appropriate time, the parameter called "degree of heterogeneity" will be defined and calculated.

 


 

3. Presentation and discussion of findings

 

3.1. Presentation

 

The values of the various parameters calculated by using  the above formulas are shown in the table below:

 

Table 5: Synoptic table of calculated seismic parameters

Areas

     d-value

Number of earthquakes

Number (%)

Power

(Erg)

power(%)

maxM

maxH

(km)

sur

face

(km2)

Volu

me

(km3)

Density

 volume

 earthquakes

Volume density of power

Density of earthquakes (%)

Power density

 (%)

A1

0,0198

101

24,754902

7,86E+18

9,32E+01

5,2

79,8

363

28967,4

0,003

6,31E+13

106,389

93,257

A2

0,023

114

27,9411765

1,38E+17

1,64E+00

4,69

70,1

363

25446,3

0,00448

1,11E+12

136,700

1,637

A3

0,03

156

38,2352941

9,68E+15

1,15E-01

4,24

58,0

363

21054

0,00740

7,78E+10

226,088

0,114

A4

0,0225

30

7,35294118

2,91E+16

3,45E-01

4,44

48,8

363

17714,4

0,00169

2,34E+11

51,675

0,345

A5

0,031

7

1,71568627

3,85E+17

4,57E+00

4,91

26,6

363

9655,8

0,0007

3,09E+12

22,120

4,567

B1

0,0262

183

44,8529412

3,85E+17

4,57E+00

4,91

67,3

616

41456,8

0,0044

3,09E+12

134,692

4,567

B2

0,0179

72

17,6470588

1,23E+18

1,46E+01

4,91

79,8

616

49156,8

0,0014

9,88E+12

44,692

14,593

B3

0,0294

153

37,5

6,81E+18

8,08E+01

5,2

55,0

616

33880

0,0045

5,47E+13

137,795

80,799

TOUT

0,0297

408

100

8,43E+18

1,00E+02

5,2

 79,8

1848

124494

0,00327

6,77E+13

100,000

100,020

 

           


3.2. DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS

 

3.2.1. Design of the characterization scale

 

The characterization of the seismic activity of an area requires the design of a unified characterization scale that can reasonably incorporate all calculated parameters (Table 5). For our purposes, our characterization scale consists of three parameters and is written as follows:

X_12 , consisting of two parts, the form factor and the structure factor:

 

where

X is the volume density of energy (D_E in %) of each sub-zone. It is the "form factor".

X can take the value I, II, III or IV, with :

 

            I, if D_E (%) ≤25% ;

            II, if D_E25% < D_E (%) ≤ 50%,

            III, if D_E (%) > 50%

 

The number 1 in subscript represents the earthquake volume density (D_s in %) of each subarea. It is defined as follows:

 

If D_s > 50% then the number 1 takes the index b otherwise the index a.

Number 2 is interested in the value of d-value and takes the following values:

 

if d-value is <0.01, then number 2 takes index a,

if 0.01≤ d-value ≤0.02, then number 2 takes index b,

if d-value is >0.02, then 2 takes index c.

 

The group, of numbers (1,2) in index is called "structure factor".

 

The combination of our three seismic parameters assigns to each sub-area a unique value called seismic species whose results are contained in Table (7).

 

3.2.2 Interpretation of the results

 

The interpretation of the results consists of characterizing the area and locating the crater of the volcano on the basis of the results obtained and hypotheses made.

 

3.2.2.1. Seismic species, seismic levels and color

 

The seismic species associated with each sub-area were ranked in ascending order corresponding to the level of seismic activity and ground structure. Finally, each seismic level is associated with a color (Tables 6-7).

 

Table 6: Color code associated with each seismic level. follows:

 

If D_s > 50% then the number 1 takes the index b otherwise the index a.

 

Number 2 is interested in the value of d-value and takes the following values:

 

if d-value is <0.01, then number 2 takes index a,

if 0.01≤ d-value ≤0.02, then number 2 takes index b,

if d-value is >0.02, then 2 takes index c.

 

The group, of numbers (1,2) in index is called "structure factor".

The combination of our three seismic parameters assigns to each sub-area a unique value called seismic species whose results are contained in Table (7).


 

Table 6: Color code for each seismic level.

Seismic level

colours

1

Pink

2

Blue

3

Green

4

Yellow

5

Purple

6

Orange

7

Light red

8

Dark red

 

Table 7: Color code, seismic species and seismic level associated with each sub-area.

Sub areas

Seismic species

Seismic level 

Colour code

A1

IIIbb

6

orange

A2

Ibc

4

Yellow

A3

Ibc

4

Yellow

A4

Ibb

3

Light green

A5

Iac

2

Light blue

B1

Ibc

4

Yellow

B2

Iab

1

Pink

B3

IIIbc

7

Light red

 


This scale, in comparison to the previous one (MUKANGE 2021a), has some simple innovations for the sake of the cause: While containing several parameters,

 

- It has been greatly simplified to three parameters,

- It introduces and exploits the concept of volume density in particular (of power or of the number of earthquakes).

 

3.2.2.2. Vertical and horizontal zoning map

 

The results of table (7) lead to the creation of the seismic zoning maps shown below.


 

 .

Figure 15: Seismic zoning map, vertical subdivision.

 

Sub-areas A 2 and A 3 have the same structure, as shown in the above map. A 1 has a complex structure.

 

Figure 16: Seismic zoning map, horizontal subdivision.

 


 

We notice that each sub-area is distinct, and that when comparing the two subdivisions (Figure 15 and 16) on the eight sub-areas, only one color is shared (red). This demonstrates that seismicity and ground structure are not the same when studied vertically or horizontally.

 

3.2.2.3 Degree of heterogeneity

 

The degree of heterogeneity is determined by the ratio (in percentage) of the number of different colors to the total number of sub-areas (Table 8). It can also be calculated as the ratio of the distinct colors to the total number (8) of possible colors in the table (7).


 

Table 8 : shows the overall degree of heterogeneity of the sub-areas.

Sub-areas

Degree of  hetérogeneity

Degree of  heterogeneity  in %

Ai

4/5

80 %

Bj

3/3

100 %

Average

90%

 


 

This area, which was previously homogeneous and subdivided into sub-areas, is no longer homogeneous: when studied vertically and horizontally, it exhibits a degree of heterogeneity of 80 and 100%, respectively, for a total of 90%.

 

3.2.2.4 Interpretation of other parameters

 

The evolution of the parameters according to sub-zones is shown below.

 

3.2.2.4.1 Evolution of the d-value

 

The d-value defines the soil structure, and its evolution by sub-area is as follows:


 

Figure 17 : depicts the evolution of the parameter d-value in each sub-area.

 


 

This curve demonstrates that the structure of sub-area A2 is similar to that of A4 and nearly identical to that of A3 and A5.

 

3.2.2.4.2 The evolution of Ai and Bj as a function of maximum depth

 

The characterization is carried out here by following the distribution of hypocenters on each horizontal sub-area.

 


 

Figure 18: Distribution of maximum hypocenters in each Bj sub-area: modeling

 

 


We observe that the distribution of maximum hypocenters from north to south (Bj) around Nyiragongo volcano follows a parabolic law of upward concavity; The shape of the above curve is similar to that obtained in our previous research (Mukange,2021b).

Indeed, the curve below from the above research depicts  the seismic activity (module  on the ordinate) as a function of depth in Basaltic (Bi, on the abscissa) and sub-basaltic (SM1) layers in  Virunga area, i.e., from 25 to 105 km in depth.


 

 

Figure 19: Seismic activity behavior in the basaltic and sub-Basaltic area of  Virunga area

 


 

We conclude that the ground structure studied from North to South (horizontal subdivision) near Nyiragongo volcano is similar to that studied between 25 and 105 kilometers away in the Virunga region.

The characterization is carried out in this case by following the distribution of hypocenters on each vertical sub-area.


 

Figure 20: Distribution of maximum hypocenters in each sub-area AI (artificial intelligence): modeling

Maximum depths decrease linearly from West to East.

 

 


We observe that the distribution of maximum hypocenters from North to South (Ai) around Nyiragongo volcano follows a linear increasing law; the shape of this line is similar to that obtained in our previous research (Mukange).

Indeed, the straight line below from the aforementioned study depicts seismic activity (module on the ordinate) as a function of depth in the granitic layer (Gi) in the Virunga region, i.e. from 0 to 20 km depth.

 

 


Figure 21: Seismic activity behavior in the granitic area of the Virunga area

 

 


We conclude that the ground structure studied using vertical subdivision (Ai) in the vicinity of Nyiragongo volcano is similar to that studied in the granitic area of the Virunga area.

 

3.2.2.4.3 Comparison of soil structure and seismic activity

 

Figures 22 and 23 depict the seismic activity and soil structure in Virunga area, respectively, by using angular coefficients (b-value and d-value).


 

 

Figure 22: Modeling  of the ground structure around Riragongo

 

 


This modeling  shows that the number of earthquakes decreases inversely with increasing depth and that seismic activity is, on average, limited to a depth of 75 km.

The curve below depicts the DRC's seismic activity as measured by the b-value (0.9918, angular coefficient of the line).


 

Figure 23: Seismic activity modeling in the DRC (Mukange, 2021b)

 

 


Because the two lines (Figure 22-23) have the same trend or shape, it is reasonable to conclude that there is a linear relationship between soil structure and seismic activity.

 

3.2.2.4.4. Distribution of seismic power and number of earthquakes by sub-area

 

The curve below depicts the distribution of earthquakes and power in each sub-area.

 


 

Figure 24: Distribution of seismic energy and number of earthquakes by sub-area

 


 

We can deduce the following from this graph:

 

- The number of earthquakes increases as Ai and Bi increase, respectively, at A3 and B1.

- According to Ai and Bi, the energy released in A1 and B3 is greater, respectively.

- The number of earthquakes is lower at A5 and B2, according to Ai and Bi.

- As a function of Ai and Bi, the energy released is lower at A3, A4, and B1.

- With some exceptions, there is a link between low energy and a low number of earthquakes.

- There is no correlation between maximum energy and the number of earthquakes, and vice versa.

 

The curve below depicts the distribution of earthquake density and power  in each sub-area.

 


 

Figure 25: Distribution of seismic energy density and earthquakes by sub-area.

 


 

The figure  above depicts:

 

-       As a function of Ai and Bi, the volume density of earthquakes is higher at A3 and (B3,B1), respectively.

-       As a function of Ai and Bi, the volume density of released energy is greater at A1 and B3, respectively.

-       As a function of Ai and Bi, the volume density of earthquakes is lower at A5 and B2, respectively.

-       As a function of Ai and Bi, the volume density of the released energy decreases at A3 and A4 and B1, respectively.

-       With a few exceptions, there is a correlation between the minimum energy density and the maximum density of earthquakes at the same location, and vice versa, confirming our hypotheses.

 

We conclude that it is preferable to characterize seismicity in terms of volume density rather than number of earthquakes or energy. Thus, the concept of volume density is crucial in this study and in the field of characterization in general.

 

The legend in the figure below attempts to establish a possible correlation between the three curves.

 


                                                                           

Figure 26: Distribution of power, number of earthquakes, and d-value by sub-zone.

NB: the d-value has been multiplied by 2000.

 

 


Once again, there is a strong correlation between the number of earthquakes curve and the d-value (which characterizes the structure of the ground). We conclude and confirm that seismic activity is influenced by ground structure.

 

 

3.2.3. Division of the area  into grid-areas ( cij)

 

The concept of grid-areas is similar to the concept of vector representation (Mukange, 2021a-b).

Indeed, the grid-zone Cij is formed by the intersection of the sub-areas  Ai and Bj.

As a result, cij is described as follows:

The seismic level values (a i) of the vertical sub-areas (Ai) are taken by I and the seismic level values (b j) of the horizontal sub-areas are taken by j. (Bj).

 

We can calculate the module  of the subzones cij using the relation

 

                                  (12).

 

In accordance with the code of table (9), we assign a color to each modulus (Table 10).


 

Table 9 : shows the color code for the module slice.

MODULE

Level

Colours

1

Pink

2

Light blue

3

Purple

4

Green

5

Yellow

6

Orange

7

Light red

 

 

Table 10: Assignment of color to the module of each zone-grid cij

AREAS-GRIDS

b

a

MODULE

SEISMIC LEVEL

COLOUR CODE

C11

6

7

9,21

5

Yellow

C12

6

4

7,21

4

Purple

C13

6

5

7,81

4

Purple

C14

6

3

6,7

4

 Purple

C15

6

2

6,32

4

Purple

C21

1

7

7,07

4

 Purple

C22

1

4

4,12

3

Green  

C23

1

5

5,09

3

Green

C24

1

3

3,16

2

Light blue

C25

1

2

2,23

2

Light blue

C31

 

 

7

10,63

6

Orange

C32

8

4

8,94

5

Yellow

C33

8

5

9,43

5

Yellow

C34

8

3

8,54

5

Yellow

C35

8

2

8,24

5

Yellow

 

The results of the above table, particularly the use of the color code, lead to the characterization of grid-areas in the form of seismic zoning (Figure 27), highlighting five groups:

 

Table 11: Color statistics (module)

COLOURS

AREAS-GRIDS

CONTRIBUTION(%)

1

PURPLE

C12, C13, C14, C15, C21

5/15 (33%)

2

BLUE

C24, C25

2/15 (13,3%)

3

GREEN

C22, C23

2/15(13,3%)

4

YELLOW

C11, C32, C33, C34, C35

5/15 (33%)

5

ORANGE

C31

1/15 (7%)

 

The results of this table are converted into curves (Figure 27)

 

 

Figure 27: Color distribution (module) in Nyiragongo grid areas.

 

We estimate the degree of homogeneity at 33% (5 groups out of 15 Cij), corresponding to a degree of heterogeneity of 67%.

 

 

Figure 28: Characterization of seismic activity using the zoning map of areas

 

The results of the table are transformed into curves (Figure 29) and show the following:

 

- Seismic activity decreases from west (A1) to east (A5), - The B1 sub-area is the transition zone between B2 (low activity) and B3 (high activity) (high seismic activity).

 

 

Figure 29 : Figure 29: Characterization of seismicity by using the curves

 

 


Finally, the degree of heterogeneity is calculated as follows: - For horizontal sub-areas (Bj), we calculate the percentage of the number of different colors recorded to the total number of Cij (five for each Bj).

 

-       For the vertical sub-areas (Ai), we calculate the percentage of the number of different colors recorded to the total number of Cij (three for each Ai).

-       The final degree of homogeneity is simply the mean of these two (Ai and Bj) (Table 12)

-       At the level of sub-areas A4 and A5, an anomaly appears: the gap between the blue and red curves becomes extremely large (Figure 29).

 


 

Table 12: degree of heterogeneity relative to each sub-area

Sub-areas

Degree of heterogeneity

Degree of heterogeneity  in %

B1

3/5

60 %

B2

4/5

80 %

B3

3/5

60 %

A1

3/3

100 %

A2

3/3

100 %

A3

3/3

100 %

A4

3/3

100 %

A5

3/3

100 %

Average

700/800 =88%

 

 


The degree of heterogeneity has increased from zero to 88%.

According to the formula, the rate of heterogeneity é is 56% (5/9) when the number of distinct colors (5) in the figure (28) is divided by the total number of colors in the table (9)

 

When the number of distinct colors (5) in the figure (28) is divided by the total number of boxes (15) in the figure (28), the rate of heterogeneity é is calculated to be 33% (5/15). We'll stick with the first formula.

 

3.2.4 Comparison of the structural curves

 

To compare three structural curves obtained through various studies, we present them below.

 


 

Figure 30: Structural curve of the DRC (10°E-35°E; 6°N-14°S), (Mukange,2021b)

 

 

Figure 31: Structural curve of the Virunga area (25°E-30°E; 1°N-4°S),(Mukange,2022a)

 

Figure 32: Structural curve of   Nyiragongo Volcano area  (29.0°E-29.5°E; 1.45°S-1.75°S)

 


 

Analysis of these three structures reveals the following:

 

- Moving from west to east (Ai), the shape is the same for the DRC (Figure 30) and the Virunga region (Figure 31); they are the inverse of Nyiragongo (Figure 321). This difference is due to the fact that the Nyiragongo zone is located in the front (29°E), a less seismic area , whereas the area  of major fractures and intense seismic activity is located between 30°E and 35°E.

- From North to South (Bj), the three structures exhibit the same trend: seismic activity decreases from north to south.

- These findings support previous research (Mukange, 2016), which found that the DRC's seismicity is better described (diversified) in terms of longitude (West to East) than latitude (North to South).

 

3.2.5. Crater location

 

Starting with the assumption that the crater is located where: - the volume density of the number is abnormally high, - the volume density of the seismic energy of tectonic or volcano-tectonic earthquakes is very low.

Based on these assumptions, other distinguishing features, and the application of the results in Figures (24-25), the crater of Nyiragongo volcano is located at subarea C13 (B1, A3) [29.25°E; 1.50° S]. The black bubble in Figure indicates this location (28). These findings are consistent with the observations made in the field (Figure 5). This confirms our hypotheses, which should be generalized and confirmed through additional research.

 

 

4. GENERAL CONCLUSION AND PERSPECTIVES

 

The design of a characterization scale enabled the study of volcano-seismic activity in the vicinity of the Nyiragongo volcano in the DRC's Virunga area, the western branch of the East African Rifts, as well as the search for techniques for locating its crater on the basis of seismic data. This scale,,, very simplified because it contains only three parameters, introducing the structure constant known as the d-value and the concept of the volume density of energy or number of earthquakes has produced the following results:

 

-       This once homogeneous area, now subdivided into sub-areas, is no longer homogeneous: When examined vertically and horizontally, it reveals a degree of heterogeneity of 80 and 100%, respectively.

-       The final degree of heterogeneity of the area is 88%, ranging from homogeneous to 12%. Thus, a structure's homogeneity is determined by the scale used to observe it.

-       The seismic species identified in this area are Iab, Iac, Ibb, Ibc, IIIbb, and IIIbc, while the structure factors are (ab, ac, bb and bc).

-       Analysis of these three structures, DRC (10°E-35°E; 6°N-14°S), Virunga area (25°E-30°E; 1°N-4°S°), and around Nyiragongo Volcano (29.00°E-29.50°E; 1.45°S-1.75°S), reveals the following:

 

Going from West to East (Ai), the shape of  structures is the same for the Democratic Republic of Congo and Virunga; they are  opposites of Nyiragongo. This difference is due to the fact that the Nyiragongo zone is located before (29°E), a less seismic area, whereas the area of major fractures and intense seismic activity is located between 30°E and 35°E. Around 28°E, Virunga and Nyiragongo structures share the same shape. From North to South (Bj), the three structures follow the same pattern: Seismic activity decreases from North to South.

 

These findings support previous research (Mukange, 2016), which found that the seismicity of the Democratic Republic of Congo  is better described (diversified) in terms of longitude (West to East) than latitude (North to South).

 

-       The ground structure surrounding the volcano from North to South (horizontal subdivision) is similar to that studied in the Virunga region at a depth ranging from 25 to 105 km; - the soil structure surrounding Nyiragongo volcano following vertical subdivision (Ai) is similar to that studied in the Virunga area's granitic area.

-       We see a strong correlation between the number of earthquakes and the d-value once more (characterizes the ground structure). We conclude and confirm that seismic activity is determined by the ground structure. - In a volcanic area, there is a correlation between the maximum volume density of tectonic earthquake energy and the minimum density of earthquakes, with some nuances.

-       It is preferable to characterize seismicity in terms of volume density rather than number of earthquakes or energy. Volume is thus an important concept in this study.

-       The confirmation of the crater's location assumptions Indeed, these are the assumptions:

 

The crater is located in an area with an abnormally high volume density of volcanic earthquakes. - Using these assumptions and other distinguishing factors, we were able to pinpoint the crater of Nyiragongo volcano at [29.25°E; 1.50°S]. These findings are consistent with field observations. Nonetheless, confirmation of these hypotheses is required before they can be generalized. As a result, we must continue our research using our model.

 

 

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Cite this Article: Mukange, BA; Ntedika, ME; Zana, NA; Tondozi, KF (2023). Characterization of the Volcano-Seismic Activity around Nyiragongo Volcano and Location of its Crater by Means of Unified Scale. Greener Journal of Geology and Earth Sciences, 5(1): 28-51.