Tectonophysics,

30 (1976)
129-140
0 Elsevier Scientific
Publishing
Company,

Amsterdam

Printed

in The Netherlands

CONCENTRATION OF SEISMIC ENERGY WITHIN THE TWO ACTIVE

DOMAINS BENEATH INDIVIDUAL VOLCANOES AND GROUPS OF
VOLCANOES OF JAVA, INDONESIA*

E. GULYAS
Research

and P. HEDERVARI

Group

(Submitted

on Planetary

February

and Geophysical

21, 1975;revised

version

Volcanology,
accepted

Budapest

July

(Hungary)

24, 1975)

ABSTRACT
Gulyas, E. and Hedervari,
P., 1976. Concentration
of seismic energy within the two
active domains beneath individual volcanoes
and groups of volcanoes
of Java, Indonesia.
Tectonophysics,
30: 129-140.
It is shown that beneath all individual active volcanoes
or volcanic groups of Java
there are two seismically
active domains (Acl and Acz), separated
by an aseismic space
(Asz). The concentration
of released seismic energy is calculated
for all active domains,
in the cases of altogether
eighteen individual volcanoes
or groups, respectively.
The
medium value of energy-concentration
(E*) in the case of the shallower
active domains
(Acl)
is:
%* (Acl)

= 5.51

(c erg = 0.01
E* (ACT)

c erg. crnp3

erg), while the medium

= 3.38

value for the deeper

active

domains

(ACT) is:

c erg. crnp3

that is, they are in the same order of magnitude,

thus expressing
a remarkably
uniform
process of strain-accumulation
and -release inside well-separated
domains under active
volcanoes if a longer period of time was considered.
The variation of the E*-values,
especially
that of E* (Acz) along the arc of the volcanoes of Java, roughly speaking from west to east, shows a general tendency
towards
decrease. The western part is characterized
by high, the eastern one by low values. By
and large, a similar graph can be drawn concerning
the reciprocal
number of tectonic
shocks within domains ACT. That is, the western part of the belt is characterized
by
relatively
few shocks of higher magnitude
while their number is essentially
greater in
the eastern part. Finally,
the variation of the probable
minimum
depth of the primary
magma chambers
(sources of andesitic
magma), calculated
by one of the present authors
corresponding
to the Toksoz-mode1
and on the basis of the analysis of Benioff-zones
underneath
Java, also shows a similar tendency,
because the primary chambers
at the
western part of the belt are to be found at a relatively
shallower
level than at the eastern part.

* Contribution
No. 06/75 Research
Group on Planetary
and Geophysical
Address: H. 1023, Budapest,
II. Arpid fejedelem
titja 40-41, Hungary.

Volcanology.

INTRODUCTION

The investigations in the field of seismology and volcanology have a basic

role in the development
and further improvement
of the most up-todate
theory, known as global plate tectonics. Due to this extraordinarily
farreaching theory, a universal science of the earth is developing in these years:
geonomy, which includes geophysics, geology, geochemistry,
morphology
of the deep-sea and ocean-basins, volcanology, etc. We can say, furthermore, that a new branch of geonomy is also developing: this is geophysical
uolcanology. It deals with general relationships existing between volcanic
and other geophysical phenomena, especially seismological ones, from the
viewpoint of plate tectonics. That is, the main object of geophysical volcanology is to carry out investigations regarding the common relations
between volcanism and seismicity. Volcanophysics
(or volcanogeophysics),
which deals with the physical-geophysical
properties of individual volcanoes, represents a very important and basic part of general geophysical
volcanology.
In the present paper two members of the RGPGV (Research Group on
Planetary and Geophysical Volcanology, established in 1974 and affiliated to
IAP) show the result of an investigation concerning the seismic energy release
in a remarkable volcanic region, demonstrating
one method of research
which is customary in geophysical volcanology.
For this purpose the island

Fig. 1. Sketch of the area investigated.

Volcanoes after Neumann van Padang, trench
after Gutenberg and Richter, direction of ocean-floor
spreading by the author on the
basis of the pole of rotation valid for this area, given by Le Pichon.

131

of Java was chosen. The area investigated

map (Fig. 1).

in this study is shown on a small

The belt in question

is a part of a typical island arc, with a deep oceanic
trench along its southern coast, with shallow, intermediate
and deep earthquakes and with active volcanoes, some of them belonging to the very
dangerous category (e.g. Krakatau, Tangkuban Prahu, Merapi, etc.). Along
the oceanic trench, underthrusting
of the oceanic lithosphere is in progress.
While underneath Sumatra deep tectonic earthquakes are absent, beneath
the Java - Bali - Lombok region one can experience numerous very deep
shocks the hypocentral
depth of which often exceeds 600 km. The lateral
variation in K,O content of andesites in Java is more pronounced
than
on Sumatra. Similarly the present-day volcanic activity is very vigorous in
Java and over its eastern continuation,
but the volcanism is not so strong
west of the Sunda Strait. Caldera-making, extremely explosive eruptions
are known from the Sunda Strait (Krakatau, 1883), from Sumbawa (Tambora, 1815) and from Java (Tangkuban Prahu, about 1950-2200
years
ago). The oceanic lithosphere appears to have penetrated to a much greater
depth east of the Sunda Strait than beneath Central and Western Sumatra.
A gap in the seismic activity between the depths of 300 and 500 km exists
from the Sunda Strait t,o Central Timor. Under eastern Timor, however,
earthquakes also occurred from this depth interval.
DATA

USED

All the registered tectonic shocks of a Richter-magnitude

of M > 5.5
or magnitude m > 6.0 (the former can be found in Rothes catalogues
while the latter are given in the volumes of the Regional Catalogue of Earthquakes), were considered provided that they took place between 1953.01.01
and 1970.12.31 within the area of 103E-117E
and 3S-llS,
respectively. Earthquakes with a magnitude denoted in certain catalogues by
the letter d were regarded as shocks with a Richter-magnitude
of 5.5. The
data were taken from the following sources: Rothe (1965), Index Catalogue of Epicentres and Regional Catalogues of Earthquakes, respectively
(see References).
In the region investigated, (see Fig. 1) there are altogether 36 individual
volcanoes and solfatara-fields.
Taking into account their geographical position, they were grouped into eighteen groups in accordance with Table I.
The data of these volcanoes can be found in the Catalogue of Active Volcanoes of the World (Neumann van Padang, 1951).
METHOD

USED

In the light of knowledge of the epicentral coordinates, the focal depth

and the position of the volcano or volcanic group considered, we have
determined the spatial distance (R) between the hypocenter
of the shocks,

132
TABLE

Individual volcanoes and groups of volcanoes

and map see Neumann van Padang, 195 1)

considered

in this study (for further

data

._ _ _.._
Serial
number
.__--.__---.

Catalogue
number
..-.

6,2

II

6,3-l
6,3-Z
6,3-3
6,3-4
6,3-5
6,3-6
6,3-7
6,3-12
6,3-13
6,3-9
6,3-S
6,3-10
6,3-l 1
6,3-14
6.3-15
6,3-16
6,3-17
6,318
6,3-19
6,3-20
63-21
6,3-22
6,3-23
6,3-24
6.3-25
6,3-26
6,3-27
6.3-28
6,3-29
6,330
6,3-3 1
6.3-32
6,3-33
6.3-34
6,335

111

IV

V
VI

VII

VIII
IX
x

XI

XII
XIII
XIV
xv
XVI
XVII
XVIII

Name

Type

--

.-..__-__.-..__.
Krakatau
Pulosari
Karang
Kiaraberes Gagak
Perbakti
Salak
Gcdeh
Patuha
Kawah Kamodjang
Guntur
Tangkuban Prahu
Wajang Windu
Papandajan
Kawah Manuk
Galunggung
Telaga Bodas
Kawah Karaha
Tjerimai
Slamet
Butak Petarangan
Difng
Su ndoro
Sumbing
Ungaran
Merbabu
Merapi
Lawu
Wilis
Kelud
Ardjuno Welirang
Semeru
Bromo
Lamongan
Ijang Argapura
Raung
Kawah Idjen

Note: a = active volcanoes which had eruptions

and fumarole stage. + = solfatara and fumarola

in historic
fields.

_.

- _-

a
0
0

+
+
a
a
o
+
a
a
0

a
+
a
0

+
a
a
a
a
a
a
0

a
a
0

o
a
0

a
a
a
0

a
a

______

time, o = volcanoes

..__- -__

in solfatara

which can be found within a circle of a radius of 300 kilometres measured

from the volcano, and the volcano in question (Fig. 2). The circles of a
radius 300 km, mentioned above, refer - naturally - to the surface. The
focal depth may be as great as 700 ic,m: therefore the value for R can exceed

133

Fig, 2. R means the spatial distance between the volcano (or volcanic group, V) and
the hypocenter (h) of the earthquake considered. Letter e means the place of the epicenter of the same shock.

760 km. If in a given group the number of members was two or more, the
center of the group was considered.
Taking into account all the hypocenters
and volcanoes of the region, it
became immediately evident that in the case of each volcano (or group)
there are three aseismic domains (As,, As2 and Ass, respectively) and two
seism~caZ~y active ones (AC, and A+). This is apparently the consequence
of the fact that the shallow shocks are well isolated from the deep ones
in the space.
The corresponding
values for R are as follows (Fig. 3.):
............ Rx

-R*

= R,

AC 1 ............ R,

-RI

As1

0;

As 2 I........... R3 - R2;
AC 2 . . . . . . . . +...R4 -R,

M-R,.
As 3 *...~**.BL*
Domain AsI represents a half-sphere. Domains AC,, As2 and Ac2, respectively, are half of spherical shells of different dimensions (Fig. 4). The
geometrical form of domain Ass is indefinable.

A53

Fig. 3. Acl and AC:! are the seismically active domains, while Asl, As2 and Ass,
tively, are aseismic spaces. V is the place of the volcano or volcanic group.

respec-

131

Fig. 4. A spatial view of Fig. 3. S means the surface of the earth.

For the calculation of earthquake-energy

were used (Richter, 1958):

the following

two expressions

log E = 11.8 + 1.5 M

(1)

and:
m = 2.5 + 0.63 M
The energy-concentration

(2)
(E*), for the domain AC, is:

(3)
and for the domain AC* it is:

E*(Ac,)

c
CE
Ac2 (tl, t2)
=2
5 71(Kd3 -- R33)

In expressions (3) and (4) E is the seismic energy, furthermore

tI =
1953.01.01, the beginning of the time interval considered and t2 =
1970.12.31,
end of the interval in question.
As it was mentioned previously, in the case of a certain volcano (or a
group) those and only those shocks were taken into account, the epicenter
of which was at a distance of e < 300 km from the volcano (or from the
center of the group). We often experienced that a single shock belonged
therefore to more than one volcano (or group). If the considered shock,
with an energy of E ergs, belonged simultaneously
to volcanoes (or groups)
the number of which was n and n > 1, then its energy was divided into
n (equal) parts and for one of the volcanoes (or groups) in question the
shock with an energy of E/n ergs was considered.

(4)

TABLE

II

Variation of the R-values

kilometres

and the thickness

of aseismic

and active domains,

Group

-4

R.
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
XIII
XIV
xv
XVI
XVII
XVIII

--

ACI

i-r

R,

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Energy

--

128.8

---

-4~2
*

concentration,

expressed

Domain

I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
XIII
XIV
xv
XVI
XVII
XVIII

19.5
9.4
4.7
5.9
7.5
7.1
8.8
4.2
4.0
0.9
2.4
5.6
1.0
3.0
2.3
3.6
5.4
3.9

AC,

Ac2
+-*
-

R4

600
589
592
608
596
615
614
610
615
572
565
561
575
589
582
595
578
611

129
710
701
704
688
705
702
681
709
628
612
679
669
661
650
658
658
668

313.0

593.0

678.4
-

in c erg.cm-3

Domain

.._______
4.8
5.3
6.0
6.6
7.2
7.0
7.2
9.3
1.2
0.2
0.1
0.6
0.7
0.9
1.0
1.0
0.8
1.0

Ra

304
323
319
340
321
320
302
278
283
278
298
348
393
291
315
301
270
284

III

Group

__.~

R2

+->

45
68
133
110
137
104
120
158
160
137
133
120
120
140
155
141
180
158

Average values:
~--TABLE

expressed

ACT

in

RESULTS

The values we obtained for R,, Rz, R3 and R4, respectively, are given
in Table II.
Introducing now the value of c erg (centi-erg; 1 c erg = 0.01 erg) we get
values for E* as shown in Table III.

CONCLUSIONS

The average value of energy concentration

mains is:

for the shallower

active do-

XVIII
c

E*(Ac,)

E*(Ac,)
- = 5.51 c ergacme

18

= -.I

and for the deeper domains

(5)

it is:

XVI11
p
E*(Ac*)

E*(Ac+)

18

--

= 3.38 c erg.cms3

(6)

It appears to be important that - the two values are almost equal with one
another, in spite of the fact that AC, is much greater than Ac,, since:
Ac2 = 2207.06

* 102

cm3

(7)

and :
AC, = 612.27

. 102

cm3

(8)

In other words, expressions (5) and (6) show e remarkably uniform

process of accumulation and release of mechanical strains within different
and well-sepamted regions beneath active volcanoes and groups of volcanoes, during a longer period of time.
Studying the E*-values further, we can state that the western part of the
arc (volcanoes and groups from I to VIII) is characterized
by high E* (AQ)
values, while the eastern part (IX-XVIII)
has a low value (Fig. 5). The
transition is extremely sharp. A similar, but not so sharp variation can be
experienced in the variation of the E* (Aq ) values also (Fig. 6).
The corresponding
average values are as follows:
VIII
CE* (AC, )
Ez((Ac,),

= -l-.-i

------

= 8.(i875

c erg.cmp3

(9)

xm

lx
group

Fig. 5. Variation of the energy concentration along the arc of active volcanoes from
group I to XVIII. m = medium value; e = effective curve; W = west; E = east. The graph
shows the values valid for the Acz-domains.

Fig. 6. Variation of energy concentration along the arc (for legend see Fig. 4). This
graph shows the values valid for the Acl-domains.

VIII

c P(Ac,!)

~*(Ac~)~

! _--_._
8 _ = 6.675

c erg.cm-

(10)

c erg.cme3

(11)

0.75 c erg.cmw3

(12)

XVIII

E*(A&

-!xF--

xv
g
E*@c~)E

B*(Aq)

= -

= 3.21

III
E*Mc2)
1.

A rather similar tendency is seen in the reciprocal number of tectonic

shocks of higher magnitude in domains Ac2 (Fig. 7B). In other words,
the western part of the belt investigated is characterized
by relatively few
tectonic earthquakes, whereas the number of shocks is essentially higher
in the eastern part. It is noteworthy,
moreover, that the variation of the
probable minimum depth (H) of the primary magma chambers (domains
of - usually andesitic - magma generation) also shows a similar trend (Fig.
7A). The depths in question were calculated by one of the present authors
(HedenGri, 1974), on the basis of the Toksiiz-model
(Minear and Toksoz,
1970; Toksoz et al., 1971) for the downgoing lithospheric slabs and by
the construction
and analysis of the Benioff zones of Java. Because the
respective results are treated in more detail elsewhere, we do not occupy
ourselves here with a repetition of the method and the results. The latter
are shown in Fig. 7A. In the case of individual volcanoes, the reader can
find on this graph only one point corresponding
to the H-depth of the
volcano in question. However, in the case of groups, two or three points
are indicated on the drawing, in accordance with the number of volcanoes
within the respective group and corresponding
to their H-value. On this
graph only active volcanoes were indicated and solfatara and fumarole
fields were omitted. It can be seen that - generally speaking - H is increasing from the west towards the east.
Inspecting Figs. 7A and B together, we can state that where the H-depth
is greater, generally speaking, the number of shocks in domain Acz is also
greater. In spite of the greater number of earthquake foci, as one can see
by Fig. 5, the energy concentration
is relatively small here.
We confine ourselves here to the statement of these interesting and
previously unknown empirical facts only and we do not wish to put forward any theory for their explanation.
At the same time it must be em-

139

z
9
c

Fig. 7A. Variation

(so-called
primary

of the probable
minimum
depth (H) of the sources of andesitic
magma
magma chambers)
along the arc investigated
from group I to XVIII.

Fig. 7B. The number (n) of tectonic

6.0) within the Aca-domains
during

earthquakes
of higher magnitude
the time-interval
investigated.

(M 2 5.5 or m >

phasized that these results are valid only for the case of Java and for the
time-interval which we have investigated. At present we have no evidence
on hand concerning the existence of such relationships in the case of other
regions and other periods of time.

REFERENCES
Hedervari,
P., 1974. The Variation
of the SiOQ-K20
Ratio of Volcanic
Rocks and Its
Relation
to the Minimum
Depth of Primary Magma Chambers.
Contribution
to the
Work of the Hungarian National Committee
of the Inter-Union
Commission
on Geodynamics;
Class of Earth- and Mining Sciences
of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences,
No. 105.126/974/2,
Budapest
(Manuscript.
to be published
later).
Minear, J.W. and Toksoz,
M.N., 1970. Thermal
regime of a downgoing
slab. Tectonophysics, 10: 367-390.
Neumann van Padang, M., 1951. Catalogue
of Active Volcanoes
of the World Including
Solfata Fields. I, Indonesia.
Napoli.

140

Richter, C.F., 1958. Elementary Seismology. San Francisco.

Rothe, J.P., 1969. The Seismicity of the Earth, 1953-1965.
Paris.
Toksoz, M.N., Minear, J.W. and Julian, B.R., 1971. Temperature field and geophysical
effects of a downgoing slab. J. Geophys. Res., 76 (5).
Index Catalogue of Epicentres, all volumes from 1957 to 1963. International Seismological Centre, Edinburgh.
Regional Catalogues of Earthquakes, all volumes from 1964 to 1970. International
Seismological Centre, Edinburgh.