Cyclic activity of mud volcanoes: Evidences from Trinidad (SE Caribbean)

Fluid and solid transfer in mud volcanoes show different cyclic phases of activity, including catastrophic events and periods of relative quiescence characterized by moderate activity. This is notably well-shown by the compilation of historical data onshore Trinidad. It appears that each eruptive mud volcano has its own period of catastrophic activity, and this period is variable from one volcano to another. The frequency of the eruptions seems essentially controlled by local pressure regime within the sedimentary pile. The dynamics of expulsion of the mud volcanoes during the quiescent phases has been studied with the help of temperature measurements within the mud conduits. The mud temperature in these conduits is notably concurrently controlled by the gas flux (endothermic gas depressurizing induces a cooling effect), and by the mud flux (mud is a vector for convective heat transfer). Complex temperature distribution was observed in large conduits and pools. Especially in the bigger pools, the temperature distribution characterizes convective cells with an upward displacement of mud above the deep outlet, and ring-shaped rolls associated with the burial of the mud on the flanks of the pools. In tube-like shaped narrow conduits, the temperature is more regular, but we observed different types of profiles, with either downward increasing or decreasing temperatures. Near constant to even negative gradients compared to the general temperature gradient are typical for very dynamic fluid systems. The temperature profiles varied from one place to another, as well as over time. The temperatures measured within the conduits and their base show that the fluid flow is not constant but highly variable through short time-periods. We observed locally a significant daily change of the temperature of the expelled mud which shows also that the mud flux is changing very rapidly due to the migration dynamics of the mud in fracture systems. We also observed very short time-period cyclic variations with a frequency of several minutes. These high frequencies temperature changes could be related to the dynamics of two-phase flows (gas and mud) through the mud volcano conduits. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.