Imaging Pyroclastic and Lahar Deposits on Montserrat: A Feasibility Test of Airborne Ground Penetrating Radar
Abstract
Airborne acquisition of GPR imagery was simulated by surveys employing elevated transmitter and receivers over pyroclastic flows and lahar deposits on the island of Montserrat in the spring of 2009. A Pulse Ekko 100 system equipped with 100 and 200Mhz antennae was used to collect constant offset and Common Midpoint (CMP) profiles. Imaging using the elevated source/receiver configuration was compared with conventional ground contact surveys. Signal loss across the air/ground interface was significant, but reflector definition was comparable for both types of surveys. Penetration to depths in excess of 3 m was achieved in both survey modes. Likewise interval velocity estimation was effective with both datasets. These experiments confirm the viability of airborne GPR for probing volcano-clastic deposits, suggesting that GPR surveys can be extended into otherwise inaccessible portions of active volcanic systems. Such data could prove especially useful in assessing stability of actively growing slopes.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009AGUFMNS23A1107G
- Keywords:
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- 0900 EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICS;
- 8494 VOLCANOLOGY / Instruments and techniques