Hindcasting the paroxysmal eruption of Villarrica using resonant infrasound tones
Abstract
Volcanoes radiate their most intense sounds in the infrasound band (below 20 Hz), which can be well recorded many kilometers from a vent. Open-vent volcanic systems, with active degassing, are particularly effective at producing infrasound, and they characteristically produce resonant tones controlled by the geometry of their crater. Changes in infrasound resonant tones, and their damping coefficient, thus provide a means to infer crater geometry, including crater volume, depth, and profile. This study analyzes the rapidly varying infrasound tone and quality factor of infrasound at Volcan Villarrica (Chile) leading up to its paroxysmal eruption on 3 March 2015. The changes in infrasound reflected a rise in the lava lake surface starting 100 hours prior to the violent and sudden eruption. We suggest that infrasound surveillance of open-vent resonance is a powerful tool with application for forecasting volcanic unrest at open vent volcanoes.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2017
- Bibcode:
- 2017AGUFM.S51B0595J
- Keywords:
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- 7299 General or miscellaneous;
- SEISMOLOGY