Overview of Reventador infrasound activity: from January 2015 to June 2019
Abstract
We present infrasound observations of a multi-year dataset recorded at Volcán El Reventador, Ecuador with the aim of studying volcanic and non-volcanic events and providing key parameters that relate to surficial processes. Reventador, monitored by Instituto Geofísico, is one of the most active volcanoes in the world exhibiting frequent explosive eruptions and episodic lava flows. Since 2015, we have progressively installed 3 infrasound arrays within 4 km of the summit, as infrasonic phenomena is one of the most predominant manifestations of activity at Reventador. The arrays have recorded multiple volcanic processes, including rockfalls, pyroclastic density currents, multiple vents, lateral eruptions, flank collapses and non-volcanic processes such as waterfalls, thunder, earthquakes, and echoes. Here, we present a broad overview of source locations, trends, and statistics for volcanic and non-volcanic events and show how infrasound can provide key geophysical constraints on multiparametric studies. For instance, infrasound can provide information about changes in cone and crater morphology. In August 2015, the rate of eruptions doubled from one every 10 minutes to one every 5 minutes, eventually culminating in the opening of a new vent in late 2015. In June 2017, continuous infrasound tremor located 200 m northeast of the summit coincided with the emplacement of a 3.5 km long pyroclastic density current and a subsequent lava flow. In 2018, the north-northwest slope of Reventador collapsed, leaving a scarp of ~ 400 x 200 x 200 m, which is consistent with infrasound locations of 4 events occurring between April 24-28. These examples highlight the versatility and capability of arrays to quantify diverse infrasonic sources and provide complementary information to other geophysical observations about volcanic activity.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.V44B..06O
- Keywords:
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- 8414 Eruption mechanisms and flow emplacement;
- VOLCANOLOGY;
- 8419 Volcano monitoring;
- VOLCANOLOGY;
- 8485 Remote sensing of volcanoes;
- VOLCANOLOGY;
- 8494 Instruments and techniques;
- VOLCANOLOGY