Seismic precursors to the Whakaari 2019 phreatic eruption are transferable to other eruptions and volcanoes.

ABSTRACT: Volcanic eruptions that occur without warning can be deadly in touristic and populated areas. Even with real-time geophysical monitoring, forecasting sudden eruptions is difficult, because their precursors are hard to recognize and can vary between volcanoes. Here, we describe a general seismic precursor signal for gas-driven eruptions, identified through correlation analysis of 18 well-recorded eruptions in New Zealand, Alaska, and Kamchatka. The precursor manifests in the displacement seismic amplitude ratio between medium (4.5-8 Hz) and high (8-16 Hz) frequency tremor bands, exhibiting a characteristic rise in the days prior to eruptions. We interpret this as formation of a hydrothermal seal that enables rapid pressurization of shallow groundwater. Applying this model to the 2019 erupti

SUBMITTER: Ardid A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9021187 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature