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Comprehensive monitoring provides early warning of a volcano’s awakening
Volcano monitoring requires a variety of techniques to hear and see activity inside a volcano. It involves monitoring volcanoes for signs of change that signal a volcanic awakening. To fully understand a volcano’s behaviour, monitoring must include several types of observations (earthquakes, ground motions, volcanic gases, rock chemistry, water chemistry, remote satellite analysis) on a continuous or near real-time basis.
Volcanic monitoring types and methods employed by the USGS Volcano Hazards Program.
Many instruments are used to obtain a more complete picture of volcanic activity.
Teams work on the seismic stations. During eruptive breaks, crews work to keep the monitoring stations running.
Scientists collect data from the instrument arrays and then analyse them to look for unusual signals. By comparing the data analysis with similar results from past volcanic events, volcanologists are better able to predict changes in volcanic activity and determine if and when a volcano might erupt in the future.
This is known as disaster risk management.
Crews work on seismic station VNSS on the north flank of Veniaminof Volcano (Alaska). During eruptive pauses, crews work to keep monitoring stations operating.
Knowing the state of a volcano with the help of monitoring instruments helps to reduce socio-economic losses.
Rapid advances in technology are helping scientists develop efficient and accurate monitoring equipment. These new systems can collect and transmit accurate data in real-time from the volcano to the observatory offices, improving eruption prediction. The instruments must be installed during quiet periods when the volcanoes are not active so that they are ready to detect the slightest volcanic agitation. Early detection gives people maximum time to prepare for an eruption.
We talk about disaster risk management strategies because there is no such thing as natural risk. Natural hazards exist and become disasters through human mismanagement. There are no natural disasters.
A joint seismic, tilt, and GPS monitoring site located at Observation Rock. Station approximately 8 km northwest of Mount Rainier’s summit (seen in the background).
Monitoring data can be used to predict the course of an eruption once disturbances have been detected and to model them on maps.
When a volcano begins to show new or unusual signs of activity, the monitoring data helps to answer the critical questions needed to assess and then communicate timely information about volcanic hazards. Scientists can examine all monitoring data, including gases, ground deformation and satellite images, to determine whether magma or fluid was moving towards the surface. Based on the history of the volcano and the analysis of the monitoring data, scientists can determine the types of magma that are likely to move to the surface. This type of knowledge helps scientists determine the types of volcanic activity that are possible and the associated risks to people. Knowledge of the hazards helps officials determine what real-time warnings are needed to avoid loss of life and property.
Natural hazards exist and become disasters through human mismanagement.
LOS = Line of Sight
Top: ERS-1/2, track 156, interferometric stack of Mount St. Helens, Washington, composed of 36 interferograms spanning preeruptive 1992-2001 period. Inset shows location of stack. Locations of major features referred to in the text are labeled. Image shows three areas of subsidence in debris-avalanche deposit—1 (Johnston Ridge), 2 (Coldwater), and 3 (Elk Rock).
Bottom: RADARSAT standard mode 2 ascending interferometric stack of Mount St. Helens, Washington, composed of nine interferograms spanning coeruptive 2004-5 time period. Stack clearly shows line-of-sight lengthening (subsidence) centered on Mount St. Helens which, most likely reflects deformation of the ground surface associated with removal of magma from within the volcano as it was erupted on the surface.
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