Through a different interpretation of the data detected in the Stromboli paroxysm of July 3, 2019, scientists have developed a new model of how the volcano's power system works
Stromboli monitoring data has been analyzed with a new approach by scientists. The study highlighted possible further signals and mechanisms to be paid attention to in the phases of "restlessness" of the volcano (so-called unrest). This is the idea offered by the research , recently published in the international magazine 'Remote Sensing' of MDPI.
The study, conducted by a team of researchers from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in collaboration with Prof. Roberto Scarpa from the University of Salerno and with Prof. Carmelo Ferlito from the University of Catania, was carried out by analyzing a posteriori the signals that preceded the Stromboli paroxysm of 3 July 2019.
“By looking at the data that is normally acquired on Stromboli by our multi-parameter monitoring networks from a new point of view”, explains Mario Mattia, INGV researcher and first author of the research, “we were able to reconstruct the sequence of the unrest phase of the volcano that preceded the event of July 3, 2019”.
By analyzing all the available data (geodetic, satellite, camera data, thermal data and ground deformation acquired using high-precision instruments), the researchers discovered possible changes in the state of the volcano that can be detected in the moments immediately preceding the crisis paroxysmal.
“Paroxysms like the one on July 3rd are particularly dangerous because they produce extremely difficult signals to interpret: think, for example, of counting the number of explosions or VLP events, i.e. low-frequency seismic events typical of active volcanoes, which do not undergo a significant increase in the phases preceding a paroxysm”, continues Matthias. “Starting from these considerations, we focused on some specific parameters, such as the high-frequency signals recorded by the dilatometers, i.e. sensors placed in a deep hole about 200 meters below the surface that measure the smallest variations in soil deformation: we have noticed that these signals actually corresponded to the VLP ones recorded by the seismographs, however they had a specific waveform which, before July 3rd, suddenly changed”.
Furthermore, using an automatic algorithm, the images taken by the surveillance cameras present in Stromboli were reanalysed. Thus, the researchers noted an increase in the intensity and energy of the volcano's explosions starting about a month before the paroxysm in early July.
"Starting from these new readings of the data already in our possession, therefore, we have proposed a model called 'push and go'", adds the researcher. “This model foresees the presence of two types of magma in the volcano's feeding system: a deeper one, extremely rich in gas, and a more superficial one which tends to crystallize, becoming impermeable and forming a sort of 'plug' in the crater. When there is an increase in the gas flow, this begins to exert pressure on the overlying part and, when the pressure can no longer be tolerated, paroxysm arises".
According to the researchers, it was possible to trace the signs of the increase in viscosity of the surface magma in the data from the dilatometers: as the process progresses, the recorded waveforms would appear to have changed their morphology, gradually presenting an increasingly damped form. and indicating - this is the hypothesis - that something in the most superficial part of Stromboli's feeding system was changing.
“We believe that this approach and this proposed model could be very promising for monitoring Stromboli”, concludes Matthias. “It is, of course, a characteristic volcano, with a very small power system and not comparable, for example, with that of Etna or other volcanoes. Furthermore, paroxysms such as that of July 3, 2019 are rather rare events, so for the moment we have a limited number of data. However, we hope to be able to extend our study to Stromboli's major explosions, i.e. those explosions that are stronger than normal eruptive activity but not strong enough to be classified as paroxysms. This would allow us to strengthen our hypothesis and increase the knowledge we have on the unrest phases of this volcano".
This contribution may be useful in the future to refine the forecasting and prevention tools of civil protection but, at the moment, it has no direct implication on measures concerning the safety of the population.
#ingv #remotesensing #mdpi #stromboli #paroxysm #volcano
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Stromboli. A new model proposed to interpret the paroxysm of 2019
Through a different interpretation of the data collected in the Stromboli paroxysm of 3 July 2019, scientists have developed a new functioning model of the volcano's power system
The Stromboli monitoring data were analyzed with a new approach by the scientists. The study highlighted possible further signals and mechanisms to be observed in the phases of "unrest" of the volcano. This is the hypothesis offered by the research , recently published in MDPI's international journal 'Remote Sensing'.
The study, conducted by a team of researchers from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in collaboration with Prof. Roberto Scarpa of the University of Salerno and with Prof. Carmelo Ferlito of the University of Catania, was carried out by analyzing a posterior the signals that preceded the paroxysm of Stromboli on 3 July 2019.
“By observing from a new point of view the data that are normally acquired in Stromboli by our multiparametric monitoring networks”, explains Mario Mattia, researcher at INGV and first author of the study, “we were able to reconstruct the sequence of the unrest of the volcano that preceded the event of 3 July 2019”.
By analyzing the set of available data (geodetic data, satellite data, camera data, thermal and ground deformation data collected by high-precision instruments), the researchers discovered changes in the state of the volcano that could be highlighted in the moments immediately preceding the paroxysmal crisis.
“Paroxysms such as the one occurred July 3, 2019 are particularly dangerous because they produce signals that are extremely difficult to interpret: I think, for example, to the number of explosions or VLP events, that are low frequency seismic events typical of active volcanoes , which do not undergo a significant increase in the phases preceding a paroxysm”, Matthias continues. “Starting from these considerations, we focused on some specific parameters, such as the high frequency signals recorded by strainmeters, that are sensors placed in a deep hole at about 200 meters below the surface, measuring the smallest variations in ground deformations: we have found that these signals actually correspond to the VLP (Very Long Period) signals recorded by the seismographs, however they presented a specific waveform which, before 3 July, suddenly changed”.
Furthermore, using an automatic algorithm, the images taken by the surveillance cameras present in Stromboli were re-analyzed. In this way, the researchers measured an increase in the intensity and energy of the explosions starting about a month before the paroxysm of early July.
“Starting from these new reviews of the data already in our possession, we proposed a model called 'push and go'”, the researcher adds. “This model considers the presence of two types of magma in the volcano plumbing system: a deeper one, extremely rich in gas, and a more shallow one that tends to crystallize, becoming impermeable and forming a sort of 'plug' in the crater. If there is an increase in the flow of gas, this begins to exert pressure on the overlying part and, when the pressure is no longer supported, paroxysm originates”.
According to the researchers, it was possible to trace in the data of the strainmeters the signals of the increase in viscosity of the magma: with the progress of the process, the recorded waveforms seem to have changed their morphology, gradually presenting an increasingly dampened shape and indicating - this is the hypothesis - that something in the most shallow part of the Stromboli's plumbing system was changing.
“We believe that this approach and this proposed model can be very promising for the monitoring of Stromboli”, Matthias concludes. “It is, of course, a characteristic volcano, with a very small plumbing system that cannot be compared, for example, with that of Etna or other volcanoes. Paroxysms such as that of 3 July 2019 are also quite rare events, and for the moment we have a limited number of data. However, we hope to be able to extend our study also to the major explosions of Stromboli, that are explosions stronger than the normal eruptive activity but not enough to be classified as paroxysms. This would allow us to strengthen our hypothesis and increase the knowledge we have on the unrest phases of this volcano”.
This contribution may be useful in the future to refine the tools for forecasting and prevention of civil protection but, at the moment, it has no direct implication on measures concerning the safety of the population.
#ingv #remotesensing #mdpi #stromboli #paroxysm #volcano
Stromboli monitoring data has been analyzed with a new approach by scientists. The study highlighted possible further signals and mechanisms to be paid attention to in the phases of "restlessness" of the volcano (so-called unrest). This is the idea offered by the research , recently published in the international magazine 'Remote Sensing' of MDPI.
The study, conducted by a team of researchers from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in collaboration with Prof. Roberto Scarpa from the University of Salerno and with Prof. Carmelo Ferlito from the University of Catania, was carried out by analyzing a posteriori the signals that preceded the Stromboli paroxysm of 3 July 2019.
“By looking at the data that is normally acquired on Stromboli by our multi-parameter monitoring networks from a new point of view”, explains Mario Mattia, INGV researcher and first author of the research, “we were able to reconstruct the sequence of the unrest phase of the volcano that preceded the event of July 3, 2019”.
By analyzing all the available data (geodetic, satellite, camera data, thermal data and ground deformation acquired using high-precision instruments), the researchers discovered possible changes in the state of the volcano that can be detected in the moments immediately preceding the crisis paroxysmal.
“Paroxysms like the one on July 3rd are particularly dangerous because they produce extremely difficult signals to interpret: think, for example, of counting the number of explosions or VLP events, i.e. low-frequency seismic events typical of active volcanoes, which do not undergo a significant increase in the phases preceding a paroxysm”, continues Matthias. “Starting from these considerations, we focused on some specific parameters, such as the high-frequency signals recorded by the dilatometers, i.e. sensors placed in a deep hole about 200 meters below the surface that measure the smallest variations in soil deformation: we have noticed that these signals actually corresponded to the VLP ones recorded by the seismographs, however they had a specific waveform which, before July 3rd, suddenly changed”.
Furthermore, using an automatic algorithm, the images taken by the surveillance cameras present in Stromboli were reanalysed. Thus, the researchers noted an increase in the intensity and energy of the volcano's explosions starting about a month before the paroxysm in early July.
"Starting from these new readings of the data already in our possession, therefore, we have proposed a model called 'push and go'", adds the researcher. “This model foresees the presence of two types of magma in the volcano's feeding system: a deeper one, extremely rich in gas, and a more superficial one which tends to crystallize, becoming impermeable and forming a sort of 'plug' in the crater. When there is an increase in the gas flow, this begins to exert pressure on the overlying part and, when the pressure can no longer be tolerated, paroxysm arises".
According to the researchers, it was possible to trace the signs of the increase in viscosity of the surface magma in the data from the dilatometers: as the process progresses, the recorded waveforms would appear to have changed their morphology, gradually presenting an increasingly damped form. and indicating - this is the hypothesis - that something in the most superficial part of Stromboli's feeding system was changing.
“We believe that this approach and this proposed model could be very promising for monitoring Stromboli”, concludes Matthias. “It is, of course, a characteristic volcano, with a very small power system and not comparable, for example, with that of Etna or other volcanoes. Furthermore, paroxysms such as that of July 3, 2019 are rather rare events, so for the moment we have a limited number of data. However, we hope to be able to extend our study to Stromboli's major explosions, i.e. those explosions that are stronger than normal eruptive activity but not strong enough to be classified as paroxysms. This would allow us to strengthen our hypothesis and increase the knowledge we have on the unrest phases of this volcano".
This contribution may be useful in the future to refine the forecasting and prevention tools of civil protection but, at the moment, it has no direct implication on measures concerning the safety of the population.
#ingv #remotesensing #mdpi #stromboli #paroxysm #volcano
---
Stromboli. A new model proposed to interpret the paroxysm of 2019
Through a different interpretation of the data collected in the Stromboli paroxysm of 3 July 2019, scientists have developed a new functioning model of the volcano's power system
The Stromboli monitoring data were analyzed with a new approach by the scientists. The study highlighted possible further signals and mechanisms to be observed in the phases of "unrest" of the volcano. This is the hypothesis offered by the research , recently published in MDPI's international journal 'Remote Sensing'.
The study, conducted by a team of researchers from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in collaboration with Prof. Roberto Scarpa of the University of Salerno and with Prof. Carmelo Ferlito of the University of Catania, was carried out by analyzing a posterior the signals that preceded the paroxysm of Stromboli on 3 July 2019.
“By observing from a new point of view the data that are normally acquired in Stromboli by our multiparametric monitoring networks”, explains Mario Mattia, researcher at INGV and first author of the study, “we were able to reconstruct the sequence of the unrest of the volcano that preceded the event of 3 July 2019”.
By analyzing the set of available data (geodetic data, satellite data, camera data, thermal and ground deformation data collected by high-precision instruments), the researchers discovered changes in the state of the volcano that could be highlighted in the moments immediately preceding the paroxysmal crisis.
“Paroxysms such as the one occurred July 3, 2019 are particularly dangerous because they produce signals that are extremely difficult to interpret: I think, for example, to the number of explosions or VLP events, that are low frequency seismic events typical of active volcanoes , which do not undergo a significant increase in the phases preceding a paroxysm”, Matthias continues. “Starting from these considerations, we focused on some specific parameters, such as the high frequency signals recorded by strainmeters, that are sensors placed in a deep hole at about 200 meters below the surface, measuring the smallest variations in ground deformations: we have found that these signals actually correspond to the VLP (Very Long Period) signals recorded by the seismographs, however they presented a specific waveform which, before 3 July, suddenly changed”.
Furthermore, using an automatic algorithm, the images taken by the surveillance cameras present in Stromboli were re-analyzed. In this way, the researchers measured an increase in the intensity and energy of the explosions starting about a month before the paroxysm of early July.
“Starting from these new reviews of the data already in our possession, we proposed a model called 'push and go'”, the researcher adds. “This model considers the presence of two types of magma in the volcano plumbing system: a deeper one, extremely rich in gas, and a more shallow one that tends to crystallize, becoming impermeable and forming a sort of 'plug' in the crater. If there is an increase in the flow of gas, this begins to exert pressure on the overlying part and, when the pressure is no longer supported, paroxysm originates”.
According to the researchers, it was possible to trace in the data of the strainmeters the signals of the increase in viscosity of the magma: with the progress of the process, the recorded waveforms seem to have changed their morphology, gradually presenting an increasingly dampened shape and indicating - this is the hypothesis - that something in the most shallow part of the Stromboli's plumbing system was changing.
“We believe that this approach and this proposed model can be very promising for the monitoring of Stromboli”, Matthias concludes. “It is, of course, a characteristic volcano, with a very small plumbing system that cannot be compared, for example, with that of Etna or other volcanoes. Paroxysms such as that of 3 July 2019 are also quite rare events, and for the moment we have a limited number of data. However, we hope to be able to extend our study also to the major explosions of Stromboli, that are explosions stronger than the normal eruptive activity but not enough to be classified as paroxysms. This would allow us to strengthen our hypothesis and increase the knowledge we have on the unrest phases of this volcano”.
This contribution may be useful in the future to refine the tools for forecasting and prevention of civil protection but, at the moment, it has no direct implication on measures concerning the safety of the population.
#ingv #remotesensing #mdpi #stromboli #paroxysm #volcano
Figure 1: Model of the source of the Stromboli paroxysm of 3 July 2019 obtained from the inversion of geodetic data and sketch illustrating the "push and go" model - Figures 1: Model of the source of the paroxysm in Stromboli on 3 July 2019 obtained from the inversion of the geodetic data and a sketch illustrating the "push and go" Model
Figure 2: Synoptic graph showing the variations of some of the parameters considered in this work, which occurred already a month before the paroxysm of July 3, 2019 - Figures 2: Synoptic chart showing the variations of some of the parameters considered in this work, which occurred one month before the paroxysm of 3 July 2019