Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-20-2023
Department
Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
Abstract
Infrasound may be used to detect the approach of hazardous volcanic mudflows, known as lahars, tens of minutes before their flow fronts arrive. We have analyzed signals from more than 20 secondary lahars caused by precipitation events at Fuego Volcano during Guatemala's rainy season in May through October of 2022. We are able to quantify the capabilities of infrasound monitoring through comparison with seismic data, time lapse camera imagery, and high-resolution video of a well-recorded event on August 17. We determine that infrasound sensors, deployed adjacent to the lahar path and in small-aperture (10 s of meters) arrays, are particularly sensitive to remote detection of lahars, including small-sized events, at distances of at least 5 km. At Fuego Volcano these detections could be used to provide timely alerts of up to 30 min before lahars arrive at a downstream monitoring site, such as in the frequently impacted Ceniza drainage. We propose that continuous infrasound monitoring, from locations adjacent to a drainage, may complement seismic monitoring and serve as a valuable tool to help identify approaching hazards. On the other hand, infrasound arrays located a kilometer or more from the lahar path can be effectively used to track a lahar's progression.
Publication Title
Scientific reports
Recommended Citation
Johnson, J. B.,
Roca, A.,
Pineda, A.,
Mérida, R.,
Escobar-Wolf, R.,
Anderson, J. F.,
Mock, J.,
Bosa, A.,
Bejar, G.,
&
Waite, G. P.
(2023).
Infrasound detection of approaching lahars.
Scientific reports,
13(1), 6476.
http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32109-2
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/17096
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Version
Publisher's PDF
Publisher's Statement
© The Author(s) 2023. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32109-2