Detailed multidisciplinary monitoring reveals pre- and co-eruptive signals at Nyamulagira volcano (North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo)

Authors

Benoît Smets, European Center for Geodynamics and Seismology
Nicolas d'Oreye, European Center for Geodynamics and Seismology
François Kervyn, Royal Museum for Central Africa
Matthieu Kervyn, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Fabien Albino, Royal Museum for Central Africa
Santiago R. Arellano, Chalmers University of Technology
Montfort Bagalwa, Goma Volcano Observatory
Charles Balagizi, Goma Volcano Observatory
Simon A. Carn, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Thomas H. Darrah, University of Rochester
José Fernández, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Bo Galle, Chalmers University of Technology
Pablo J. González, Western University
Elisabet Head, Michigan Technological University
Katcho Karume, Goma Volcano Observatory
Deogratias Kavotha, Goma Volcano Observatory
François Lukaya, Goma Volcano Observatory
Niche Mashagiro, Goma Volcano Observatory
Georges Mavonga, Goma Volcano Observatory
Patrik Norman, Chalmers University of Technology
Etoy Osodundu, Goma Volcano Observatory
José L.G. Pallero, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Topografía, Geodesia y Cartografía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Juan F. Prieto, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Topografía, Geodesia y Cartografía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Sergey Samsonov, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
Muhindo Syauswa, Goma Volcano Observatory
Dario Tedesco, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli
Kristy Tiampo, Western University
Christelle Wauthier, Carnegie Institution of Washington
Mathieu M. Yalire, Goma Volcano Observatory

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-12-2013

Department

Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

Abstract

This paper presents a thorough description of Nyamulagira's January 2010 volcanic eruption (North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo), based on a combination of field observation and ground-based and space-borne data. It is the first eruption in the Virunga Volcanic Province that has been described by a combination of several modern monitoring techniques. The 2010 eruption lasted 26 days and emitted ~45.5 × 106 m3 of lava. Field observations divided the event into four eruptive stages delimited by major changes in effusive activity. These stages are consistent with those described by Pouclet (1976) for historical eruptions of Nyamulagira. Co-eruptive signals from ground deformation, seismicity, SO2 emission and thermal flux correlate with the eruptive stages. Unambiguous pre-eruptive ground deformation was observed 3 weeks before the lava outburst, coinciding with a small but clear increase in the short period seismicity and SO2 emission. The 3 weeks of precursors contrasts with the only precursory signal previously recognized in the Virunga Volcanic Province, the short-term increase of tremor and long period seismicity, which, for example, were only detected less than 2 h prior to the 2010 eruption. The present paper is the most detailed picture of a typical flank eruption of this volcano. It provides valuable tools for re-examining former-mostly qualitative-descriptions of historical Nyamulagira eruptions that occurred during the colonial period.

Publication Title

Bulletin of Volcanology

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