ABOUT THIS SITE
This website has been created to facilitate the exchange of volcano infrasound knowledge. Understanding of infrasound produced at any one specific volcano will be enhanced by comparison with signals produced by a spectrum of volcanoes exhibiting a variety of eruptive behaviors. Toward this end, we solicit submissions from researchers who have collected infrasound along with other external observations of the volcanic activity (e.g., seismic, thermal, video, first-hand reports, etc...). Instructions for those wishing to contribute may be found here.
The dissemination of knowledge related to volcano infrasound should ultimately encourage more volcano research and monitoring that incorporates the study of volcano acoustics. Follow this link to see a clickable map highlighting volcanoes from which infrasound examples are already posted at this site. Note that this site is not yet intended for exchange or downloading of actual infrasonic trace data. Rather the reader is encourage to directly contact the contributor(s) or the IRIS DMC, where a growing number of volcano infrasound datasets may be currently archived.
INTRODUCTION TO VOLCANIC INFRASOUND:
Volcanoes produce low-frequency sounds: Although volcanic eruptions are frequently reported with audible observations such as 'booms', 'roars', 'gunshots', or 'jets', these sounds are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the total radiated sound energy. Volcanoes are much more prolific radiators of intense sound in the infrasonic bandwidth (i.e., below 20 Hz), which is below the threshold of human audibility. Our selective hearing is perhaps fortunate because even small eruptions can produce ~1 Hz infrasound which exceeds 100 Pa at several kilometers from the vent. If our ears were as sensitive to this low frequency energy as they are to audible sounds (e.g., at 1000 Hz), the equivalent sound pressure level (SPL) of 140 dB would be loud enough to cause pain.
Volcano infrasound monitoring: Volcano observatories and other monitoring agencies are interested infrasound sensing because volcanoes are efficient radiators of low frequency sounds and because infrasound is relatively little affected by propagation through the atmosphere. Radiated volcanic infrasound is routinely recorded at distances of several hundred kilometers from a volcanic vent during eruptions. In certain cases (i.e., Mount St. Helens 1980 and Krakatau 1883) low frequency sound may be radiated globally. Infrasonic monitoring thus provides an important means to identify when a volcano is in eruption. Furthermore, infrasonic monitoring has utility at night and during inclement weather when alternative means are limited for identifying an ongoing eruption. Infrasound monitoring is arguably one of the best tools for continuously monitoring the trends in an evolving volcanic eruption thus allowing observatories to make informed decisions about the evolution in activity.
Scientific study of infrasound: Researchers collect infrasound in order to better understand the eruption dynamics at volcanoes with variable chemical composition and eruptive activity. Current infrasound-related science goals include: the quantification of erupted material flux, the localization and mechanics of fragmentation sources, and the interpretation of enigmatic seismicity. One of the primary assets of infrasound is that recorded signals are relatively site insensitive. Assuming minimal propagation effects, minimal source anisotropy, and well-calibrated instrumentation, recorded pressure time series are representative of physical motions occurring near the vent. This enables important infrasound intercomparison, a major goal of this website. The value and ease of comparing eruption infrasound stands as a contrast to the intercomparison of eruption seismicity, which is often heavily influenced by heterogeneities of the volcanic edifice and seismometer siting.
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS:
InfraVolc requests infrasonic waveforms and corresponding information about the associated volcanic activity in various forms including: text reports (.txt or .pdf), image data (.jpg, .gif, .tif), or movies (.mpg, .mov, .gif, .avi). It is preferable that all infrasound figures be accompanied by a y-axis scale for pressure and information about the date/time of acquisition, volcano name, location of volcano, distance of sensor(s) from the vent(s), and type/response of the pressure transducer.
Contributions, additions to the on-line volcano infrasound bibliography, and suggestions for links related to volcano infrasound work are particularly encouraged.
Send all correspondences/contributions to the webmaster, Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, at infravolc@gmail.com.
Please note the following terms and conditions (subject to change)
CONTRIBUTORS:
EXTERNAL LINKS:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
This site is hosted by the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at New Mexico Tech and is made possible in part through work supported by the National Science Foundation under EAR Grant #0440225.