Long-period volcano seismicity: its source and use in eruption forecasting

Abstract

At an active volcano, long-period seismicity (with typical periods in the range 0.2–2 s) reflects pressure fluctuations resulting from unsteady mass transport in the sub-surface plumbing system, and hence provides a glimpse of the internal dynamics of the volcanic edifice. When this activity occurs at shallow depths, it may signal the pressure-induced disruption of the steam-dominated region of the volcano, and can accordingly be a useful indicator of impending eruption.