A team of researchers from the CNRS and the Paris Institute of Planetary Physics has developed an innovative method for creating high-resolution, deep imaging of volcanoes’ internal structures. This breakthrough technique leverages a network of geophones devices that detect seismic waves to capture not only the strong movements caused by earthquakes but also the subtle seismic noise from wind, ocean waves, and human activities.
The researchers applied this method to La Soufrière volcano in Guadeloupe, providing an unprecedented 3D view of the volcano’s internal structure to a depth of 10 kilometers with a resolution of around 100 meters. This new imaging technique confirmed the existence of a large magma storage zone, organized as a network of interconnected magma pockets beneath the volcano.
Key Insights:
- The study provided detailed 3D images of La Soufrière’s internal conduits and magma storage system, including a tortuous volcanic conduit reaching a depth of 5 km, and a magma storage zone composed of horizontal magma lenses interconnected at deeper levels.
- This method uses adaptive focusing laws to account for the complex seismic wave distortions caused by the heterogeneous structures inside the volcano, which improves image clarity significantly.
- The imaging tool can be applied to any network of geophones, offering a powerful new way to monitor volcanic activity worldwide. It could be particularly useful for predicting volcanic eruptions by providing a clearer understanding of magma movements deep within volcanoes.
The research was published in the journal Communications, Earth & Environment and represents a significant leap forward in volcano monitoring and hazard mitigation.
Reference: https://www.preventionweb.net/news/innovative-system-seeing-bowels-volcanos