Monitoring
Overview of MVO Monitoring
MVO operates over 50 monitoring stations using a wide variety of techniques. These include seismology, geology, geochemistry, petrology, deformation and degassing.
Many of these are remote, powered by solar energy and telemeter the data back to MVO in real time.
MVO scientists and technicians also regularly monitor the volcano using helicopter and boat traverse to access more remote areas and take data.
Seismic Monitoring
As magma migrates towards the surface beneath volcanoes, stress changes in the crust can cause volcanic earthquakes. Hence monitoring of precursory seismicity at active, or potentially active, volcanoes is one of the most reliable and widely used volcano monitoring techniques.
Dome Volume & Geology
Dome Volume and Geology characterizes the explosive activity associated with the growth and destruction of andesitic lava domes. Monitoring changes to the lava dome and the fumaroles and mapping the deposits from the activity.
Ground Deformation
Monitoring the deformation of the surface of the volcano (bulging, sinking, fractures) gives information on the magmatic system architecture, and reflects movements of magma, gas or other fluids, or movements along faults, within the earth crust.
Gas Monitoring
Measurements of the gas emissions from the volcano have been carried out throughout the eruption. These measurements have constituted an important input to the assessment of volcanic risk. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and hydrogen chloride (HCl) are the species routinely monitored, primarily by remote sensing techniques.
