Volume Flow Rate Estimation for Small Explosions at Mt. Etna, Italy, From Acoustic Wave form Inversion

Abstract

Rapid and realistic assessment of the volume of erupted material, and the rate at which gas and pyroclasts are injected into the atmosphere during volcanic explosions, is crucial for effective monitoring and hazard mitigation. These parameters, for instance, are key inputs into models of atmospheric rise and transport of volcanic plumes. Volcanic explosions, among many other phenomena, generate atmospheric pressure waves known as infrasound. These sound waves that propagate at frequencies below 20 Hz, represent a powerful tool to investigate the dynamics and source mechanisms of volcanic explosions. Here, we demonstrate how recordings of acoustic infrasound generated by explosions at Mt. Etna can be used to assess the volume flow history of these events. We introduce and apply a data modeling workflow that could be implemented in near real time at Mt. Etna and other volcanoes worldwide.