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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Keywords

  • volcano seismology
  • volcano infrasound
  • dome volcanism

Index Terms

  • Seismology: Volcano seismology
  • Volcanology: Explosive volcanism
  • Volcanology: Instruments and techniques

Abstract

Dissection of a composite volcanic earthquake at Santiaguito, Guatemala

J. B. Johnson

Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico, USA

R. Sanderson

Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico, USA

J. Lyons

Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA

R. Escobar-Wolf

Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA

G. Waite

Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA

J. M. Lees

Department of Geological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Volcano earthquake sources associated with eruptions at Santiaguito volcano in Guatemala are complex. Rock fracture, fluid flow, and gas expansion occur at variable time scales and induce superposed ground motions, including both static and dynamic deformation, and atmospheric pressure disturbances. Dissection of this composite event is facilitated through extra-seismic observations, such as infrasound, geodetic, and visual monitoring. Multi-parametric investigation of an eruptive event on Jan. 4th 2009 reveals increased degassing, apparent as both geodetic tilt and harmonic seismo-infrasonic tremor, preceding an explosive event. The explosive event itself entails surface dome uplift, multiple eruptive pulses, and subsequent re-equilibration of the volcanic edifice manifested in derived tilt. We report here on an integrated approach to discerning the physical processes at the actively effusing and exploding Santiaguito volcano and describe the composite earthquake that occurs here.

Received 4 June 2009; accepted 28 July 2009; published 28 August 2009.

Citation: Johnson, J. B., R. Sanderson, J. Lyons, R. Escobar-Wolf, G. Waite, and J. M. Lees (2009), Dissection of a composite volcanic earthquake at Santiaguito, Guatemala, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L16308, doi:10.1029/2009GL039370.

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