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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS,
VOL. 37,
L17301,
5 PP., 2010
doi:10.1029/2010GL044208
Magnetotelluric pulses generated by volcanic lightning at Sakurajima volcano, Japan
Sakurajima Volcano Research Center, Kyoto University, Sakurajima, Japan
Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Sakurajima Volcano Research Center, Kyoto University, Sakurajima, Japan
Department of Geophysics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
Sakurajima Volcano Research Center, Kyoto University, Sakurajima, Japan
Volcanic Fluid Research Center, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
Volcanic Fluid Research Center, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
Sakurajima Volcano Research Center, Kyoto University, Sakurajima, Japan
Continuous magnetotelluric (MT) measurements were conducted at Sakurajima volcano, Japan, revealing syn-eruption electric pulses (and sometimes accompanying geomagnetic pulses). Movies of the eruptions, recorded with timing provided by a GPS clock, show a large number of volcanic lightning flashes. Some MT pulses occurred simultaneously with lightning flashes. Pulses were observed more than 10 seconds after the onset of the eruption, and tend to occur during eruptions that emit volcanic ash to high altitudes. Pulses were more common during mild eruptions rather than during Vulcanian eruptions. The observations suggest that the dominant mechanism of volcanic lighting is similar to that of lightning in thunderstorms, in that it requires the collision of particles and subsequent separation of positive and negative charge.
Received 7 June 2010; accepted 28 July 2010; published 2 September 2010.
Citation: (2010), Magnetotelluric pulses generated by volcanic lightning at Sakurajima volcano, Japan, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L17301, doi:10.1029/2010GL044208.
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