Researchers feeble a fiber optic cable on the ice cap of an Icelandic subglacial volcano to detect low-frequency volcanic tremor, suggesting this technology will most certainly be helpful in monitoring rather a pair of ice-lined volcano programs.
Their research published in The Seismic File indicates that the floating ice cap, segment of the Vatnajökull glacier, acted as a pure amplifier of the tremor indicators generated by the Grímsvötn volcano, one in every of Iceland’s most unsafe.
This appears to be like to be the first observation of a floating ice sheet performing as an amplifier of tremor, stated Andreas Fichtner, a professor of seismology and wave physics at ETH Zürich. “Oscillations of ice cabinets in Antarctica or Greenland trust been identified for a extraordinarily lengthy time,” he explained, “but they’re mostly mad by ocean waves.”
Even supposing the true mechanisms behind volcanic tremor can vary, it’ll also be a trademark of deep volcanic or geothermal exercise, Fichter stated. “To boot to offering files about the underlying processes, tremor can also additionally aid as a precursor of volcanic eruptions that desires to be monitored carefully.”
Grímsvötn is one in every of Iceland’s best seemingly and most active volcanoes, with famous eruptions taking situation on moderate each ten years. Geothermal heating melts the ice cap, creating a subglacial lake on the volcano that every every now and then bursts forth and floods the coastal plains. Its explosive eruptions assemble towering ash plumes that have an effect on agriculture, human health and aviation. Ash from the final famous eruption in Could well per chance 2011 closed Iceland’s famous airport and led to the cancellation of 900 flights.
Researchers would need to be taught more about the seismic