Harmonic tremor

Seismograph recording of harmonic tremor.
Four major types of seismograms, or seismic signatures.

Harmonic tremor describes a long-duration release of seismic energy, with distinct spectral lines, that often precedes or accompanies a volcanic eruption. More generally, a volcanic tremor is a sustained signal that may or may not possess these harmonic spectral features.

A harmonic tremor is a sustained release of seismic and infrasonic energy typically associated with the underground movement of magma, the venting of volcanic gases from magma, or both. Being a long-duration continuous signal from a temporally extended source, a volcanic tremor contrasts distinctly with transient sources of seismic radiation, such as tremors that are typically associated with earthquake and explosion.

The relation between long-period events and an imminent eruption was first observed by Bernard Chouet, a volcanologist who was working at the United States Geological Survey.[1][2][3]

Notes

  1. ↑ Chouet, Bernard (1996). "Long-period volcano seismicity: its sources and use in eruption forecasting". Nature 380 (6572): 309–316. Bibcode:1996Natur.380..309C. doi:10.1038/380309a0.
  2. ↑ Interview with Bernard Chouet regarding his research into long-period events and volcanic eruptions: http://www.esi-topics.com/volcanoes/interviews/BernardChouet.html .
  3. ↑ U.S. TV program on use of long-period events to predict volcanic eruptions: "Nova: Volcano's Deadly Warning": http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/volcano/ . See also "Volcano Hell" episode of BBC TV series "Horizon" on same subject: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2001/volcanohell.shtml .

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