Improved detection of preeruptive seismic velocity drops at the Piton de La Fournaise volcano

Researchers have identified a previously undetected preeruptive seismic velocity drop of 0.15% associated with the June 21, 2014 eruption at Piton de La Fournaise volcano on Réunion Island. This discovery was made possible by correcting seismic velocity data for pore pressure changes caused by rainfall, which had previously obscured the signal. The study used a transfer function to model the relationship between fluid pressure and seismic velocity variations, allowing for the isolation of true preeruptive signals during a period of low eruptive activity (2011–2013). This advancement improves the potential for more reliable volcanic eruption prediction by mitigating interference from environmental factors.

Rivet, D., Brenguier, F., & Cappa, F. (2015). Improved detection of preeruptive seismic velocity drops at the Piton de La Fournaise volcano. Geophysical Research Letters, 42(15), 6332–6339. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015gl064835