The complex, static displacement of a very long period seismic signal observed at Soufriere Hills volcano, Montserrat, WI

In this study we demonstrate how very-long period (VLP) volcanic seismic signals can be processed in order to obtain essential and detailed information about the seismo-volcanic source process. As an example we use the VLP signal observed on 23 March 2012 during an outgassing event at Soufriere Hills volcano, Montserrat, acquired by instruments with different natural periods. The aim of this study is to highlight the importance of retrieving the correct source time function by a complete restitution process. When ground displacement cannot be retrieved through the restitution process due to very narrow band-pass limited instrument response, we compare synthetic and observed waveforms in the velocity domain and determine the best model by generating a synthetic velocity seismogram using the band-limited seismometer characteristics. Furthermore, we show how this approach of forward modelling can reveal much more detail of the source process, since small changes in displacement are enhanced in the velocity seismogram. Using these restituted and modelled displacements we perform a moment tensor inversion combined with a grid search locating the source at 600 m depth below sea level and estimating the source volume change to be in the range of 0.6-1.1 x 10(3) m(3). (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates how to process VLP volcanic seismic signals in order to obtain detailed information about the seismo-volcanic source process using synthetic and observed waveforms in the velocity domain, and forward modeling to reveal more details of the source process. This approach helps to retrieve correct source time function and estimate source parameters accurately.