Local Infrasound Monitoring of Lava Eruptions at Nyiragongo Volcano (DR Congo) Using Urban and Near-Source Stations

During eruptions, volcanoes produce air-pressure waves inaudible for the human ear called infrasound, which are very helpful for detecting early signs of magma at the surface. Compared to violent ash-rich explosions, recording more discrete atmospheric disturbances from effusive eruptions remains a practical challenge depending on the distance to the source. At Nyiragongo volcano (D.R. Congo), towering above a 1-million urban area, we analyzed local infrasonic records between January 2018 and April 2022. An acoustic signature from this open-vent volcano is detected up to the volcano observatory facilities in Goma city center about 17 km from its crater. We compared infrasound signals with space-based observations of the intra-crater activity (SO2 emissions, thermal anomalies, crater depth/radius). We thus obtain a comprehensive picture of Nyiragongo's eruptive activity during this period, encompassing the drainage of its lava lake during its third known flank eruption on 22 May 2021.

Automated summary

The study analyzed infrasonic records of the Nyiragongo volcano and provided a comprehensive understanding of its eruptive activity by comparing the data with space-based observations.