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Observations of volcanic tremor during the January–February 2005 eruption of Mt. Veniaminof, Alaska

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Abstract

Mt. Veniaminof, Alaska Peninsula, is a stratovolcano with a summit ice-filled caldera containing a small intracaldera cone and active vent. From January 2 to February 21, 2005, Mt. Veniaminof erupted. The eruption was characterized by numerous small ash emissions (VEI 0 to 1) and accompanied by low-frequency earthquake activity and volcanic tremor. We have performed spectral analyses of the seismic signals in order to characterize them and to constrain their source. Continuous tremor has durations of minutes to hours with dominant energy in the band 0.5–4.0 Hz, and spectra characterized by narrow peaks either irregularly (non-harmonic tremor) or regularly spaced (harmonic tremor). The spectra of non-harmonic tremor resemble those of low-frequency events recorded simultaneously with surface ash explosions, suggesting that the source mechanisms might be similar or related. We propose that non-harmonic tremor at Mt. Veniaminof results from the coalescence of gas bubbles while low-frequency events are related to the disruption of large gas pockets within the conduit. Harmonic tremor, characterized by regular and quasi-sinusoidal waveforms, has duration of hours. Spectra containing up to five harmonics suggest the presence of a resonating source volume that vibrates in a longitudinal acoustic mode. An interesting feature of harmonic tremor is that frequency is observed to change over time; spectral lines move towards higher or lower values while the harmonic nature of the spectra is maintained. Factors controlling the variable characteristics of harmonic tremor include changes in acoustic velocity at the source and variations of the effective size of the resonator.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the staff of the Alaska Volcano Observatory for their efforts during the course of the eruption. We thank two anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and J. Stix for a final review of the manuscript. This work was supported by the Alaska Volcano Observatory and the U.S. Geological Survey as part of the Volcano Hazards Program, and by additional funds from the State of Alaska.

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  1. Silvio De Angelis

    Present address: Montserrat Volcano Observatory, Flemmings, Montserrat, West Indies

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alaska Volcano Observatory—Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 903 Koyukuk Drive, P.O. BOX 757320, Fairbanks, AK, 99775-7320, USA

    Silvio De Angelis & Stephen R. McNutt

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  1. Silvio De Angelis
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  2. Stephen R. McNutt
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Correspondence to Silvio De Angelis.

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Editorial responsibility: J Stix

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De Angelis, S., McNutt, S.R. Observations of volcanic tremor during the January–February 2005 eruption of Mt. Veniaminof, Alaska. Bull Volcanol 69, 927–940 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-007-0119-4

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