Geysers are natural geothermal features that episodically erupt hot water and steam due to the buildup and release of subsurface vapor bubbles. At Strokkur geyser, Iceland, eruptions begin with the growth of a surface bulge caused by rising bubble clusters, followed by gradual rupture and disintegration into a water fountain. In this study, we investigate the high-resolution acoustic and visual signatures of this initial phase of the eruption, providing detailed insights into the fluid dynamics that govern bulge formation and rupture. While similar eruptive behavior is sometimes observed in low-viscosity volcanic systems, Strokkur offers a uniquely transparent medium in which processes like bubble rise and clustering can be directly observed, providing analogies to otherwise obscured dynamics in lava or mud-dominated settings. We combine low-frequency infrasound and high-frequency audio recordings with high-speed video, using synchronized data to track the evolution of the bulge. The results demonstrate that infrasound effectively detects bulge growth, while the onset of rupture is marked by a rise in audio-frequency amplitude. A monopole model is used to simulate pressure variations during bulge growth. The observed decompression signal is associated with the downward water motion during bulge disintegration. These findings improve our understanding of geyser eruption dynamics and suggest how acoustic monitoring can provide valuable information about subsurface processes in both geysers and volcanoes, such as dome inflation or gas bubble accumulation beneath magma surfaces.

Since 2019, the frequency of major explosive eruptions at Stromboli volcano (Italy) has increased, heightening the exposure of population and scientists to the hazards posed by ejecta. Morphological changes can directly alter the hazard potential associated with these phenomena. Here, we present a quantitative morphological analysis of changes of the crater terrace area linked to the 13 May 2022 major explosive event. High resolution (2.5 cm pixel(-1)) aerial imagery was acquired by unoccupied aircraft systems 2 hours before and 19 hours after the event. The 13 May 2022 major explosive event consisted of a minimum of seven explosions from four vents located in the south-central crater area. The opportune timing of this campaign enabled the quantification of morphological changes at Stromboli related to a single major explosive event at high temporal and spatial resolution. A total of 12.7 x 10(3) m(3) was excavated and 5.5 x 10(3) m(3) deposited. Via the mapping and classification of bomb distributions we observe that angular blocks make up the largest fraction of ballistics >0.2 m, from which we infer a strong interaction with wall rock and/or fragmentation of solidified plugs in the shallow plumbing system. The morphological changes observed provide valuable constraints on how much material is displaced, and the shift in location and the number of active vents during major explosive events at Stromboli.

Abstract Infrasound (low frequency sound waves) can be used to monitor and characterize volcanic eruptions. However, infrasound sensors are usually placed on the ground, thus providing a limited sampling of the acoustic radiation pattern that can bias source size estimates. We present observations of explosive eruptions from a novel uncrewed aircraft system (UAS)‐based infrasound sensor platform that was strategically hovered near the active vents of Stromboli volcano, Italy. We captured eruption infrasound from short‐duration explosions and jetting events. While potential vertical directionality was inconclusive for the short‐duration explosion, we find that jetting events exhibit vertical sound directionality that was observed with a UAS close to vertical. This directionality would not have been observed using only traditional deployments of ground‐based infrasound sensors, but is consistent with jet noise theory. This proof‐of‐concept study provides unique information that can improve our ability to characterize and quantify the directionality of volcanic eruptions and their associated hazards.

Real-time monitoring is crucial to assess hazards and mitigate risks of sustained volcanic eruptions that last hours to months or more. Sustained eruptions have been shown to produce a low frequency (infrasonic) form of jet noise. We analyze the lava fountaining at fissure 8 during the 2018 Lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii, and connect changes in fountain properties with recorded infrasound signals from an array about 500 m from the fountain using jet noise scaling laws and visual imagery. Video footage from the eruption reveals a change in lava fountain dynamics from a tall, distinct fountain at the beginning of June to a low fountain with a turbulent, out-pouring lava pond surrounded by a tephra cone by mid-June. During mid-June, the sound pressure level reaches a maximum, and peak frequency drops. We develop a model that uses jet noise scaling relationships to estimate changes in volcanic jet diameter and jet velocity from infrasound sound pressure levels and peak frequencies. The results of this model indicate a decrease in velocity in mid-June which coincides with the decrease in fountain height. Furthermore, the model results suggest an increase in jet diameter, which can be explained by the larger width of the fountain that resembles a turbulent lava pond compared to the distinct fountain at the beginning of June. The agreement between the infrasound-derived and visually observed changes in fountain dynamics suggests that jet noise scaling relationships can be used to monitor lava fountain dynamics using infrasound recordings.

The 2021 eruption within the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system in Iceland provided a rare opportunity to record acoustic data generated by a basaltic fissure. Eruptive activity in May 2021 was defined by a sequence of repetitive lava fountaining activity. Here we describe key observations and analysis conducted on acoustic data recorded by a four-element infrasound microphone array near the eruption site. Detailed inspection of acoustic waveforms and comparisons with seismic data and lava fountain height measurements revealed a complex eruptive sequence during each lava fountain event: acoustic tremor during peak lava fountaining was followed by a transition to Strombolian-style activity with distinct high-amplitude impulsive waveforms. Quantitative comparisons to jet noise spectra find complex turbulence acoustics during each event, with evidence of variations in the wavefield centred on peak lava fountain heights. Strombolian explosions could mostly be modelled by oscillations of bursting gas slugs at the top of the magma column, with a minor number of events exhibiting Helmholtz resonance behaviour instead. We find an increase in bubble radii between early and late May, suggesting a widening of the upper conduit during the lava fountain sequence. Finally, we propose that higher acoustic amplitudes, in addition to a wider conduit in late May, indicate higher gas flux through the conduit culminating in shorter lava fountain events. This study highlights the value of deploying acoustic sensors for providing additional constraints on eruption dynamics and source parameters during effusive fissure eruptions in Iceland and elsewhere.

Over the past two decades (2000–2020), volcano infrasound (acoustic waves with frequencies less than 20 Hz propagating in the atmosphere) has evolved from an area of academic research to a useful monitoring tool. As a result, infrasound is routinely used by volcano observatories around the world to detect, locate, and characterize volcanic activity. It is particularly useful in confirming subaerial activity and monitoring remote eruptions, and it has shown promise in forecasting paroxysmal activity at open-vent systems. Fundamental research on volcano infrasound is providing substantial new insights on eruption dynamics and volcanic processes and will continue to do so over the next decade. The increased availability of infrasound sensors will expand observations of varied eruption styles, and the associated increase in data volume will make machine learning workflows more feasible. More sophisticated modeling will be applied to examine infrasound source and propagation effects from local to global distances, leading to improved infrasound-derived estimates of eruption properties. Future work will use infrasound to detect, locate, and characterize moving flows, such as pyroclastic density currents, lahars, rockfalls, lava flows, and avalanches. Infrasound observations will be further integrated with other data streams, such as seismic, ground- and satellite-based thermal and visual imagery, geodetic, lightning, and gas data. The volcano infrasound community should continue efforts to make data and codes accessible and to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field. In summary, the next decade of volcano infrasound research will continue to advance our understanding of complex volcano processes through increased data availability, sensor technologies, enhanced modeling capabilities, and novel data analysis methods that will improve hazard detection and mitigation.

After 50 years of volcanic quiescence, on 19 September 2021, an eruption started on the western flank of the Cumbre Vieja ridge of La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. The eruption was characterised by simultaneous effusive and explosive activity from a several hundred-meter-long fissure, which later built up a cone and showed variable eruptive behaviour at different vents, suggesting a spatially complex plumbing system. Explosive eruptive activity ranged from mild ash emissions, Strombolian explosions to fire fountaining episodes. We carried out field measurements to study the variable explosive eruptive activity and associated acoustic signals. A single microphone initially deployed at about 2 km SW of the vents from 6 to 11 October was later replaced by an array of 3 microphones from 6 November to 13 December at about 300 m W of the microphone location in October. The microphones (PCB ½” free field acoustic sensors, 3.15-20 kHz frequency range) were each connected to an OptiMeas SmartPro digitiser continuously sampling at 5000 Hz. The digitisers are GPS synchronised for accurate acoustic array processing. The acoustic array was complemented by a thunderstorm detector continuously recording (since 11 October) lightning and electrical activity generated by the volcanic explosions (Vossen et al., 2022). Additionally, at the beginning of November 2021, thermal videos of the eruptive activity were acquired. Preliminary analysis of the large and unique acoustic dataset shows varying waveforms indicating evolving source conditions: eruption intensity, source mechanism, vent geometry, fragmentation depth and amount of ash ejected. Moreover, we observe a variability of frequency (peak and mean) and amplitude with time. Further analysis includes the characterisation of the acoustic source location within the growing volcanic edifice and the comparison and correlation with lightning and thermal infrared data to detail changes in explosive activity related to the evolving eruption sources. Caron E.J. Vossen et al. (2022), Electrical activity of the 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption, EGU22-8052.

Abstract Infrasound (low‐frequency acoustic waves) has proven useful to detect and characterize subaerial volcanic activity, but understanding the infrasonic source during sustained eruptions is still an area of active research. Preliminary comparison between acoustic eruption spectra and the jet noise similarity spectra suggests that volcanoes can produce an infrasonic form of jet noise from turbulence. The jet noise similarity spectra, empirically derived from audible laboratory jets, consist of two noise sources: large‐scale turbulence (LST) and fine‐scale turbulence (FST). We fit the similarity spectra quantitatively to eruptions of Mount St. Helens in 2005, Tungurahua in 2006, and Kīlauea in 2018 using nonlinear least squares fitting. By fitting over a wide infrasonic frequency band (0.05–10 Hz) and restricting the peak frequency above 0.15 Hz, we observe a better fit during times of eruption versus non‐eruptive background noise. Fitting smaller overlapping frequency bands highlights changes in the fit of LST and FST spectra, which aligns with observed changes in eruption dynamics. Our results indicate that future quantitative spectral fitting of eruption data will help identify changes in eruption source parameters such as velocity, jet diameter, and ash content which are critical for effective hazard monitoring and response.

Seismic waves are commonly used to monitor unrest before, during, and after volcanic eruptions. The source of seismic tremor during a sustained explosive volcanic eruption is not well understood. Recent observations of the 2016 eruption of Pavlof Volcano, Alaska, revealed a change in the relationship (hysteresis) between ash plume height and seismic amplitude over time. Based on similarities in physical processes and observed seismic tremor in rivers, we explore two key sources of seismic energy in the volcanic conduit: (1) forces exerted by particle impacts and (2) dynamic pressure changes by the turbulent flow. We develop a physical model calculating the seismic power spectral density (PSD), where forces on the conduit wall are convolved with the Green's function for Rayleigh waves. Using reasonable eruption parameters, the model is able to reproduce the frequency spectrum from the Pavlof eruption, although the modeled amplitudes are generally lower. We test the relative importance of different eruption parameters, including grain size, velocity, and conduit dimensions. We find that turbulence generally dominates over particle impacts. However, to reach the PSD amplitude during the Pavlof eruption, large grain sizes are required, as they have the greatest relative influence on the modeled amplitude. The hysteresis between plume height and seismic amplitude can then potentially be explained by grain size changes. The PSD shape is mostly determined by the Rayleigh‐wave quality factor Q, and substantial variations in seismic amplitude can be modeled assuming a constant mass eruption rate.

Seismic and acoustic signals are important for remote real time and post-eruption analysis of volcanic eruptions. To properly interpret these signals it is critical to connect their characteristics with eruption parameters. In this study, we present an analysis of the infrasound emissions by the sustained lava fountain at Fissure 8 during the 2018 eruption of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii. This eruption was one of the largest and most destructive events in Hawaii’s historic times. Large (35.5 km2) lava flows covered much of the Lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) and destroyed property and infrastructure. This activity was dominated by high lava effusion rates at Fissure 8 and lava fountains up to 80 m tall. The energetic output of gas and lava produced sustained, broadband acoustic waves which were recorded by a four-element infrasound array deployed 0.6 km northwest of the fountain. The spectrum of the infrasound is similar to that of man-made jets and is termed volcanic jet noise. We compare the spectrum of the recorded infrasound signal with models developed for man-made jets such as rockets and jet engines. These models predict different spectral shapes for fine scale turbulence (FST), produced by incoherent movement of the gases, and large scale turbulence (LST), produced by coherent instability waves. The dominance of one or the other turbulent noise source is highly directional. We compare the infrasonic signals with observations of fountain properties, such as pyroclast velocity and height, to help understand the jet noise signals and determine quantitative fountain properties from the infrasound. The results of this work will contribute to the understanding of the physics of lava fountain sound generation, its dependence on eruption parameters, and ultimately provide a tool for rapid assessment of eruption style and dynamics.