<p>It appears that, particularly for volcanos expelling andesitic magmas (those having a higher silica content, among other characteristics), the higher frequencies are more prevalent during the explosive portions of eruptions and tend to be absorbed by the more viscous magma during the tremors.</p>

<p>From the conclusion section of [1]:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The principal distinction between the basaltic and andesitic cases can be identified in the difference of the magma-gas flux between the basic state and the explosive events. In other words, the high viscosity of the andesitic magmas reduces the permanent degassing, thus producing a low-energy volcanic signal (volcanic tremor) and inhibiting higher vibration modes, whereas the explosions are induced by strong
  emission of magmatic fluids, whose ascent along the conduit
  produces Vulcanian-style eruptions and the excitation of several vibration modes.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Some eruptions, e.g., the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcanian_eruption#1930_eruption_of_Stromboli" rel="nofollow">1930 eruption of Stromboli</a> are considered to be Vulcanian and would probably have slightly more energy in the higher frequency bands.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Reference:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>De Lauro, E., De Martino, S., Falanga, M., Palo, M. (2011) Self-sustained vibrations in volcanic areas extracted by Independent Component Analysis: a review and new results. <em>Nonlin. Processes Geophys., 18</em>, 925–940  <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/npg-18-925-2011" rel="nofollow">[DOI]</a> <a href="http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/18/925/2011/npg-18-925-2011.pdf" rel="nofollow">[PDF]</a> (freely available)</li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-16T11:29:21.837Z
2014-09-16T11:29:21.837Z
jonsca
<p>From [1]:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The main characteristics of volcanic tremor depend strongly on
whether a volcano is erupting explosively and on the intensity of the
event. Long before an eruption, tremor is ‘narrow-band’ (about
0.5–2 Hz and sometimes monochromatic or harmonic). On transitions
to active volcanism, however, the maximum frequency can climb
to 5–7 Hz (refs 1–4) (Fig. 1c and d). Moreover, whereas tremor related
to low-intensity volcanism remains narrow-band, tremor associated
with intermittent or protracted explosive behaviour is ‘broadband’,
characterized by power distributed over the full 0.5–7 Hz tremor
bandwidth.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When I read the above, I was not surprised that the tremors associated with volcanic activity were mainly comprised of low frequency components.  What did surprise me was that there isn't more high frequency energy present in the measurements.</p>
<p>Is there a noticiable amount of high frequency activity in these tremors that is not significant enough to report, or are the higher frequency components absorbed by the crust surrounding the volcano?</p>
<blockquote>
<p>References:</p>
<ol>
<li>Jellinek, A.M. and Bercovici, D. (2011).  Seismic tremors and magma wagging during
explosive volcanism.  <em>Nature, 470</em>, 522-526. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature09828" rel="noreferrer">[DOI]</a></li>
</ol>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-23T03:59:25.123Z
great question.... I'll see if I can find someone to answer it if the community can't!
Neo
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-23T05:28:28.790Z
@Neo Thanks :)  I'm captivated by this magma wagging phenomenon, so I hope to ask a few more along these lines.
jonsca
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-16T11:33:03.980Z
@Neo I ran across the information below in another paper, let me know if it sounds reasonable.  I gather this isn't your primary area, but I'd definitely welcome your input!
jonsca
<geophysics><measurements><volcanology><volcanoes>
What happens to the higher frequency content of the tremors associated with a volcanic eruption?
jonsca
# What happens to the higher frequency content of the tremors associated with a volcanic eruption?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-23)

From [1]:

> The main characteristics of volcanic tremor depend strongly on
> whether a volcano is erupting explosively and on the intensity of the
> event. Long before an eruption, tremor is ‘narrow-band’ (about
> 0.5–2 Hz and sometimes monochromatic or harmonic). On transitions
> to active volcanism, however, the maximum frequency can climb
> to 5–7 Hz (refs 1–4) (Fig. 1c and d). Moreover, whereas tremor related
> to low-intensity volcanism remains narrow-band, tremor associated
> with intermittent or protracted explosive behaviour is ‘broadband’,
> characterized by power distributed over the full 0.5–7 Hz tremor
> bandwidth.

When I read the above, I was not surprised that the tremors associated with volcanic activity were mainly comprised of low frequency components. What did surprise me was that there isn't more high frequency energy present in the measurements.

Is there a noticiable amount of high frequency activity in these tremors that is not significant enough to report, or are the higher frequency components absorbed by the crust surrounding the volcano?

> References:
>
> 1. Jellinek, A.M. and Bercovici, D. (2011). Seismic tremors and magma wagging during
>    explosive volcanism. *Nature, 470*, 522-526. [[DOI]](http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature09828)

**Tags:** geophysics, measurements, volcanology, volcanoes

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: great question.... I'll see if I can find someone to answer it if the community can't!  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Thanks :)  I'm captivated by this magma wagging phenomenon, so I hope to ask a few more along these lines.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I ran across the information below in another paper, let me know if it sounds reasonable.  I gather this isn't your primary area, but I'd definitely welcome your input!  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2014-09-16. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

It appears that, particularly for volcanos expelling andesitic magmas (those having a higher silica content, among other characteristics), the higher frequencies are more prevalent during the explosive portions of eruptions and tend to be absorbed by the more viscous magma during the tremors.

From the conclusion section of [1]:

> The principal distinction between the basaltic and andesitic cases can be identified in the difference of the magma-gas flux between the basic state and the explosive events. In other words, the high viscosity of the andesitic magmas reduces the permanent degassing, thus producing a low-energy volcanic signal (volcanic tremor) and inhibiting higher vibration modes, whereas the explosions are induced by strong
> emission of magmatic fluids, whose ascent along the conduit
> produces Vulcanian-style eruptions and the excitation of several vibration modes.

Some eruptions, e.g., the [1930 eruption of Stromboli](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcanian_eruption#1930_eruption_of_Stromboli) are considered to be Vulcanian and would probably have slightly more energy in the higher frequency bands.

> Reference:
>
> 1. De Lauro, E., De Martino, S., Falanga, M., Palo, M. (2011) Self-sustained vibrations in volcanic areas extracted by Independent Component Analysis: a review and new results. *Nonlin. Processes Geophys., 18*, 925–940 [[DOI]](http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/npg-18-925-2011) [[PDF]](http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/18/925/2011/npg-18-925-2011.pdf) (freely available)


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