  Analysis of transient deformation events in time series data observed via
networks of continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) ground stations provide
insight into the magmatic and tectonic processes that drive volcanic activity.
Typical analyses of spatial positions originating from each station require
careful tuning of algorithmic parameters and selection of time and spatial
regions of interest to observe possible transient events. This iterative,
manual process is tedious when attempting to make new discoveries and does not
easily scale with the number of stations. Addressing this challenge, we
introduce a novel approach based on a computer-aided discovery system that
facilitates the discovery of such potential transient events. The advantages of
this approach are demonstrated by actual detections of transient deformation
events at volcanoes selected from the Alaska Volcano Observatory database using
data recorded by GPS stations from the Plate Boundary Observatory network. Our
technique successfully reproduces the analysis of a transient signal detected
in the first half of 2008 at Akutan volcano and is also directly applicable to
3 additional volcanoes in Alaska, with the new detection of 2 previously
unnoticed inflation events: in early 2011 at Westdahl and in early 2013 at
Shishaldin. This study also discusses the benefits of our computer-aided
discovery approach for volcanology in general. Advantages include the rapid
analysis on multi-scale resolutions of transient deformation events at a large
number of sites of interest and the capability to enhance reusability and
reproducibility in volcano studies.
