Despite installing a seismic monitoring system on the Mount Nyiragongo volcano, seismologists were stunned that the equipment did not send warning signals before the eruption. In a recent report, an international team of researchers discovered hints that might explain why volcanoes erupt with little to no notice. The researchers describe their examination of the data surrounding the eruption and what they discovered in their study published in the journal Nature.
Mount Nyiragongo's Undetectable Eruption
The volcano on Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo erupted in May 2021, spilling lava down its side and causing hundreds of deaths and injuries. Geologists installed seismic equipment around the volcano, so the eruption came as a surprise.
It was anticipated that the equipment would pick up warning signals from the volcano, giving authorities time to alert nearby residents to flee for safety. Instead, the forewarning was minimal at best, causing a death toll.
According to earlier studies, there was no equipment malfunction because the seismic sensors successfully recorded the volcano's signals for the next six hours of the eruption. According to the data, several tiny quakes were detected in the seismic data immediately before the eruption. The researchers also detected a minor increase in infrasound waves for about 10 minutes before the explosion. They contend that the heat and pressure from the magma below caused tension to accumulate in the volcanic core over time.
According to Phys.org, the researchers also imply that the magma's cap-bursting point was probably extremely near to the surface. As a result, the magma did not have to travel far before it began to cascade down the mountain's side, giving the seismic sensors almost no time to issue a warning.
Researchers concluded that no warning signs appeared had been given before the volcano erupted. The lava lake in the volcano had recently risen, but not unusually, according to the geologists. They also mentioned how witnesses had described how lava was streaming out of fractures that appeared on the volcano's slopes.
Why Did Nyiragongo Erupt?
According to National Geographic, Nyiragongo eruptions occur when an earthquake or the pressure of accumulating magma drives fissures in the mountain's slopes to open. It resulted in the disastrous draining of the lava lake and the outburst of magma underground that had been held.
Since the 2002 eruption, Nyiragongo's top crater has been accumulating magma. The magma of the volcano contains exceptionally high amounts of carbon dioxide. Degassing magma masses frequently have aquifers positioned above them that allow the gas to seep slowly to the surface.
Gas builds up undetected in low-lying areas because it is denser than air. According to National Geographic, locals call it mazuku, or the evil wind, because it causes fatalities in the area annually.
Budget Issue in Nyiragongo Volcano Seismic Station
Despite the Goma Volcano Observatory's best efforts, no distinct warning signals were found before its eruption. The observatory's attempts to monitor Nyiragongo have been somewhat thwarted.
Some of its seismic stations had experienced theft and damage, and many remained unrepaired due to the threat of violence. In response to charges of theft, the observatory also lost financial support from the World Bank in 2020.
As a result, regular on-site measurements of the volcano were not possible for several months since remote sensors were unable to connect to the internet. Despite these persistent problems, the observatory continued its monitoring activities while operating on a minimal government budget from the DRC and in coordination with other international partners.
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