Publication Date
8-2015
Date of Final Oral Examination (Defense)
12-5-2014
Type of Culminating Activity
Thesis
Degree Title
Master of Science in Geophysics
Department
Geosciences
Major Advisor
Jeffrey B. Johnson, Ph.D.
Advisor
Hans-Peter Marshall, Ph.D.
Advisor
Lee M. Liberty, Ph.D.
Advisor
Brittany D. Brand, Ph.D.
Abstract
Active volcanic processes produce large amounts of acoustic energy within the infrasound band (0-20 Hz). Infrasound-sensitive microphones are often installed in addition to other forms of volcano monitoring equipment to increase the ability to remotely detect volcanic activity. In this study, an array of microphones was deployed without any additional sensor types for 36 hours at Santiaguito, Guatemala, to test the detection capabilities of a standalone microphone array. Array processing was applied to the recorded data, through frequency-domain beamforming and calculating a Fisher statistic (F). A changing F-threshold value was applied to differentiate between desired detections, or signal, and acoustic energy not originating from desired sources, or noise. Through determination of signal backazimuth, and knowing the azimuthal ranges of expected events, detections were categorized into three potential sources: volcanic explosion, volcanic rock fall, or non-volcanic rock fall.
After characterizing a signal as one of the three event types, determination of relative occurrence of each event type showed that volcanic rock falls were the most common event through the deployment. Progression of signal backazimuth through time indicated movement of rock fall events. Explosion events were demonstrated to be non-moving as expected. Calculation of a spectral median frequency for these events, and comparison to signal backazimuth validates results of previous studies, that rock fall infrasound is characterized by higher frequencies than explosions. This method was shown to be effective for remotely categorizing activity at a volcano during time periods of low wind.
Recommended Citation
Terbush, Brian R., "Tracking and Characterization of Moving Acoustic Sources Using an Infrasound Array at Volcán Santiaguito, Guatemala" (2015). Boise State University Theses and Dissertations. 984.
https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/td/984