Spectral characteristics of volcano-tectonic earthquake swarms in Nevado del Ruiz Volcano, Colombia

Abstract

Spectral analyses for volcano-tectonic earthquakes were carried out at Nevado del Ruiz Volcano (NRV) for the period 1985–1996 for several earthquake swarms around the volcano, named North, East, West, South and Crater swarm zones. Important spectral peaks for each earthquake swarm zone were found by counting the number of spectra that had the same spectral peaks. Each swarm zone showed some characteristic peaks, which could help to differentiate between them; however, the most important peaks were similar for all the zones. These results suggest that the earthquake swarms at NRV were influenced directly by the source (activity of the volcano) and could also be influenced by the site effect. Some temporal changes were observed in spectral parameters such as a change in the frequency contents in almost all the swarm zones, and the frequency of the P-waves in the West earthquake swarm zone. Before the eruptions on November 13, 1985 and September 1, 1989, P-waves showed low frequencies (1–2Hz) at the West earthquake swarm. After the eruptions, the frequencies of P increased (2–4Hz). This fact showed that changes (decreasing of frequencies) in the spectra of P-waves at the West earthquake swarm could help in the monitoring of volcanic activity at NRV. This swarm zone seems to be related directly with the most important volcanic crises that have occurred. This suggests that the West swarm zone should be monitored in more detail in the future.