Timing of a large volcanic flank movement at Piton de la Fournaise Volcano using noise-based seismic monitoring and ground deformation measurements

Abstract

In volcanic domains, magma transport and pressure build-up induce high stress-strain perturbations in the surrounding volcanic edifice that may lead to volcanic flank movements and possible instability. In this study, we focus on the 2007 March-April episode of volcanic activity at Piton de la Fournaise (PdF) Volcano, La R'eunion Island. This episode was associated with a large volume of emitted lava (240 × 106 m3) and a 340-m caldera collapse. We present observations of continuous seismic velocity changes measured using cross-correlations of ambient seismic noise over 10 yr at PdF. Overall, we observe a large velocity reduction starting a few days prior to the major 2007 April 2 eruption. Comparison of seismic velocity change measurements with observations of deformation from InSAR and GPS shows that the seismic velocity reduction coincided with a widespread flank movement starting at the time of injection of magma to feed an initial eruption, a few days before the 2007 April 2 eruption. We emphasize the potential of noise-based seismic velocity change measurements, together with geodetic observations, to detect and monitor possibly hazardous slope instabilities.