Automated system for magnetic monitoring of active volcanoes

In order to provide a basis for short-term decision-
making in the forecasting and monitoring of volcanic
activity, we developed an entirely automated system
of data acquisition and reduction for magnetic data. The
system (Mag-Net) is designed to provide monitoring and
analysis of magnetic data on Etna volcano at large distances
from the central observatory. The Mag-Net
system uses data from an array of continuously recording
remote stations spread over the volcanic area and linked
by mobile phone to the control center at the local observatory.
At this location a computer receives the data and
performs data sorting and reduction as well as limited
evaluation to detect abnormal behavior or breakdown of
remote sensors. Communication software, called Mag-
Talk, is also designed to provide data to distant users.
With a view to using continuous magnetic observations
in advanced analysis techniques for volcano monitoring,
the Mag-Net system also delivers two graphical user interface
based applications to provide an interpretation
capability. The former, called MADAP, speeds up all the
data reduction processes in order to evaluate the reliability
of magnetic signals. The latter, called VMM, is a procedure
for modeling magnetic fields associated with tectonic
and volcanic activity to facilitate the identification
and interpretation of the sources of a wide spectrum of
magnetic signals.

Davis PM, Pierce DR, McPhernon RL, Dzursin D (1984) A volcano-
magnetic observation on Mount St. Helens, Washington.
Geophys Res Lett 11:233–236
Del Negro C, Ferrucci F (2000) Volcanomagnetic effects at Vulcano
Island (Aedian archipelago, Italy). Geophys J Int 140:
83–94Del Negro C, Cristaldi M, Ferrucci F (1995) Continuous magnetic
measurements: the computation of the piezomagnetic field expected
at Mt. Etna (Italy). “Volcanoes in Town” a IAVCEI
Conference on Volcanic Hazard in Densely Populated Regions,
Rome, 27–30 September 1995. Period Mineral 64:149–
150
Del Negro C, Ferrucci F, Napoli R (1997a) The permanent network
for magnetic surveillance of Mt. Etna: changes in the
geomagnetic total intensity observed in 1995. Acta Vulcanol
9:1–7
Del Negro C, Ferrucci F, Napoli R (1997b) Retrieval of large volcanomagnetic
effects observed during the 1981 eruption of
Mt. Etna. Ann Geofis XL 2:547–562
Johnston MJS, Stacey FD (1969) Volcano-magnetic effect observed
on Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand. J Geophys Res 74:
6541–6544
Murakami H (1989) Geomagnetic fields produced by electrokinetic
sources. J Geomagn Geoelectr 41:221–247
Okada Y (1992) Internal deformation due to shear and tensile
faults in a half-space. Bull Seismol Soc Am 82:1018–1040
Poehls KA, Jackson DD (1978) Tectonomagnetic event detection
using empirical transfer functions. J Geophys Res 83(B10),
4933–4940
Sasai Y (1991a) Piezomagnetic field associated with the Mogi
model revised: analytic solution for finite spherical source. J
Geomag Geoelectr 43:21–64
Sasai Y (1991b) Tectonomagnetic modeling on the basis of the
linear piezomagnetic effect. Bull Earthquake Res Inst Univ
Tokyo 66:585–722
Steppe JA (1979) Reducing noise in tectonomagnetic experiments
by linear regression. Geophys J Int 84:3063–3067
Tanaka Y (1993) Eruption mechanism as inferred from geomagnetic
changes with special attention to the 1989–1990 activity
of Aso Volcano. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 56:319–338
Utsugi M, Nishida Y, Sasai Y (2000) Piezomagnetic potentials due
to an inclined rectangular fault in a semi-infinite medium.
Geophys J Int 140:479–492
Zlotnicki J, Le Mouel JL, Delmond JC, Pambrun C, Delorme H
(1993) Magnetic variations on Piton de la Fournaise volcano.
Volcanomagnetic signals associated with the November 6 and
30, 1987, eruptions. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 56:281–296