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Network Status and Detection Capabilities of Real-Time GNSS Data at Cascade Volcanoes

Session: Advances in Real-Time Geophysical Network Operations and Data Analytics

Type: Oral

Date: 4/22/2021

Presentation Time: 06:00 PM Pacific

Description: 

The U.S. Geological Survey’s Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) operates 33 continuous, telemetered GNSS stations on six of the eight very-high-threat volcanoes in Oregon and Washington. Recent expansions of the network at Mount Hood and telemetry and power improvements at existing stations have enabled streaming of 1 Hz GNSS data from 31 of these stations. In addition, CVO serves real-time data for California Volcano Observatory (CalVO) stations at Lassen Peak, Long Valley/Mammoth, and Mount Shasta volcanoes. Real-time network maps, raw time series, and data latency information are available on the USGS Earthquake Science Center GNSS processing website (https://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/gps).

Historic geodetic observations at Cascade volcanoes have not shown deformation signals that would be detectable in real-time GNSS data, with the exception of the meters-per-day deformation rates on the north side of Mount St. Helens in the weeks prior to its May 18, 1980 eruption and periods of dome growth during its 2004-2008 eruption. However, this does not preclude the importance of real-time GNSS data in the event of unrest at a Cascade volcano, especially for sites closest to likely eruptive vents. Tracking real-time data latencies also facilitates identification and troubleshooting of GNSS data degradation and station outages.

Synthetic models allow us to determine detection capabilities at Cascade volcanoes with established networks. Experience with real-time GNSS data during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption will help to integrate real-time GNSS into CVO monitoring practices.

Although CVO is committed to incorporating real-time GNSS data in future network planning, several challenges remain. These include frequent winter outages due to harsh Pacific Northwest weather, as well as sharing of limited bandwidth with broadband seismic and infrasound data as we aspire to co-locate geophysical equipment to minimize station footprints, especially in wilderness areas.

Presenting Author: Rebecca Kramer

Student Presenter: No

Authors