Subsurface fluid distribution and possible seismic precursory signal at the Salse di Nirano mud volcanic field, Italy
- Author(s)
- Matteo Lupi, Barbara Suski Ricci, Johannes Kenkel, Tullio Ricci, Florian Fuchs, Stephen A. Miller, Andreas Kemna
- Abstract
Mud volcanoes are geological systems often characterized by elevated fluid pressures at depth deviating from hydrostatic conditions. This near-critical state makes mud volcanoes particularly sensitive to external forcing induced by natural or man-made perturbations. We used the Nirano mud volcanic field as a natural laboratory to test pre- and post-seismic effects generated by distant earthquakes. We first characterized the subsurface structure of the Nirano mud volcanic field with a geoelectrical study. Next, we deployed a broad-band seismic station in the area to understand the typical seismic signal generated by the mud volcano. Seismic records show a background noise below 2 s, sometimes interrupted by pulses of drumbeat-like high-frequency signals lasting from several minutes to hours. To date this is the first observation of drumbeat signal observed in mud volcanoes.
In 2013 June we recorded a M4.7 earthquake, that occurred approximately 60 km far from our seismic station. According to empirical estimations the Nirano mud volcanic field should not have been affected by the M4.7 earthquake. Yet, before the seismic event we recorded an increasing amplitude of the signal in the 10–20 Hz frequency band. The signal emerged approximately two hours before the earthquake and lasted for about three hours. Our statistical analysis suggests the presence of a possible precursory signal about 10 min before the earthquake.- Organisation(s)
- Department of Meteorology and Geophysics
- External organisation(s)
- MEMSFIELD, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica, Roma, Université de Genève, Université de Neuchâtel
- Journal
- Geophysical Journal International
- Volume
- 204
- Pages
- 907-917
- No. of pages
- 11
- ISSN
- 0956-540X
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggv454
- Publication date
- 02-2016
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 105106 Geodynamics, 105122 Seismic, 105102 General geophysics, 105124 Tectonics
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geochemistry and Petrology, Geophysics
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/5f8eaa81-807b-4126-bee2-ce25fd5004f3