Measuring incipient lava dome collapse

在一些火山，熔岩堆积在喷口上方，形成熔岩圆顶。这样的圆顶很容易倒塌，并产生危险的火山碎屑流和爆炸，因为炎热和加压的内部熔岩突然暴露。因此，了解这些崩塌可能如何发生，以及重要的是，何时发生，是至关重要的，特别是对蒙特塞拉特火山观测站的科学家来说，他们负责监测苏弗里埃山火山的持续活动。关于苏弗里埃山坍塌的原因有很多理论，但有两个因素很突出。首先，大雨往往在崩塌之前，其次，熔岩到达地表的管道经常发生变化。我们计划开发一种测量这种“管道变化”的方法，以给出一些崩溃的警告。我们已经开发了一种新的便携式雷达仪器，用于火山上，称为AVTIS（全天候火山地形成像传感器），可以日夜测量熔岩圆顶的形状和温度，并通过云层。这项技术是火山的独特应用。这种类型的仪器的进一步发展将使我们能够测量与熔岩圆顶的反射触发重新管道相关的熔岩挤出速率和位置的变化。这些新的观测结果将与天文台从与这一过程相关的小地震中获得的数据相结合。一个隐藏在视图中的重新管道的计算机模型将被构建和运行，以帮助理解该过程如何工作的机制。为了实现必要的测量，将建造一种更快、更准确、可以从固定位置自动操作的新仪器。其目的是拥有一台始终有效的仪器，将数据发回天文台。此外，我们将升级现有仪器，并从不同的视角使用它，以捕捉固定仪器不可见的圆顶部分。

At some volcanoes lava piles up above the vent to produce a lava dome. Such domes are prone to collapse and produce dangerous pyroclastic flows and explosions as the hot and pressurized interior lava is suddenly exposed. So understanding how, and importantly, when, these collapses are likely to occur is of prime importance, specifically to the scientists at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory who are responsible for monitoring the ongoing activity of the Soufriere Hills Volcano. There are many theories as to what causes the collapses at Soufriere Hills, but two factors stand out. Firstly, heavy rainfall often precedes a collapse and secondly, there is often a change in the plumbing that the lava uses to reach the surface. We plan to develop a method of measuring this 'change in plumbing' to give some warning of collapse. We have already developed a new, portable, radar-based instrument for use on volcanoes called AVTIS (All-weather Volcano Topography Imaging Sensor) that can measure the shape and temperature of the lava dome day and night and through cloud. This technology is a unique application for volcanoes. Further development of this type of instrument will enable us to measure changes in the rate and location of lava extrusion associated with the collapse-triggering re-plumbing of the lava dome. These new observations will be coupled with the observatory's data from small earthquakes associated with this process. A computer model of the re-plumbing that is hidden from view will be constructed and run to help understand the mechanics of how the process works. In order to achieve the necessary measurements a new instrument will be built that is faster, more accurate and can operate autonomously from a fixed position. The aim is to have an instrument that is effectively on all the time, sending data back to the Observatory. In addition, we will upgrade the current instrument and use it from different viewpoints, to capture the parts of the dome not visible from the fixed instrument.