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Characteristics of thunder and electromagnetic pulses from volcanic lightning at Bogoslof volcano, Alaska

January 16, 2020

We combine global detections of volcanic lightning with acoustic and hydroacoustic data to investigate novel indications of plume electrification in ground-based, geophysical data streams during the 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska. Such signals offer additional ways to diagnose the occurrence of volcanic lightning and confirm whether eruptive activity is producing significant amounts of ash. We discuss three signatures of lightning activity: volcanic thunder, electromagnetic pulses arising from lightning-induced voltages in cabling, and hydroacoustic signals associated with volcanic lightning. Observations of these phenomena provide additional insights into volcanic lightning activity and reveal several periods of electrical activity that were not otherwise detected during the Bogoslof eruption.

Publication Year 2020
Title Characteristics of thunder and electromagnetic pulses from volcanic lightning at Bogoslof volcano, Alaska
DOI 10.1007/s00445-019-1349-y
Authors Matthew M. Haney, Alexa R. Van Eaton, John J. Lyons, Rebecca Kramer, David Fee, Alexandra M. Iezzi, Robert P. Dziak, Jacob F. Anderson, Jeff Johnson, Jeff Lapierre, Michael Stock
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Bulletin of Volcanology
Index ID 70282795
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Volcano Science Center
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