Sensitivity study for the continuous gravimetric network of the Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaii: First results

We present a sensitivity analysis for the continuous gravimetric monitoring network at Kīlauea volcano, Hawaiʻi, USA. Our methodology is an extension of the method proposed by Fernández et al. (1999) and enables the estimation of the intrusion radius-depth range where the effects (surface gravity changes in our case) would be clearly detected. The magmatic intrusion is considered as a spherical point source, and we use the elastic-gravitational deformation model proposed by Rundle (1982) and extended by Rundle and co-workers (Fernández and Rundle 1994a; 1994b; Fernández et al. 1997; 2006). Additionally, a correction for topographic effects is included. We obtain first results indicating that, in the case of Kīlauea, a network configuration using five gravimeters at radial distances between 0.5 and 3 km from the surface projection of the Halemaʻumaʻu source centre could be an effective strategy for volcano monitoring, facilitating the early detection of gravity effects produced by magmatic intrusions with a radius a, occurring at depths between 3 and 30 km.