U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

Volcano Volcano Monitoring Monitoring

Plans for the Plans for the Northern Northern Mariana Mariana IslandsIslands

USGS & CNMI USGS & CNMI Emergency Emergency

Management Management OfficeOffice

Presented by Tom Murray, Project Chief, Northern

Mariana Islands Volcano Monitoring and Hazards

Mitigation Project US

Geological Survey, Anchorage Alaska

The USGS and the Emergency Management Office (EMO) have been working together on

NMI volcanoes since 1981

Domestic volcanoes are a USGS responsibility Under the Stafford Act (Public Law 93-288), the USGS has the

responsibility to issue timely warnings of potential geologic

disasters to the affected populace and civil authorities. The interest has been long-term, but more in response mode

than a long-term consistent effort.

Ash hazard to aviation, both local and trans-Pacific Downwind impacts to Saipan, Guam Volcanic hazard to nearby population, fishing Potential tsunami hazard (albeit small)

Good monitoring is good science. Good science is good monitoring.

Research is still fundamental to a successful observatory Foundation of any successful eruption response or hazard

assessment is a solid understanding of the volcanic processes in play, including deep in the subduction zone.

Major difference is that monitoring has a real time factor Looking for changes through time Timeliness in response to unrest Timeliness in analysis

I am hoping to find opportunities for scientific and logistical collaboration that aids both

USGS and MARGINS in achieving their goals.

Current Instrumentation

all data radio-telemetered to CNMI Emergency Management Office in Saipan

Anatahan 1 short-period, 3-component analog station 2 short-period vertical analog stations with pressure

sensors

Sarigan 1 short-period, 3-component analog station

Saipan 1 Broadband (MARGINS) 1 short-period 3-component analog station SO2 sensor Earthworm data acquisition system DSL to internet

The following is only the plan

Funding not in place Must go slow Everything that follows is contingent on the

availability of funding

• Real-time geophysical monitoring networks for highest threat volcanoes

• Agrigan, Alamagan, Anatahan, Pagan, Asuncion, Farallon de Pajaros, Guguan, Sarigan

• Modern digital seismic instrumentation

• Deformation monitoring (tiltmeters, GPS, tide gauges, InSAR)

• Up-to-date hazard assessments

As outlined in the National Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS) document USGS Open-File Report 2005-1164

What is needed: A Northern Mariana Islands Volcano Monitoring System

Future plans - Big Picture

Install telemetered geophysical monitoring networks on

Farallon de Pajaros (4 short-period)Maug (4 short-period)Asuncion (3 short-period, 1 broadband, 1 GPS)Agrigan (4 short-period)Pagan (4 short-period, 1 broadband, 1 GPS)Alamagan (3 short-period, 1 broadband, 1 GPS)Guguan (4 short-period)Sarigan (4 short-period)Anatahan (4 short-period)Saipan (1 broadband, 1 GPS)

Communications

C-BAND VSAT uplinks Asuncion Pagan Alamagan

C-BAND VSAT downlink EMO in Saipan

DSL to general internet EMO General internet to AVO, CVO, HVO

Add it all up

34 Short period 4 Broadband 4 CGPS

Alamagan

Seismic network

Satellite uplink and GPS

Agrigan

Data availability

Seismic data IRIS facility in Seattle Winston waver servers Annual catalog

GPS data UNAVCO

Current plan for 2008-2009

2008 Beef up receive facility at EMO in Saipan Install satellite down-link at EMO Install satellite uplink also at EMO for testing Possibly finish field geologic mapping at Pagan

2009 Move uplink to Pagan and install network there

4 short-period, 1 broadband, 1 GPS

Again - this has been only the plan

Funding not in place Must go slow Everything is contingent on the availability of

funding