The TOMODEC project. High resolution seismic tomography of the Deception Island (Antarctic) and modelling of the seismic-volcanic sources aims to determine in detail the speed structure of seismic waves down to about 8 km in the volcano in a surface of about 400 km2. This integral dissection work of the seismic physiognomy of a volcanic area (of 16×14 km2), has only once been carried out with these methodologies, in the Vesuvius, and never before using as many seismographs as this time.
Prestigious scientific reference centres on seismology such as the USGS, Volcanic Hazard Team, in the USA, or the Osservatorio Vesuviano, in Naples (Italy), take part in this expedition, directed by the Andalusian Institute of Geophysics (AIG) of the UGR. The UGR has been working uninterruptedly in this area in all the yearly Antarctic campaigns since 1994.
This research group has been handling data from natural earthquakes within the environment of the volcanic island (passive seismology), as well as with those artificially produced through a system of air cannons of the Hespérides oceanographic research ship (active seismology). The preparations will start the next 22nd of November, when Francisco Carrión Méndez and three more scientists of the AIG will set off for Antarctica. They will settle into the Antarctic Spanish Base Gabriel de Castilla the 1st of December.
Preparatory work
Their labour is to prepare the necessary logistics for the expedition, divided into four camps part from the base camp; the researchers of the UGR will be in charge of the base. They will have the support of the scientific material and the staff of the ship Hespérides the whole time; Ibáñez will coordinate the research works from it from the 4th to the 25th of January. The end of the campaign is planned for the 26th of February.
The value of the instruments amounts to 1,200,000 euros, according to the estimate of the Andalusian Institute of Geophysics. The UGR contributes a short-period telemetric seismic network made up of three vertical sensors MarkL4 and a three-component seismic station; as well as a system of thirteen digital seismic antennas of 12 channels each, with a total of 156 seismometers.
Reference:
Prof. Jesús M. Ibáñez Godoy
Andalusian Institute of Geophysics and Seismic Disaster Prevention.
E-mail. ibanez@iag.ugr.es.
Phone numbers: 958 248 910.
