A group of Russian geophysicists studied the relationship between deep long-period and near-surface earthquakes recorded under volcanoes in Kamchatka. They were the first to establish that before the eruption of each of them, activation of a deep magmatic focus and long-period earthquakes. This will allow specialists to predict new eruptions, according to an article published in the journal Nature GeoScience. Long-period are called earthquakes, which are generated by volcanoes themselves and associated magmatic systems, invisible to humans. By their appearance they are due to the movement of magma at depth and pressure changes in the magma chamber. According to experts, they are among the very first precursors of activating the deepest part of the magmatic system. Scientists conducted observations of the three active volcanoes of the Klyuchevskaya group (Klyuchevskoy, Nameless and Flat Tolbachik) for two years before the great eruption of the Plosky Tolbachik volcano in 2012. As a result, they found that the activity of deep long-period events increased throughout the entire observation period, which corresponds to a gradual activation and increase in pressure in a deep magma chamber at a depth of 30 kilometers.

"It can be roughly said that if an increase in the activity of long-period earthquakes is observed at depth (not just earthquakes in itself, namely, an increase in their activity), then it can be expected that in a few weeks or months, the upper part of the volcanic system will activate with possible eruptions, - said the head of the grant of the Russian Science Foundation (RPF) Nikolai Shapiro. Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes is the largest in Russia. It covers an area of ??6.5 thousand square kilometers and the group includes 14 volcanoes, four of which are active. In addition, there are about 400 smaller volcanic formations, such as lava and slag cones, extrusive domes.

Original article: The mystery of Klyuchevsky volcanoes is revealed.