Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5031
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5031
14 Oct 2025
 | 14 Oct 2025

Monitoring Diffuse Volcanic Degassing with Seismic Ambient Noise

Helena Seivane and Martin Schimmel

Abstract. Diffuse volcanic degassing is a persistent and often underestimated natural hazard, with potential impacts on air quality, ecosystem health, and volcanic risk management. Detecting and monitoring this process is challenging, especially in volcanoes lacking visible fumarolic activity, where the final stage of gas migration is jointly modulated by the shallow subsurface structure and natural pressure forcings. We present a continuous monitoring approach based on Rayleigh wave ellipticity from ambient seismic noise to track pressure-driven gas transport in the uppermost soil layers. Applied to Cumbre Vieja Volcano (La Palma, Canary Islands), the method detects subdaily seismic velocity variations linked to periodic pressure oscillations, consistent with natural forcings such as atmospheric and solid earth tides. In this work, we focus on the terdiurnal cycle, the only subdaily band at La Palma Island that reflects purely atmospheric pressure forcing. Its temporal evolution reveals long-term fluctuations that broadly coincide with reported CO2 emission trends, despite differences in spatial and temporal resolution between both estimates. In addition, we identify a clear semi-annual cycle in the long-term ellipticity response at the terdiurnal frequency. This seasonality coincides with the modulation by solid Earth tides and confirms their role in controlling permeability in the upper vadose zone and in the enhancement of barometric pumping efficiency across all stations analyzed. Prior to the 2021 eruption, the terdiurnal cycle reveals contrasting station responses, with TBT exhibiting the earliest and most sustained increase. Together, these observations point to the usefulness of this approach as a complementary tool in the assessment of diffuse degassing and volcanic unrest. This seismic-noise-based approach offers a cost-effective and resilient strategy for detecting hazardous gas migration, supporting early warning and mitigation efforts in volcanic regions.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

13 May 2026
Monitoring diffuse volcanic degassing with seismic ambient noise
Helena Seivane and Martin Schimmel
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2249–2268, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-2249-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-2249-2026, 2026
Short summary
Helena Seivane and Martin Schimmel

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-5031', Anonymous Referee #1, 07 Nov 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Helena Seivane, 04 Jan 2026
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-5031', Anonymous Referee #2, 27 Nov 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Helena Seivane, 04 Jan 2026

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-5031', Anonymous Referee #1, 07 Nov 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Helena Seivane, 04 Jan 2026
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-5031', Anonymous Referee #2, 27 Nov 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Helena Seivane, 04 Jan 2026

Peer review completion

AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (further review by editor and referees) (24 Jan 2026) by Giovanni Macedonio
AR by Helena Seivane on behalf of the Authors (24 Jan 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (16 Feb 2026) by Giovanni Macedonio
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (04 Mar 2026)
RR by Manuela Köpfli (12 Mar 2026)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (26 Mar 2026) by Giovanni Macedonio
AR by Helena Seivane on behalf of the Authors (14 Apr 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (23 Apr 2026) by Giovanni Macedonio
AR by Helena Seivane on behalf of the Authors (23 Apr 2026)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

13 May 2026
Monitoring diffuse volcanic degassing with seismic ambient noise
Helena Seivane and Martin Schimmel
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2249–2268, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-2249-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-2249-2026, 2026
Short summary
Helena Seivane and Martin Schimmel
Helena Seivane and Martin Schimmel

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Short summary
Mantle-derived gases can seep to the surface before a volcanic eruption, but detecting them is difficult when emissions are weak. We used seismic noise from individual stations at Cumbre Vieja Volcano, La Palma, to monitor shallow gas accumulation being modulated by atmospheric cycles. We find clear links between pressure variations and gas release, with a marked increase months before the 2021 eruption, highlighting potential for early warning and hazard assessment.
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