Self potential signals preceding variations of fumarole activity at Merapi volcano, Central Java

This paper analyzes simultaneous self-potential and gas temperature variations recorded at Merapi volcano in spring 2011, the dry season shortly after the volcanic crisis 2001. Temporal variations of fumarole gas temperature show characteristic quasi periodic signals at scales 1–8 h and amplitudes up to ten degrees. We propose a simple graphical technique combining a wavelet scalogram and a cross-correlation analysis to demonstrate that the variations of gas temperature are systematically preceded by self-potential variations at the same scales. The influence of meteorological variations on these correlated signals can be ruled out. Rather, we suggest them to be related to the magma degassing in the upper conduits of the volcano. We discuss a semi-qualitative model to explain this correlation and the observed phase shift of about two hours.

► We study cyclic self-potential and fumarole temperature variations at Merapi volcano.
► We propose a wavelet transform technique to compare intermittent noisy signals.
► Self-potential is found to precede the gas temperature variations by 130 min.
► These correlated signals are shown to be created by a common pressure source.
► Self-potential transients are used to constrain the pressure source location.