Tornillo event

Seismic event associated with volcanoes

A tornillo event is a low-frequency seismic event associated with volcanoes. The term, which means "screw" in Spanish, was coined in the mid-1990s at the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Pasto (OVSP) in Pasto, Colombia to describe seismic events seen at the Galeras volcano.

A tornillo has the following characteristics that distinguish it from other seismic events:

  • very limited distribution of frequencies (monochromatic)
  • a long coda that decays slowly
  • small amplitude

Like volcanic tremor, tornillos are thought to be caused by magma moving at depth.

References

  1. Tornillo-type seismic signals at Galeras volcano, Colombia, 1992−1993

External links

  • Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Pasto - INGEOMINAS