The Rebon Seminar is a regular activity of the Department of Physics, serving as a platform for discussions and exchange of ideas about research, studies, and phenomena relevant to the Study Groups within UGM Physics. On August 28, 2024, the Rebon Seminar featured one of the most interesting topics within the Geoscience Study Group, titled “Infrasound and Volcano Monitoring.” This edition of the Rebon Seminar was presented by Lorène Boulvais (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement – IRD), who is a Guest Engineer at the UGM Geophysics Laboratory. The seminar was held in person at Meeting Room I of the UGM Department of Physics, moderated by Dr.rer.nat. Ade Anggraini, S.Si., M.T., Coordinator of the Geoscience Study Group.
In her presentation, Lorène Boulvais explained the results of infrasound measurements at various volcanoes across Indonesia and compared this method with seismic recordings in each of her studies. She explained that infrasound has the advantage of providing more detailed information and better interpreting field conditions compared to measurements using seismometers. The infrasound method can detect volcanic activity that may not be recorded by seismometers, thus helping researchers gain a more comprehensive understanding of volcanic behavior.
However, Lorène also pointed out the limitations of the infrasound method, particularly the presence of excessive noise in the measurement results. This noise can come from various sources, including environmental wind, which causes the measurement data to be less accurate. Therefore, a noise removal process is required to obtain more valid data that accurately reflects actual field conditions.
Sharing about volcano monitoring through the Rebon Seminar supports the achievement of the SDGs in terms of technological innovation (SDG 9), climate action (SDG 13), and public safety from disasters (SDG 11). This seminar provided valuable insights into the use of infrasound as an essential tool for volcano monitoring, as well as the challenges encountered in its field application. Volcano monitoring using infrasound plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of communities in disaster-prone areas and aids in mitigating natural disaster risks, including volcanic eruptions that can significantly impact climate change. With better monitoring, disaster mitigation and preparedness efforts can be more effective.
Author: Rafida Salma Rahmawati
Photos: Rafida Salma Rahmawati