Introduction to a community dataset from an infrasound array experiment at Mt. Etna, Italy

Abstract

Volcanic activity represents a hazard to population and infrastructure worldwide. The study of acoustic waves in the atmosphere by volcanic activity is growing in popularity as an effective tool to monitor and understand the mechanisms of eruptions. In 2019, we deployed two 6-element infrasound arrays at Mt. Etna, Italy, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Our experiment captured a range of acoustic signals associated with diverse activity ranging from background degassing to energetic Strombolian explosions, lava flows, and atmospheric injection of volcanic ash. Here, we present a description of this valuable, publicly available, research dataset. We document the design and scope of the experiment, report on data availability, and present a brief summary of the activity observed at Mt. Etna during our deployment aiming to facilitate future use of these valuable data. This dataset is the first example of open data from a multiple infrasound array experiment at Mt. Etna and one of the few available globally.