Njord Seminar with Conor Bacon

Conor is a Research Scientist in Polar Seismology at NORSAR, Norway.

A poster for a Njord seminar showing presenter, title, date, Njord seal, and Zoom link.

Toward Real-Time, Multi-Parameter Monitoring of Active Volcanoes

Physics-based and data-driven eruption forecast models require continuous, multi-parameter observations of active volcanoes. Yet acquiring and streaming diverse datasets from remote and hazardous environments remains a major challenge. To address this, we developed the modular AVERT (Anticipating Volcanic Eruptions in Real-Time) monitoring platform, that integrates geophysical and geochemical sensors with efficient telemetry and on-site data management.

AVERT combines both traditional and novel volcano monitoring instruments with low-power edge computing for data acquisition, telemetry, and preliminary in situ processing. This architecture enables adaptive bandwidth management while supporting near-real-time streaming of diverse datasets. Its compact, modular design allows rapid deployment and flexible integration of new instrumentation.

I will illustrate the application of this platform to real-world monitoring challenges through three case studies. At Cleveland Volcano (Alaska), I examine deep seismicity in the context of magma storage and ascent processes beneath this remote Aleutian volcano. At Poás Volcano (Costa Rica), integrated time series—including eruptive activity, crater lake level, soil CO2 flux, and microgravity—highlight the value of multi-parameter observations for understanding coupled surface and subsurface processes. Finally, at Villarrica Volcano (Chile), a newly installed observatory located directly on the rim of the summit crater provides a unique opportunity for real-time measurements at a volcano that hosts one of the few active lava lakes in the world.

 

Short Bio: I am a Research Scientist in Polar Seismology at NORSAR, Norway. I received my PhD from the University of Cambridge in 2022, where my work focused on microseismicity and seismic anisotropy in Iceland and northern Borneo. Prior to moving to NORSAR, I was a postdoctoral research scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, working on the AVERT project to develop real-time, multi-parameter monitoring systems for active volcanoes, with field deployments in Alaska, Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile, and Iceland. My main research interests lie in disentangling the relationships between stress, structure, and seismicity in volcanic and polar environments and the development of open-source software for the construction of high-fidelity microseismic catalogues.

 

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Organiser

Universitetet i Oslo
Published Mar. 9, 2026 1:26 PM - Last modified Mar. 9, 2026 1:26 PM