Use of the ASTER satellite images for evaluation of structural changes in the Popocatépetl volcano related to microseismicity

• Published in: Advances in space research Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 224 - 230
• Main Authors: Arellano-Baeza, A.A., García, R.V., Trejo-Soto, M., Martinez Bringas, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 15-01-2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: ASTER; Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Lineament; Magma pressure; Microseismicity; Satellite image; Volcano; Mexico; North America; North American Plate; Rivera Plate; Volcano; Satellite image; Magma pressure; Microseismicity; ASTER; Lineament; IMAGE satellite; Space research; High-resolution methods; Subduction
• ISSN: 0273-1177; 1879-1948
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2008.03.021

Mexico is one of the most volcanically active regions in North America. Volcanic activity in central Mexico is associated with the subduction of the Cocos and Rivera plates beneath the North American plate. Periods of enhanced microseismic activity, associated with the volcanic activity of the Popocatépetl volcano are compared with periods, during which the microseismic activity was low. We detected systematical changes in the number of lineaments, associated with the microseismic activity due to lineament analysis of a temporal sequence of high resolution satellite images of the Popocatépetl volcano, provided by the ASTER/VNIR instrument. The Lineament Extraction and Stripes Statistic Analysis (LESSA) software package was used for the lineament extraction. In the future it would allow develop a methodology for detection of possible elevation of pressure in volcano edifice.