Researchers Find Some Volcanoes 'Scream' At Increasing Pitches Until They Blow

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Researchers Find Some Volcanoes 'Scream' At Increasing Pitches Until They Blow

Posted by samzenpus on Monday July 15, 2013 @05:19AM from the call-of-the-volcano dept.

vinces99 writes "Swarms of small earthquakes often precede a volcanic eruption. They can reach such rapid succession that they create a "harmonic tremor" that resembles sound made by some musical instruments. A new analysis of an eruption sequence at Alaska's Redoubt Volcano in March 2009 shows the harmonic tremor glided to substantially higher frequencies and then stopped abruptly just before six of the eruptions. Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Alaska Volcano Observatory have dubbed the highest-frequency harmonic tremor at Redoubt Volcano 'the screams' because the episodes reach such high pitch compared with a 1-to-5 hertz starting point. Alicia Hotovec-Ellis, a University of Washington doctoral student in Earth and space sciences and an author of two papers examining the phenomenon, has created a 10-second recording and a one-minute recording that provides a 60-times faster representation of harmonic tremor and small earthquakes."

59 comments

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Thetans ... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 05:21 · Score: 1, Informative

It's the thetans getting ready to take a massive shit in Tom Cruise's mouth and fill him with even more blessings.
1. Re:Thetans ... by Jane+Q.+Public · 2013-07-15 16:20 · Score: 1
  
  "It's the thetans getting ready to take a massive shit in Tom Cruise's mouth and fill him with even more blessings."
  Um, no. I don't think that's the way it works. I... scream. Ice cream. Yeah, that's the ticket.
  
  Look, let's be honest. I tend to scream a bit before I explode, too. So do you. Female or male, bad explosion or good explosion, you either scream a bit or you're hopelessly Victorian.
  
  "I say... you have trodden on my foot with your pegleg. Do you mind, terribly?"
  
  (censored)
Makes sense, fluid dynamics and all that... by djh101010 · 2013-07-15 05:23 · Score: 5, Interesting

So, it's like a teapot when it gets boiling?
1. Re:Makes sense, fluid dynamics and all that... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 05:50 · Score: -1
  
  Or like my girlfriend, when I'm doing my boyfriendly duties correctly!
2. Re:Makes sense, fluid dynamics and all that... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 05:58 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  More like normal farts at normal frequencies and intervals. Then, suddenly you are attacked by frequent small, higher pitched flatus, while you fast walk with clenched buttocks to the closest toilet. As the intervals become shorter and the frequencies become higher still, you know it is moments before the disaster.
  You all know what I'm talking about.
  I'm not a lactose bigot or anything, I try to be tolerant but even so I can only take so much dairy.
3. Re:Makes sense, fluid dynamics and all that... by Fuzzums · 2013-07-15 05:58 · Score: 2
  
  No. Source: http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/07/14/some-volcanoes-scream-at-ever-higher-pitches-until-they-blow-their-tops/
  
  --
  Privacy is terrorism.
4. Re:Makes sense, fluid dynamics and all that... by Captain+Hook · 2013-07-15 05:58 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  catching the spiders she's just spotted?
  
  --
  These comments are my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the other voices in my head.
5. Re:Makes sense, fluid dynamics and all that... by ackthpt · 2013-07-15 06:06 · Score: 2
  
  So, it's like a teapot when it gets boiling?
  Would that you could get thousands of atmospheres of pressure in your teapot.
  I tend to think of it as the Earth doing its own version of Fracking. Without so much as a permit or 'By your leave, good people of the lands.'
  Krakatoa must have had some pitch before it popped, which it will do again some day, such is its activity cycle.
  
  --
  
  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
6. Re:Makes sense, fluid dynamics and all that... by sociocapitalist · 2013-07-15 06:18 · Score: 1
  
  So, it's like a teapot when it gets boiling?
  Or maybe a....pressure cooker?
  We should be scientists and get grant money and grad students and and um...
  
  --
  blindly antisocialist = antisocial
7. Re:Makes sense, fluid dynamics and all that... by NatasRevol · 2013-07-15 06:18 · Score: 2
  
  Folding laundry?
  
  --
  There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
8. Re:Makes sense, fluid dynamics and all that... by NatasRevol · 2013-07-15 06:20 · Score: 1
  
  Which leads to an interesting question.
  Can they hear this screaming underwater?
  http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/HCV/loihi.html
  
  --
  There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
9. Re: Makes sense, fluid dynamics and all that... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 06:28 · Score: 1
  
  It's because the "tube" (colon) gets shorter in length as the fecal matter descends further. So the fart is higher pitched. Like a trombone!
10. Re: Makes sense, fluid dynamics and all that... by jd2112 · 2013-07-15 07:38 · Score: 1
  
  Fluid dynamics has little to do with it. I often scream before I now my top as well.
  
  --
  Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
11. Re:Makes sense, fluid dynamics and all that... by rullywowr · 2013-07-15 07:39 · Score: 2
  
  So you went to Taco Bell last night?
12. Re: Makes sense, fluid dynamics and all that... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 10:23 · Score: 0
  
  It has more to do with butthole tension... which just happens to be the name of my band
There's a sexual joke in there somewhere... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 05:25 · Score: 0

There's gotta be!
Just... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 05:29 · Score: 0

...like my wife.
So do I until my GF fixes me right up by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 05:30 · Score: 0

Gigidity
(the password is: squirt)
Up into the human range by mbone · 2013-07-15 05:32 · Score: 1

At their peak, just before they blow, these "screams" get to a high enough frequency that humans could hear them. Of course, to us it would sound like a low frequency rumble.
In other words, if you are standing on a volcano, and start to hear it grumble, get away. Fast.
1. Re:Up into the human range by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 05:36 · Score: 0
  
  If you read "grumble grumble" instead of hearing it, you're just playing Zelda 1... so don't panic
2. Re:Up into the human range by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 05:39 · Score: 1
  
  At their peak, just before they blow, these "screams" get to a high enough frequency that humans could hear them.
  Actually, the screams are the noises of people. This is because the volcanoes sound like accordions.
3. Re:Up into the human range by ackthpt · 2013-07-15 06:11 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  At their peak, just before they blow, these "screams" get to a high enough frequency that humans could hear them. Of course, to us it would sound like a low frequency rumble.
  In other words, if you are standing on a volcano, and start to hear it grumble, get away. Fast.
  About 12 years ago there were swarms of tremors around the Long Valley, near Mammoth Mountain, California. 600-800 earthquakes per day from sub 1.0 to 3.0+ and elevation changes around the caldera indicated pressure was building. Then suddenly nothing happened and they subsides. Still a few here and there, but some activity took place and then ended. Massive false alarm or very long range warning? You scare a lot of people with eruption talk, which doesn't materialize, and you'll have most of them home when it suddenly goes BOOM without warning.
  
  --
  
  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
4. Re:Up into the human range by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 06:12 · Score: 0
  
  In other words, if you are standing on a volcano, and start to hear it grumble, get away. Fast.
  
  FTA: "the tremor is closely followed by an explosion"
  Unless you have a teleporter, by the time you hear it, you'd probably be killed by the acceleration required to get away fast enough to reach a safe distance.
5. Re:Up into the human range by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 06:15 · Score: 0
  
  [...]if you are standing on a volcano, and start to hear it grumble, get away. Fast.
  If you are standing on a volcano, and start to hear it grumble, you will soon be going away, very fast.
6. Re:Up into the human range by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 06:20 · Score: 1
  
  The rumblings and quakes were warning of a geological pressure release. That the release did not include hundreds of tons of ash in the sky and rivers of molten stone is a good thing.
  It is important to remember that 'signs of a potential eruption' are not a 'promise of imminent eruption' but are the best forecast typically available. This is similar to medical evaluations, many harmless conditions have symptom lists that only differ from life-threatening by one factor that requires difficult testing. Ignore the rest at your own (eventual) peril.
7. Re:Up into the human range by NatasRevol · 2013-07-15 06:24 · Score: 1
  
  Or just follow your ferret.
  http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/can-animals-predict-disaster/introduction/130/
  http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/HearingRange.html
  
  --
  There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
8. Re:Up into the human range by NatasRevol · 2013-07-15 06:25 · Score: 1
  
  and you'll have most of them home when it suddenly goes BOOM without warning.
  Hos is that different than not warning at all?
  
  --
  There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
9. Re:Up into the human range by Em+Adespoton · 2013-07-15 10:37 · Score: 2
  
  So what I'd like to know is: do Elephants (who's auditory range of 16-12,000 hertz covers much more of the tremors) always know when a nearby volcano is going to erupt?
10. Re:Up into the human range by ackthpt · 2013-07-15 10:51 · Score: 1
  
  and you'll have most of them home when it suddenly goes BOOM without warning.
  Hos is that different than not warning at all?
  Effectively what we know as the 'cry wolf' example. California is no stranger to people who like their name in the news for predicting the next big quake, but when it doesn't happen they're shamed for a bit and then drop into anonimity. People stop listening to doom projectors - next thing you know, someone knew what they were talking about because they heard the seismic precursors and they get ignored as yet-another crackpot.
  
  --
  
  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Take my wife please by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 05:33 · Score: 0

Sounds like many a marriage, except after the wedding all blowing stops.
1. Re:Take my wife please by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 07:03 · Score: 1
  
  as far as you know....
Even so by Sparticus789 · 2013-07-15 05:43 · Score: 3, Funny

I bet the volcano's still have better pitch control than Justin Beiber.

--
sudo make me a sandwich
1. Re:Even so by Jmc23 · 2013-07-15 06:07 · Score: 2
  
  What's sad about your attempt at humour is probably nobody here listens to Justin Bieber. Now, if it's true, you've outed yourself as someone who has not only recognized Biebers singing but listened to it enough to make that determination. If it's false, then you've outed yourself as an idiot who puts down successful people (no matter how immature), probably just to make yourself feel better about your unsuccessful life.
  
  --
  Don't complain about syntax, grammar, or spelling. There is no.hell like input on android.
2. Re:Even so by Sparticus789 · 2013-07-15 06:10 · Score: 1
  
  Would you prefer something more like "The Song of Ice and Fire: A Volcano's song"?
  
  --
  sudo make me a sandwich
3. Re:Even so by cusco · 2013-07-15 08:23 · Score: 1
  
  He probably has a pre-teen daughter and has had enough Bieber inflicted on him to make that particular whine immediately recognizable. I feel for my niece, who is in the same situation.
  
  --
  "Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
4. Re:Even so by Jmc23 · 2013-07-15 09:29 · Score: 1
  
  Sometimes I wonder how parents haven't heard of earbuds/headphones.
  
  --
  Don't complain about syntax, grammar, or spelling. There is no.hell like input on android.
5. Re:Even so by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 09:40 · Score: 0
  
  Sometimes I wonder how parents haven't heard of earbuds/headphones.
  Some parents refuse to allow their children to use headphones, lest they should covertly listen to songs about offing pigs and such... IMO, those parents deserve the aural torment they've chosen for themselves.
and also by hackingbear · 2013-07-15 05:54 · Score: 3

some volcanoes will erect before they blow.
sounds like my bathroom by sl4shd0rk · 2013-07-15 05:55 · Score: 2

after a night at Taco Bell

--
Join the Slashcott! Feb 10 thru Feb 17!
1. Re:sounds like my bathroom by operagost · 2013-07-15 06:25 · Score: 2
  
  Both also result in a huge release of methane and boiling hot, liquefied matter. The similarities are amazing!
  
  --
  
  Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
harmonic tremor, screaming? by noh8rz8 · 2013-07-15 05:56 · Score: -1, Redundant

the question is, does the frequency reach 20 - 20,000 htz? if not, we're not gonna hear it...

--
You want to upvote/downvote? Go back to Reddit! Here we mod up/mod down.
1. Re:harmonic tremor, screaming? by rullywowr · 2013-07-15 07:38 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  If you RTFA you would see this:
  
  She documented the rising tremor frequency, starting at about 1 hertz (or cycle per second) and gliding upward to about 30 hertz. In humans, the audible frequency range starts at about 20 hertz, but a person lying on the ground directly above the magma conduit might be able to hear the harmonic tremor when it reaches its highest point (it is not an activity she would advise, since the tremor is closely followed by an explosion).
  
  However this is slashdot so no need to RTFA, just carry on with redundant questions veiled in the shape of a seemingly innocuous post.
2. Re:harmonic tremor, screaming? by noh8rz8 · 2013-07-15 12:19 · Score: 0
  
  my policy is to not follow links. if some information was important enough, it would be put in the summary / post. if it's not important, then you just refer people to the link. so i just stick to what's important and not waste time on the links.
  
  --
  You want to upvote/downvote? Go back to Reddit! Here we mod up/mod down.
3. Re:harmonic tremor, screaming? by antifoidulus · 2013-07-15 13:06 · Score: 1
  
  But how else am I supposed to use the force to lava-surf?
  
  --
  Monstar L
How many db? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 06:05 · Score: 5, Interesting

Could this be a possible explanation to how animals sometimes perceive an impending disaster? What decibel would this be at from, say, five miles?
1. Re:How many db? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 07:19 · Score: 0
  
  That was my exact take on this.
2. Re:How many db? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 08:12 · Score: -1
  
  No, animals perceive natural disasters because of `nature` and some other `wife's tale pie-in-the-sky gobbledygook`. Please refrain from science, it's damaging people's views of the world!
For those who didn't RTFA by avandesande · 2013-07-15 06:26 · Score: 1

Check out the time compressed sound recordings- pretty awesome.

--
love is just extroverted narcissism
Volcanoes in Space by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 06:31 · Score: 1

This obviously does not apply to volcanoes in space.
Because in space, no one can hear you scream.
My girlfriend does the same thing. by gestalt_n_pepper · 2013-07-15 06:38 · Score: 1

More than coincidence?

--
Please do not read this sig. Thank you.
1. Re:My girlfriend does the same thing. by Rakarra · 2013-07-15 07:44 · Score: 1
  
  It all makes sense.
  Volcanoes are drama queens and attention whores.
2. Re:My girlfriend does the same thing. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 20:14 · Score: 0
  
  You'll need to put some videos online for us to analyse. We'll let you know in due course, once the videos are posted.
How can you tell ... by PPH · 2013-07-15 06:54 · Score: 1

... if they're faking it?

--
Have gnu, will travel.
1. Re:How can you tell ... by Lithdren · 2013-07-15 08:10 · Score: 2
  
  ... if they're fracking it?
Under the island, middle of the mountain by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 07:03 · Score: 0

There's a big bad boomin' system, blowing speakers, woofers and tweeters.
wrong by brainspank · 2013-07-15 07:36 · Score: 0

it's the giant lemongrabs

--
It's only a model.
So, Hawaiians are right! by GodfatherofSoul · 2013-07-15 08:30 · Score: 1

Volcano IS a woman!

--
I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
1. Re:So, Hawaiians are right! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-15 12:17 · Score: 0
  
  How do you know it's a woman's scream and not Ned Flander's? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb8t25ePTlg
Interesting by Sandra+V.+ · 2013-07-17 08:15 · Score: 1

Volcanoes always fascinated me, especially in my school days. I remember reading in history about how a whole city was carpeted by volcanic ashes and suffocated everything. Now to read about the ‘screaming’ volcanoes it seems more of a mythic happening. I’m certain people of old had some interesting stories to attach to this attribute of volcanoes. Sandra V. Bolee.com