The three main missions of the Piton de la fournaise volcano observatory (OVPF) are 1) to observe and study volcanic phenomena through real-time volcano monitoring, 2) to conduct research programs, and 3) to communicate, disseminate and inform authorities and civil society. These real-time observations and research can contribute to the prevention, and mitigation of seismic and volcanic risks. The main objective is to collect geological, geophysical and geochemical data over long periods of time to improve the understanding and modelling of volcanic processes at active volcanoes, to allow the systematic elaboration of long-term multi-parameters databases available to the scientific community, and to inform the authorities in charge of civil protection of any change in the volcano activity and after periods of local and regionally felt earthquakes. These missions can be done thanks to the PF network.
The permanent PF network is composed of stations geographically distributed mainly on the Piton de la Fournaise volcano edifice, and on a broader extension on the whole La Réunion Island.
The stations all share the following features:
(1) power: solar panels and battery, or sometimes national electricity company, (2) telemetry: radio, wifi, 4G, or internet link, and (3) sensors: seismometers, tiltmeters, extensometer, and weather sensors. Some of the stations are multi-sensors.
Ground sensors are well coupled with the ground, and the environmental insulation is ensured by insulating foil and plastic box, or by installation in natural or anthropic vaults, or inside boreholes (3 of the 10 tiltmeters).
Most of the time, sensors are separated from the electronics in order to avoid any electric, magnetic and thermal mutual influence.
Seismometers are broadband Güralp CMG3-ESP compact, Nanometrics Trillium Compact posthole 120s, or short period L4-1Hz.
Tiltmeters are IPGP "home-made" BLUM tiltmeters, Spectron tiltmeters or Applied Geomechanics LILY self-levelling borehole electrolytic tiltmeters - sampling rate of 1 min or 1 s. They are installed by pairs.
Extensometers are "Telemac" instruments, REPP model.
Rain gauges are "Precis-mecanique" and Vaisala products.
A few stations are run and owned both by OVPF and the University of La Réunion.
All data are disseminated in miniSEED and stationXML FDSN formats. Seismic data of this network are disseminated both in real time (raw data) and after validation.
The permanent PF network is composed of stations geographically distributed mainly on the Piton de la Fournaise volcano edifice, and on a broader extension on the whole La Réunion Island.
The stations all share the following features:
(1) power: solar panels and battery, or sometimes national electricity company, (2) telemetry: radio, wifi, 4G, or internet link, and (3) sensors: seismometers, tiltmeters, extensometer, and weather sensors. Some of the stations are multi-sensors.
Ground sensors are well coupled with the ground, and the environmental insulation is ensured by insulating foil and plastic box, or by installation in natural or anthropic vaults, or inside boreholes (3 of the 10 tiltmeters).
Most of the time, sensors are separated from the electronics in order to avoid any electric, magnetic and thermal mutual influence.
Seismometers are broadband Güralp CMG3-ESP compact, Nanometrics Trillium Compact posthole 120s, or short period L4-1Hz.
Tiltmeters are IPGP "home-made" BLUM tiltmeters, Spectron tiltmeters or Applied Geomechanics LILY self-levelling borehole electrolytic tiltmeters - sampling rate of 1 min or 1 s. They are installed by pairs.
Extensometers are "Telemac" instruments, REPP model.
Rain gauges are "Precis-mecanique" and Vaisala products.
A few stations are run and owned both by OVPF and the University of La Réunion.
All data are disseminated in miniSEED and stationXML FDSN formats. Seismic data of this network are disseminated both in real time (raw data) and after validation.