The Application of Remote Sensing Data (SAR, Thermal and Optical) and Geodetic Modeling to Investigate the Volcanic Activity at Semeru Volcano (Indonesia)

Abstract

Semeru (Indonesia) is a persistent eruptive volcano, but its volcanic activity remains poorly constrained. Here we used a combination of different remote sensing data to improve the understanding of Semeru. By differencing high resolution (2m) Digital Elevation Models (DEM) derived from optical data (EarthDEMs), we estimated a bulk volume of ∼43.5 × 10⁶ m³ of lavas erupted from 2014 to 2020. Thermal data from MIROVA show multiple peaks in the volcanic radiative power and in the cumulative Volcanic Radiant Energy (VRE) related with lava flow extrusions. Time series of deformation, obtained with Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR) from Sentinel-1 data, show on both orbits negative line-of-sight displacements of the SE flank from 2014 to 2023. The observed displacements can be related to surface processes or to a limited (≤1 × 10⁶ m³) deflation of a shallow (<2 km) reservoir, modeled with a Boundary Element Method. We used the volume estimated by EarthDEMs to calibrate the VRE and to calculate the erupted volume of lava from VRE for periods not covered by EarthDEM, allowing in the future the near-real-time estimation of volumes from MIROVA data. Erupted volumes of lava over the time reveal a steady state activity. Our data suggest that the persistent volcanic activity at Semeru is fed by deep portions of the magmatic system, while the possible shallow reservoir is a hydrothermal or an ephemeral magma reservoir. This study highlights the importance of using different remote sensing data to monitor, quantify, and interpret the volcanic activity in poorly monitored and studied volcanoes.