Mathematical simulation and experimental studies of the shugo mud volcano

This paper considers the theoretical and experimental principles of a monitoring system for mud volcanoes using powerful vibroseismic sources. A mathematical method has been developed to simulate magma chambers of arbitrary geometry with allowance for deep-seated faults near the volcano, overlapping layers, etc. Results are reported from calculations of the seismic field for the source zone of the Shugo mud volcano. Mathematical modeling served as a basis to develop a technique of vibroseismic sounding using powerful controlled sources yielding a force of 40–100 tons on the ground. For the first time in the history of observations on mud volcanoes, two mud volcanoes on land have been subjected to active vibroseismic sounding. These are the Akhtanizovskii and Shugo volcanoes in the Taman’ mud-volcanic province. The results of experimental investigations are reported. Numerical simulation has helped refine the earth model in the Shugo area, which was previously derived from vibroseismic sounding data.