New gravimeter technology created by product design house Wideblue and the University of Glasgow (UoG) could be used to predict volcanic eruptions.

Their device can detect subtle changes in local gravity caused by magma flows, providing an early warning system.

With early enough detection, people can be evacuated and defences created to save lives before the eruption happens.

The device has been designed to measure the flow of lava (shifting of mass) at the summit of Mount Etna in Sicily. It deploys MEMS (Micro-electromechanical Systems) technology commonly used in mobile phones (as accelerometers) to produce an ultra-sensitive gravimeter to measure tiny changes in local gravity.

However, the silicon springs used in the device are ten times thinner than a human hair which makes the accelerometer highly sensitive to any changes in gravity.

Commenting on the new tech, Wideblue Managing Director Barry Warden said: “Wideblue’s role in the project was to develop a self-levelling mechanism to allow remote levelling adjustment of the device and also create a watertight enclosure to protect the electronics and MEMs from moisture.

“In addition, we created an insulation system to avoid the MEMs being subject to temperature fluctuations from the external harsh environment.”

He added: “The first prototype device went live on Mont Etna on 9 August this year and the plan is to create an array of multiple devices to gather data across a large area. The overall plan is to have a number of devices active early next year.”

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The University of Glasgow’s Dr Karl Toland said: “The use of gravimetry to detect changes in subsurface masses, allowing us to understand the processes that involve deep fluids, is an extremely effective geophysical tool.

“However, its utilisation is severely limited due to the high upfront costs of commercial devices and the practicality of taking measurements over a large surface area with a single device.

“Members of the Institute for Gravitational Research at the University of Glasgow have developed a low-cost gravimeter with the goal of changing the paradigm for gravimetry measurements, known as Wee-g.”

Toland added: “The low cost of a Wee-g compared to commercial gravimeters allow for multiple Wee-g devices to be deployed out in the field simultaneously, creating what is known as a gravity imager.

“This will provide imaging of gravity changes with unparalleled spatio-temporal resolution across the area of interest.”

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