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. 2022 May 6;12(1):7488.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-11149-0.

Scientific response to the 2021 eruption of Nyiragongo based on the implementation of a participatory monitoring system

G Boudoire  1   2 , S Calabrese  3   4 , A Colacicco  5 , P Sordini  6 , P Habakaramo Macumu  7   8 , V Rafflin  9 , S Valade  10 , T Mweze  5 , J-C Kazadi Mwepu  7 , F Safari Habari  7 , T Amani Kahamire  11 , Y Mumbere Mutima  7   12 , J-C Ngaruye  13 , A Tuyishime  13 , A Tumaini Sadiki  7 , G Mavonga Tuluka  7 , M Mapendano Yalire  7 , E-D Kets  14 , F Grassa  15 , W D'Alessandro  15 , S Caliro  16 , F Rufino  8 , D Tedesco  17   18   19
Affiliations

Scientific response to the 2021 eruption of Nyiragongo based on the implementation of a participatory monitoring system

G Boudoire et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

The development of a resilient society is a major challenge for growing human population faced with abundant natural hazards. During and after the May 22, 2021 eruption of Nyiragongo, the local population was surprised and scared by the subsequent seismicity and associated surface fracturing, coupled with the alert of a possible new eruptive vent opening in Goma (Democratic Republic of Congo) and/or Gisenyi (Rwanda). The creation of a toll-free phone number enabled the population to record fractures and gas/thermal anomalies affecting the area. Such work was fundamental in enabling scientists and authorities to assess the associated risks. Crucially, gas data showed that the degassing through fractures did not represent direct transfer of magmatic volatiles but was more likely of superficial origin. Surprisingly, this participatory work revealed that the first fractures appeared several weeks before the eruption and their opening was not detected by the monitoring system. This firmly underlines the need for scientists to anchor citizen science in monitoring strategies.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Location map of the Nyiragongo volcano, the lava flows from the May 22, 2021 eruption (estimated volume not exceeding 10 Mm3 with respect to the minimum volume of 16 Mm3 estimated in the lava lake in 2020; Burgi, pers. comm.), and the cities of Goma and Gisenyi. (b–f) Photos and severity index of the cracks across Goma and Gisenyi. Credits Attribution: Esri, USGS, ESA/CNES. Pictures from the authors.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Maps produced from the results of the participatory system. (a) Location of the fractures classified by severity index. (b) Number of anomalies identified on fractures by the population of Goma and Gisenyi (uncoloured diamonds denote fractures without anomaly). Chronology of the appearance of fractures (c) after and (d) before the May 22, 2021 eruption. Credits Attribution: Esri, NASA, NGA, USGS; RMLUA, OpenStreetMap, HERE, Garmin, METI/NASA.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Maps produced from the results of the survey performed by the international scientific team and local institutes: (a) CO2 flux from fractures and soils, (b) CO2 content in the air close to the soil, (c) temperature within the fractures and in the soil (20 cm-depth). (d) Interferogram showing the ground deformation related to the dyke propagation. The large-scale deformation pattern (Supplementary Fig. S4) displays two lobes with opposite axis. The propagation path is therefore interpreted to be nearly North–South, similar to the network of fractures. Credits Attribution: Esri, NASA, NGA, USGS; RMLUA, OpenStreetMap, HERE, Garmin, METI/NASA, ESA.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Map of CO2 flux with carbon isotopes values. (b) CO2 content versus δ13C of CO2 from fractures. The end-members used in the mixing model are defined in the “Methods”. Credits Attribution: Esri, NASA, NGA, USGS; RMLUA, OpenStreetMap, HERE, Garmin, METI/NASA.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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