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Abstract

Volcanic eruptions pose a major threat to many communities around the world. Yet openly accessible, real-time, multi-parameter data are available only for a few volcanic systems. While efforts are made to tackle the significant logistical and financial challenges involved with improving instrumentation at remote systems, it is important to also ensure a robust and easy-to-implement pathway from the point of acquisition to public repositories. An effective stream of multi-parameter observations from active volcanoes will drive the development of the next generation of physics- and data-based eruption forecast models. Here we report the development and field testing of a multi-parameter, real-time, open-data volcano monitoring system through our collaborative project AVERT: Anticipating Volcanic Eruptions in Real-Time. The AVERT system has been deployed on Cleveland (open-vent) and Okmok (closed system) volcanoes—situated in the remote Aleutian arc—in partnership with the Alaska Volcano Observatory. Novel instruments, e.g. continuous fluxgate magnetometers, synchronised visible and infrared cameras, and soil probes for temperature and CO2 flux, were installed in addition to seismic, GNSS, and gas sensors. A low-power single-board computer coordinates data archiving and telemetry—via radio and various satellite pathways—at each node in the network. In-situ analysis of data facilitates optimised data telemetry and lower latency detections of changes in the state of volcanic unrest. The small form factor, modular design of the system enables rapid deployment and straightforward incorporation of a wide variety of instruments into the data telemetry system. Design plans and software will be available to the community following successful proof-of-concept testing.