INTEGRATED INSTRUMENTAL MONITORING OF HAZARDOUS GEOLOGICAL PROCESSES UNDER THE KAZBEK VOLCANIC CENTER

Abstract

Kazbek volcanic center is characterized by the complex interrelationship of various hazardous
geological processes. The proximity of populated areas and infrastructure objects (the main one is the
Georgian Military Road connecting Russia with South Caucasus) determines high social and economic risks
of the region. Disasters of 2002 and 2014 caused by ice-rock fall govern importance of investigation of the
area. It must be based on instrumental data collection and seismic monitoring is the first continuous
technique covering both exogenous and endogenous processes, especially of possible volcanic activity and
various postvolcanic phenomena. That’s why complex observational network “Karmadon Parametric Range”
was established in September 2003. The network recorded a collapse of the mass of ice and rocks in the
region of the Devdorak glacier on May 17, 2014 and the movement of the formed stone-ice avalanche.
Research group for the first time faced with the movement of massive extended objects seismic records
processing and analysis. New techniques as energy release and wavelet-based spectral-temporal graphs were
developed. Flow velocities are estimated on the basis of slope variation along the trace. As the result,
determined accordance of the events of 2002 Kolka glaciers fall and the 2014 Devdorak region rockfall is
probably an evidence of general formation nature of both processes. And the main aim is to determine early
evidences of the future events on the basis of a new instrumental monitoring of Kazbek volcanic center
system. It must reveal characteristics of the Kazbek volcano and significantly improve natural hazards safety
of the region.