Students were introduced to the seismological aspects of mud volcano activity

Associate Professor Sabina Kazimova, Head of the Dynamics of Earthquake Foci Department at the Republican Seismological Survey Center under the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, conducted a master class dedicated to March 27 - Science Day at the Faculty of Geology of Baku State University (BSU).

It was reported to Aztəhsil.az by the university that she delivered a presentation on the topic “Seismological aspects of mud volcano activity. Monitoring of mud volcanoes based on a newly installed seismic network.”

The report stated that out of approximately 2000 known mud volcanoes on Earth, 365 are located within the country's territory and in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. According to statistical data, an average of 3–5 mud volcano eruptions are recorded annually within the country's territory.

It was brought to attention that in recent years, digital monitoring systems and modern seismic stations play an important role in studying the activity of mud volcanoes. Through these systems, parameters such as the time of volcanic eruptions, duration, phases, amount of released energy, and depth of the process are accurately recorded.

In 2022, for the first time in the world, the activity of mud volcanoes was comprehensively analyzed with the application of seismotomography and InSAR technologies. As a result of the conducted research, the parameters of 41 mud volcanoes were recorded over the last 20 years, and their activity characteristics were analyzed.

During the master class, discussions were held on the topic, students' questions were answered, and the importance of seismological research of mud volcanoes for geological science was emphasized.