Triggers – a pantoum

Eleanor Dunn

Magnitude five on the Richter scale 
Threads of seismic waves probe molten rock 
Splintering crust as unrest sets sail 
Looking for land further afield to shock 

Threads of seismic waves probe molten rock 
Setting sight on land far and distant 
Looking for something further afield to shock 
Finding a caldera that is not resistant 

Setting sight on land far and distant 
A paradise of ferns, seals and rays 
Finding a caldera that is not resistant 
An oasis that can be set ablaze 

A paradise of ferns, seals and rays 
Where lava foams over jagged basalt 
An oasis that can be set ablaze 
Traversing through the sharp trapdoor fault

Where lava foams over jagged basalt 
Teleseisms from afar crash land 
Traversing through the sharp trapdoor fault 
Vibrations find their place amongst the sand 

Teleseisms from afar crash land 
In a distant place another fault breaks 
Vibrations find their place amongst the sand 
A cascade of triggering earthquakes 

In a distant place another fault breaks 
Stagnant volcano waiting to fail
A cascade of triggering earthquakes 
Magnitude seven on the Richter scale 

The Science

This poem is inspired by my PhD research on the Sierra Negra volcano, located on Isabela Island (Galápagos). This poem explores the process of dynamic triggering, a seismic process which is linked with Sierra Negra's volcanic activity where large earthquakes that occur hundreds to thousands of kilometres away from Sierra Negra can trigger local seismic activity on the volcano. This process is not widely studied but what we currently understand is that leading up to its 2018 eruption, dynamic triggering increased on Sierra Negra, before decreasing following the eruption. These huge seismic changes on the volcano have been measured and monitored in an attempt to understand Sierra Negra's underlying volcanic and tectonic system.

The Poet

Eleanor Dunn is a PhD researcher based at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Ireland. Her research focusses on combining geophysics with science communication in creative and unique ways. Eleanor grew up in Bedfordshire, England and originally pursued an undergraduate degree in Earth Sciences before making the switch during her PhD to focus on science communication.

Next poem: After Compression by Laurinda Lind