The giant Olympus Mons volcano on Mars has morphological similarities with many active volcanic islands on Earth, indicating contact between liquid water and lava. A vast ocean of liquid water once occupied the Red Planet's northern lowlands, according to recent work published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
A team of international scientists has discovered a large granite mass buried under the surface of the Moon's far side, measuring 50km across. This finding is unexpected, as granites are nearly absent in the Solar System outside of Earth.
A large granite deposit discovered below the lunar surface suggests ancient volcanic activity, likely feeding a volcano that erupted 3.5 billion years ago. The finding helps explain how the early lunar crust formed.
University of Queensland researchers have developed a new technique using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma quadruple mass spectrometry to analyze the chemical composition of magma. This high-resolution method provides clearer data on the eruption style and lava flow, enabling better forecasting of volcanic eruptions.
Researchers at Durham University argue that a new radiocarbon-based date for the Laacher See volcano eruption is incorrect due to contaminated trees absorbing dead volcanic carbon. The team suggests an alternative date of 12,880 years ago, coinciding with a newly reported sulphur spike in the Greenland ice sheet.
The 2023 International Venus Observation Campaign aims to characterize the planet's atmosphere near the cloud-top level from three locations in the solar system. Key findings include the discovery of unknown UV absorbers in the upper clouds, which will be studied using data from JAXA's Akatsuki orbiter and ground-based telescopes.
Scientists have found that a notable amount of subducted carbon is returned to the atmosphere through volcanic degassing in the Aleutian-Alaska Arc. This recycling process improves our understanding of Earth's climate and can help inform global climate models.
Climate change is expected to increase the likelihood and frequency of volcanic eruptions, making planning and responding to crises more challenging. Volcanologists are warning that governments may need new strategies to predict and mitigate the effects of future eruptions.
Researchers found that volcanic eruptions' impact on climate is being underestimated by a factor of two to four in standard climate projections. Small-magnitude eruptions are responsible for as much as half of all sulphur gases emitted, with a significant collective effect.
Researchers at NIST have demonstrated a capability to transmit extremely precise time signals through the air between far-flung locations, paving the way for ultra-precise timing links with geosynchronous satellites. The method enables time synchronization with femtosecond precision and robustness in atmospheric disturbances.
Scientists have discovered that sinking seamounts leave behind a trail of soft sediments, which help release tectonic pressure in slow slip earthquakes. This finding can be used to adjust earthquake models and improve understanding of the mechanisms driving earthquakes.
The January 15, 2022, eruption of Hunga Volcano in Tonga created a 'supercharged' thunderstorm that produced nearly 200,000 lightning flashes. Scientists analyzed high-resolution lightning data to gain insights into the eruption's timeline and behavior.
The Hunga Volcano eruption in Tonga created a plume that reached altitudes of up to 25 miles, producing the most intense lightning rates ever detected. The plume expanded outward as an umbrella cloud, creating fast-moving circular ripples and donut-shaped rings of lightning.
The Great Sitkin Volcano in Alaska has two magma chambers that drive its long-lived and explosive eruptions. Scientists have discovered a six-stage eruption cycle, with the interaction between the chambers contributing to lava effusion. This study helps predict volcanic eruptions and assess hazards.
The Jefferson Lab Virtual Series offers a fun and engaging way to learn scientific concepts, with over 40 videos available on YouTube. Each video explores a different topic, providing viewers with the ability to passively learn about science in an interactive and reproducible way.
Researchers at UCL and INGV found that parts of the Campi Flegrei volcano have been stretched nearly to breaking point, indicating a higher risk of rupture. The study used a model of volcano fracturing to interpret patterns of earthquakes and ground uplift, suggesting that an eventual eruption could be preceded by weaker signals.
Researchers reconstructed the seafloor morphology around Santorini to better understand volcanic tsunamis. The study revealed undulating bedforms formed by pyroclastic flows and instabilities of the volcanic flanks, indicating that slope instabilities can contribute to tsunami generation.
Scientists discover hydrothermal deposits at a 5.7 km depth in the Japan Trench, indicating low-temperature hydrothermal activity and elevated CO2 and methane levels. The findings highlight the need for further studies on petit-spot volcanoes and their potential impact on global biogeochemical cycles.
A new study published in Geology concludes that an extinct volcano off the shore of Portugal could store as much as 1.2-8.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to ~24-125 years of the country's industrial emissions.
An international team found that volcanic eruptions can produce equatorial plasma bubbles in the ionosphere, disrupting satellite-based communications. The Tonga eruption triggered an irregular structure of electron density across the equator, delaying radio waves and degrading GPS performance.
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-sized exoplanet, LP 791-18 d, which orbits a small red dwarf star in the constellation Crater. The planet may experience volcanic flare-ups as frequently as Jupiter's moon Io, potentially making it habitable for life. However, more research is needed to confirm its atmosphere, water content, and hab...
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-size exoplanet, LP 791-18 d, that may be covered in volcanoes. The planet's high volcanic activity could sustain an atmosphere and potentially support liquid water on its night side.
Astronomers have discovered a new temperate exoplanet, LP 791-18 d, with properties similar to those of Earth. The planet is believed to be covered in volcanoes due to tidal heating, which causes heat to build up in its interior.
The newly discovered exoplanet LP 791-18 d orbits a small red dwarf star in the habitable zone, where liquid water could exist on its surface. Volcanic activity on this planet may sustain an atmosphere and potentially lead to the formation of life.
A new study suggests that catastrophic Australian bushfires in 2019-2020 contributed to a rare, three-year La Niña event. The research found that wildfire emissions brightened cloud decks across the Southern Hemisphere, cooling the Tropical Pacific ocean and ultimately shifting climate conditions.
An international team has detected aerosols from the Hunga Tonga eruption in the Northern Hemisphere stratospheric westerlies, aiding simulation of volcanic plume processes. This discovery provides key insights into physical properties and evolutionary process of volcanic aerosols in the stratosphere.
A research team from Université Laval and Université Clermont Auvergne has shown that clouds harbor antibiotic resistance genes of bacterial origin. The concentrations vary widely, ranging from 330 to over 30,000 bacteria per milliliter of cloud water.
A multidisciplinary team discovers three new active hydrothermal vent fields over a 434-mile stretch of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, revealing rich biological communities and vast marine life. The discovery highlights the need for more research to understand the effects of deep-sea mining on these unique ecosystems.
Deep-sea scientists have discovered extensive, ancient coral reefs within the Galápagos Marine Reserve, supporting a diverse array of marine life. The reefs are pristine and teeming with life, offering insights into global significance and potential as 'canaries in the mine' for other reefs.
A new study analyzed the 2022 Tongan volcanic eruption, finding it triggered a mega-tsunami with waves up to 45 meters high, which claimed few lives due to the location and COVID-19 pandemic efforts
Researchers analyzed concentric terraces around the Santorini caldera to better understand massive underwater volcanic eruptions. The study found that sedimentation waves can impact the sea surface, creating tsunamis and scouring the seafloor during shallow submarine eruptions.
Researchers used machine learning techniques to analyze seven years' worth of seismic data from Axial Seamount, identifying new signals including fin whale calls, tremors, earthquakes, and lava events. This study improves understanding of volcano dynamics and aids in predicting eruptions.
A new camera design allows for cheaper and more efficient long-term volcano monitoring, enabling researchers to track gas emissions and predict eruptions. The camera's affordability and user-friendliness make it accessible to more volcanologists, facilitating new research opportunities.
Researchers Paul Byrne and Rebecca Hahn have compiled a global catalog of 85,000 volcanoes on Venus, providing the most comprehensive understanding of the planet's volcanic properties. The dataset includes detailed analyses of volcano distribution, size, and clustering, which will aid in locating future active lava flows.
Researchers discovered that as magma production decreased, volcanoes became increasingly complex, with internal magma pockets and reservoirs forming. The study provides insights into volcanic eruption processes and can inform our understanding of active continental hotspot volcanoes globally.
Researchers detected significant thermospheric fluctuations with multiple wave modes after the Tonga eruption, affecting global neutral density up to 500 km altitude. The study suggests that gravitational waves, Lamb waves, and tsunami waves may transmit energy upward, influencing thermospheric density.
Researchers have identified evidence of ongoing volcanic activity on Venus based on radar images from the Magellan spacecraft. A vent in the Maat Mons volcano system appears to be changing shape and growing larger between two imaging cycles.
Researchers have made significant progress in developing high-performance Pt-based nanocatalysts for oxygen reduction reactions, focusing on increasing activity per site and active sites. The study aims to reduce the cost of PEMFCs by overcoming the challenges associated with Pt metal catalysts.
Researchers document diverse assemblage of fish species living on asphalt volcanoes in the Santa Barbara Channel, characterized by low densities and high diversity rates. The team's findings highlight the unique nature of these habitats and emphasize the need for conservation efforts to protect them.
New Zealand and five other island nations, including Australia and Vanuatu, have the potential to continue producing food despite reduced sunlight and cooler temperatures after a nuclear war. However, countries' resilience is threatened by dependence on imported commodities and collapse of industry and social functioning.
A study published in Nature Astronomy suggests that a volcano-like rupture on the surface of a neutron star could have caused its sudden slowdown. The research used X-ray data from orbiting telescopes to analyze the magnetar's rotation and found evidence supporting this theory.
A new analysis of seismic data recorded after the Tonga eruption has revealed two distinct sequences of events, including quasi-periodic explosions and a massive final event. The study used back-projection techniques to tease out details from teleseismic P waves, shedding light on the volcano's internal dynamics.
A new study by Portland State University researchers found that deep-sea microorganisms thrive in high-temperature environments and exhibit a staggering level of diversity, with over 500 new genera discovered. The microbes also rely on each other for survival through metabolic handoffs, revealing a complex interdependence.
A team led by the University of Colorado Boulder discovered a unique microbial community on the newly formed Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai island, which metabolizes sulfur and atmospheric gases. The microbes were found to be similar to those in hydrothermal vents, hot springs, and other volcanic systems.
Researchers from the University of Washington analyzed the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption in the South Pacific, discovering that ionosphere signals can help explain why tsunami waves grew larger and traveled faster than predicted. The study validated the use of GPS signals traveling through the atmosphere to track events on the gro...
A team at the University of Tokyo has discovered that analyzing the ratio of argon-40 to helium-3 in magma gases can indicate the risk of different types of eruption. By monitoring these gas ratios, scientists hope to develop a portable equipment for real-time, on-site measurements, enabling early warning systems and potentially saving...
Researchers used the parallax effect to measure the height of the volcano's plume, reaching an altitude of 57 km, surpassing previous records. The study provides new insights into volcanic eruptions and their impact on the climate.
Magma is rising to about 6 miles from a depth of 12 miles, causing earthquakes and surface deformation. The new approach could lead to earlier detection of volcanic unrest in Alaska.
Researchers analyzed 2,100 obsidian artifacts from two archaeological sites in southwestern Iran, revealing seven distinct sources of the volcanic glass. The study suggests a greater number of settlements between source volcanoes and excavation sites, indicating larger social networks during the Neolithic Era.
Researchers find that airborne chemical methyl bromide is a compelling indicator of biological activity on other planets. Its detectability increases around M dwarf stars, making it an attractive target for future missions to search for extraterrestrial life.
A recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals that the Tonga volcano eruption stimulated a rapid and massive bloom of ocean phytoplankton, covering an area nearly 40 times the size of Oahu within just 48 hours. The bloom was triggered by the deposition of volcanic ash, which supplied nutrients for phytoplankton growth.
Researchers at KAUST have identified thermophilic bacteria with potential to degrade oil contamination. The study reveals that certain bacteria can secrete surfactants and absorb emulsified petroleum into their cells for degradation via enzymatic activity.
A new study by Eurac Research confirms negative global trends in mountain areas, with an average decline of 15 days of snow on the ground over 38 years. Snow cover has decreased by 4% globally, with peaks of 20 or more fewer days in Canada's western provinces.
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption injected at least 50 million metric tons of water vapor directly into the stratosphere, potentially increasing global stratospheric water vapor by more than 5%. This unprecedented event could lead to changes in atmospheric chemistry and dynamics, including stratospheric cooling and surface warming.
Sturt Manning's statistical analysis has narrowed the time range for the Thera volcano eruption to between 1609–1560 BCE with a 95.4% probability. This new timeline synchronizes Eastern Mediterranean civilizations and rules out ancillary theories, potentially rewriting history.
Researchers have confirmed the existence of Pekeris waves, a type of atmospheric wave theorized in 1937 but never proven to occur naturally. The waves were detected following the 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption using state-of-the-art observational data and computer simulations.
Recent findings from Iceland's Fagradalsfjall eruptions reveal a highly dynamic process that challenges traditional understanding of volcanoes. The eruption showed more compositional variability than expected, with rapid changes in chemical indicators over the course of just one month.
A study led by Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research reveals that smoke from the Australian Black Summer wildfires spread across the southern hemisphere, warming upper atmosphere and cooling lower atmosphere. This has significant implications for climate modeling due to increasing wildfire frequency under climate change.
Researchers found the Tonga tsunami reached 90 meters in height, outperforming previous tsunamis like 2011 Japan tsunami. The event emphasized the need for improved detection systems, as volcano-based tsunamis are currently 30 years behind earthquake-based event monitoring tools.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge's CSER highlight the need for improved surveillance and public education to mitigate the impact of volcanic eruptions. The risk of a magnitude seven explosion in the next 100 years is one-in-six, with potential consequences including abrupt climate change and collapse of civilizations.