Articles tagged with Volcanic Eruptions
A new study linking medieval Irish chronicles with ice-core records shows that up to 48 explosive volcanic eruptions caused extreme cold events in Ireland from 431-1649. Volcanic sulfate deposits in ice cores matched written records of heavy snowfall, frost, and prolonged ice covering lakes and rivers.
Researchers analyzed pre-eruption seismic activity before the 2009 Redoubt volcano eruption, which deviated from common patterns. Advanced analysis revealed a protracted period of slow magma ascent followed by rapidly increasing pressure, enabling improved forecasting techniques.
A massive extinction event occurred 200 million years ago, wiping out 76% of species on Earth. Volcanic eruptions from the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province likely triggered the event through global warming and ocean acidification.
Researchers describe a previously undocumented type of eruption in underwater volcanoes, characterized by a unique bubble structure that defies explosive or effusive categories. The study proposes a new eruptive style, named Tangaroan, which occurs when magma forms a buoyant foam that rises to the seafloor and detaches from the volcano.
The LaMEVE database offers rapid searchability of information on large volcanic events with a quantitative data quality score. It focuses on magnitude 4 or greater eruptions, which are typically responsible for the most loss of life in historical periods.
Researchers used structured expert elicitation to assess future sea level rise from ice sheets, predicting a 29cm median estimate by 2100. The study's findings suggest a conceivable risk of a rise of greater than 1m by 2100, with uncertainties surrounding the cause of recent ice sheet mass loss.
GEOMAR researchers have found evidence that climate change can trigger volcanic eruptions on a global scale. They discovered a pattern where periods of high volcanic activity followed rapid global temperature increases and associated ice melting. This discovery could provide new insights into the Earth's natural climate cycles.
A rare rhino fossil, 9.2 million years old, has been discovered in Turkey, providing insight into the prehistoric Eastern Mediterranean region. The fossil, a skull with unusual features, is believed to have been 'cooked to death' in temperatures approaching 500°C.
Researchers found that global warming prevented plant and animal species from fully recovering from the largest mass extinction in Earth's history. The study, led by Ohio State University doctoral student Alexa Sedlacek, suggests that life on Earth today may face similar problems in trying to recover from current climate change.
Researchers found that initial bubble growth determines eruption size, with rapid changes in gas flux and composition crucial for prediction. The study provides a key to understanding volcanic eruptions and could lead to better predictions of their scale.
Researchers found that pre-eruptive mixing within magma chambers, triggered by older cooler magma mixing with younger hotter magma, is the common event before catastrophic eruptions. This discovery could prove invaluable in future hazard and risk assessment on islands prone to volcanic activity.
A new study found that people living close to Eyjafjallajökull volcano experienced worse respiratory symptoms after the 2010 eruption. The researchers reported increased symptoms such as phlegm, eye irritation, and cough, highlighting the importance of healthcare professionals being aware of potential risks.
Recent eruptions demonstrate the vulnerability to ash dispersal, which can disrupt aviation and cause billions of dollars in economic loss. Scientists now understand that particle size is determined by post-eruption collisions, not just initial fragmentation.
Geologist Dr Scott Bryan's research found plants and tiny animals including corals latched onto pumice as it traveled over 5000km from Tonga to north-eastern Australia. This journey provided concrete proof that pumice rafting is a significant factor in dispersing marine life.
Research suggests that giant volcanic eruptions in Nicaragua over the past 70,000 years temporarily thinned the ozone layer by releasing bromine and chlorine gases. The team used a novel method to estimate gas content in lava rocks and combined it with existing data to calculate potential ozone layer depletion.
A new study by Oregon State University researchers reveals six major volcanic eruptions in Sumatra over the past 35,000 years, with explosive intensity comparable to Mount St. Helens' 1980 eruption. The findings highlight a potentially deadly natural phenomenon threatening residents of the region.
A study published in Weather journal has reconstructed past climate events in Iraq and Syria using ancient Arabic records. The research team found a high number of cold waves, droughts, and floods between 816-1009, with temperatures dropping as low as 18°C in July 920.
A new international study provides evidence that an unusual episode of four massive tropical volcanic eruptions may have triggered the onset and persistence of Earth's Little Ice Age. The research suggests a subsequent expansion of sea ice and weakening of Atlantic currents best explain the cold summers following the eruptions.
A University of Colorado Boulder-led team excavated a Maya village in El Salvador and unexpectedly hit an ancient white road, known as a sacbe, that appears to lead to and from the town. The discovery provides valuable insights into the Maya's construction methods and daily life.
Researchers have uncovered a well-preserved example of a massive landslide triggered by a volcanic eruption on Tenerife. The study provides insights into the long-term effects of such events on hazardous pyroclastic dispersal, with potential implications for tsunami risk assessment and global preparedness.
The Puyehue-Cordón volcano in Chile continues to spew ash, affecting air travel in Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. The GOES Project's satellite imagery shows the steady stream of ash three weeks after the initial eruption.
NASA's Aqua satellite and GOES-13 provided high-resolution images and a video showing the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcano eruption in Chile. The ash plume moved from southeast to east over several days, influenced by changing winds., Satellite data will help airlines determine safe air travel routes.
Researchers created a 3D model of Mount St. Helens' 1980 eruption to better understand pyroclastic density currents and their impact on terrain. The model accurately reproduced the blast's effects, revealing that gravity and terrain shape play key roles in determining damage zones.
Scientists have discovered magma trapped within lunar crystals contain 100 times more water than earlier measurements, changing the prevailing theory about the Moon's origin. The findings could also shed light on the origin of water ice detected in craters at the lunar poles.
Researchers at University of British Columbia develop a model explaining long-lived volcanic earthquakes before and during eruptions. The 'oscillating plug' of magma causes tremors, which can be used to predict explosive eruptions.
Scientists evaluated steady fault slip rate over 25 thousand years along the Altyn Tagh fault, providing constraints for Quaternary slip history. Chironomids were used to record terrestrial temperature changes in Arctic interglacials of the past 200,000 years.
Scientists have developed a new method to predict where volcanic eruptions will strike, using data from a rare sequence of 13 magmatic events in the Afar desert. By analyzing changes in the earth's crust tension, researchers can identify areas at risk and estimate likelihood of future eruptions.
Scientists at the University of Trieste discovered a massive 280-million-year-old fossil supervolcano in northern Italy's Sesia Valley, exposing magmatic plumbing system to unprecedented depth. The discovery provides a model for understanding active calderas and may help predict future eruptions.
New research reveals that plate history plays a crucial role in determining volcanic activity, contrary to previous assumptions about mantle temperature. The study found that some regions experienced more volcanic activity than others despite similar geological conditions.
Associate Professor Huiming Bao has published research in Nature about massive volcanic eruptions and their atmospheric consequences. The study used computer models and geological data to simulate the sulfur gas oxidation chemistry and atmospheric conditions of North America long before human activities impacted air quality.
The MODIS instrument on NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites captured daily visible and infrared imagery of the ash plume from Eyjafjallajokull volcano. The ash cloud consisted of fine particles of pulverized rock, posing a rare but potentially catastrophic hazard to aviation.
Researchers found a surprising connection between ancient caribou bones and a massive volcanic eruption that blanketed the region with ash 1,000 years ago. The study suggests that changes in local wildlife may have been linked to environmental changes caused by the eruption.
Researchers have developed a detailed volcanic hazard map for the island of Gran Canaria by analyzing 13 new radiocarbon ages. The map indicates that the area of greatest volcanic activity is in the north east of the island, which has experienced 24 eruptions over the past 11,000 years.
Researchers measured the speed of magma rise during a Plinian eruption, revealing it could ascend from interior to surface within four hours. This rapid ascent raises concerns about the feasibility of timely evacuations and warnings before such eruptions.
Coal outbursts in underground mines are among the major killers, but scientists have long been investigating their precise mechanism. New research suggests that coal outbursts occur through a process similar to explosive volcanic eruptions, driven by high gas pressure inside coal.
A team of researchers will survey Kasatochi Island to monitor its recovery from the 2008 volcanic eruption. The interdisciplinary research focuses on the island's ecosystem development, with an emphasis on insect and bird species.
A workshop in Colombia aims to raise awareness and protect communities near the dangerous Galeras volcano through collaboration between scientists, government officials, and local residents. The goal is to develop a consensus on how to mitigate volcanic risks, using existing hazard maps and safety plans with updated research.
Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography have discovered a connection between the sound produced by volcanic eruptions and jet engines. By analyzing infrasound from Mount St. Helens and Tungurahua volcanoes, they found that the large-amplitude signals are generated in a similar way to smaller-scale man-made jets.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered that volcanic plumes rotate around their axis due to a phenomenon called mesocyclones. This rotation triggers lightning and creates waterspouts or dust devils. The study provides new insights into understanding volcanic eruptions and predicts effects more accurately.
Classic experiments from 1953 may have simulated steam from volcanic eruptions, producing varied mixtures of organic compounds. This discovery points to the possible contribution of volcanism to life's beginning on Earth.
Researchers reanalyzed Stanley Miller's classic origin of life experiment to determine if chemical compounds could be detected using modern equipment. They found that a modern day version of the volcanic apparatus produces a wider variety of compounds, including 22 previously unidentified amino acids.
A new study analyzing historic samples from a classic origin-of-life experiment by NASA and university researchers found 22 amino acids, 10 of which were never seen before. The team discovered that volcanic eruptions could provide the necessary chemistry for life to emerge.
Scientists have found that magma recharges volcanoes repeatedly, causing episodic eruptions at the surface. This new understanding increases the challenge of predicting future eruptions, with implications for volcanic monitoring and management.
Researchers have discovered that studying crystal formation in volcanoes can reveal the timing between magma movement and eruptions. This technique allows scientists to better understand individual volcano behavior, helping inform civil defense decisions.
Researchers mapped an elaborate maze of magma chambers beneath Iceland's volcanoes, providing insights into the chemical composition of molten rock and gases released during eruptions. The study suggests that Icelandic volcanoes are likely to have explosive eruptions with devastating local and potential global effects.
An international team of researchers has discovered extensive layers of volcanic ash on the seafloor of the Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic Ocean, indicating a gigantic volcanic eruption. The find challenges previous assumptions that explosive volcanism cannot occur at great water depths.
R.D. Schuiling suggests using dolomite or limestone to react with hot lava, cooling it down and solidifying it, potentially saving thousands of lives and homes during future eruptions. He proposes various methods for deploying these rocks, including helicopter drops and aerial cable systems.
UBC and McGill researchers simulated supervolcano eruptions using Plexiglas models filled with corn syrup. The study sheds light on the complex flow effects inside a magma chamber during an eruption. A potential global nuclear winter could result from a large supervolcano eruption, causing widespread devastation and crop failures.
Scientists have discovered evidence of a subglacial volcano beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which erupted around 2000 years ago. The discovery provides vital insights into the ice sheet's dynamics and its potential impact on sea-level rise.
Scientists at the University of Utah report that Yellowstone's caldera floor has risen by almost 3 inches per year for three years, with a total uplift of 7 inches during the past 30 months. This rate is more than three times faster than previous observations and may be due to an injection of a Los Angeles-sized blob of molten rock.
A new, rapid and cheap way of estimating the potential risk posed to human health by volcanic ash has been devised. The technique uses state-of-the-art laser technology to analyze the grain size of samples from around the world, allowing emergency response teams to quickly measure the potential risk without high-tech equipment.
A study published in Science reveals that massive volcanic eruptions 55 million years ago led to a five-to-six-degree Celsius jump in ocean temperatures, linked to the creation of the North Atlantic Ocean. The prehistoric activity released over 2,000 gigatonnes of carbon into the atmosphere, similar to today's greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers confirmed a direct link between volcanic eruptions and global warming, with sea surface temperatures rising by up to six degrees in the Arctic. The study analyzed ash layers and marine fossil records to establish this connection about 55 million years ago.
Scientists found strong evidence that a major earthquake can cause a nearly immediate increase in regional volcanic activity. The intensity of two ongoing eruptions on Indonesia's Java Island increased sharply following a powerful earthquake, and the increased activity persisted for about nine days.
Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks have discovered a correlation between lightning and volcanic eruptions. The study, published in Science journal, used electromagnetic lightning detectors to capture electrical activity during Mount Augustine's 2006 eruption, providing new insights into volcanic behavior.
A new study reveals that Yellowstone's volcanic hotspot is much more active than previously believed, exerting powerful forces on the surrounding terrain even between eruptions. The hotspot's effects are evident in the deformation of Earth's crust, with the Yellowstone caldera rising at an unprecedented rate.
Researchers used satellite imagery meshed with video-game technology to trace the movements of ancient people in present-day Costa Rica, who reused single-file paths for over 1,000 years. The project revealed that villagers viewed footpaths as 'living entities' and reoccupied them after devastating eruptions.
A recent study found that Iceland's Laki volcanic event significantly changed atmospheric circulations, causing unusual temperature and precipitation patterns that peaked in the summer of 1783. This resulted in record low river levels on the Nile River for up to a year due to reduced evaporation and increased temperatures.
Two studies by researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford found that volcanic gases released during eruptions accelerate reactions leading to ozone destruction. The eruptions can destroy ozone and create localised 'holes' in the stratosphere, with even small eruptions having a significant impact.
Rapid crystallization of magma near the surface causes it to heat up, potentially triggering volcanic eruptions. The study's findings have important implications for models of magma ascent beneath volcanoes.