Articles tagged with Volcanic Eruptions
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Vilama Caldera's 8.4 million-year-old mega eruption is considered one of the world's largest known eruptions, emitting approximately 2000 cubic kilometers of pyroclastic material. The size and volume of the associated caldera put it among the world's largest known eruptions, differing from Yellowstone's three cataclysmic events.
Scientists at the University of Illinois discovered a newly recognized hazard in rare volcanic eruptions, characterized by wavy and scalloped umbrellas. The unusual plume behavior, fueled by steam and ash, could lead to unexpected and dangerous ash flows that spread rapidly over surrounding areas.
Researchers used a new atmospheric model to quantify man-made and natural influences on the stratosphere's cooling trend over the past 25 years. The study suggests that increasing greenhouse gases will likely cool the stratosphere in the next century, with important implications for ozone hole recovery.
New research shows that volcanic eruptions far north of the equator affect the world's climate differently than volcanoes in the tropics. The study focused on Mount Katmai's eruption in June 1912, finding it had a significant cooling effect during summer months.
Researchers found that volcanic aerosol particles and sulfuric acid reduce methane production in wetlands, leading to a cooling effect. This mechanism may have played a role in past climate changes, with potential impacts on modern Earth's atmosphere.
Penn State researchers are using neutron activation analysis to measure gold in tree rings and link them to volcanic eruptions. By analyzing the rings' chemical composition, they can identify patterns and correlations with known volcanic events.
A Bonn study calculates that greenhouse gases are responsible for just under half of global warming since 1880, with natural factors accounting for the remaining half. The researchers used 30 different climate models to reach this conclusion, which they believe will continue to worsen even after the Kyoto Protocol is implemented.
Scientists studying Pinatubo's rivers found that some have not recovered to stable channels, necessary for aquatic species and ecological recovery. The high amount of sediment remains a threat to human settlements, posing risks of flooding and loss of life.
Researchers discovered that the oldest Toba eruption, 788,000 years ago, may have triggered a glacial period rather than contributing to it. The study suggests that factors other than volcanism played a more significant role in governing glacial to interglacial transitions over the last 3 million years.
Researchers challenge traditional explanations for explosive eruptions, suggesting that continuous fragmentation of magma can prevent explosive releases. This theory helps explain the difference in water content between effusive and explosive lava flows.
Researchers have found that volcanic eruptions in the tropics may play a significant role in triggering El Niño events, with a nearly one-in-two chance of occurrence after an eruption. The study used paleoclimate records to reconstruct volcanic activity and El Niño events over a 350-year period.
Researchers deployed to Anatahan island to collect samples of gas, ash, pumice, and lava to study the early emissions and gases from the volcano. The samples will help determine the hazards of this eruption and provide critical clues about the possible behavior of Anatahan over the next few weeks and months.
A NASA study clarifies the effect of strong volcanic eruptions on climate, particularly in the Arctic region. The research finds that tropospheric temperature change plays a significant role in strengthening the Arctic Oscillation.
Scientists found that magma could reach speeds of 200-600 mph, filling parts of the repository within hours. This could displace radioactive canisters and cause extensive damage.
The Pinatubo eruption validated computer-generated climate models demonstrating human-caused global warming. The sulfuric acid cloud altered winds and weather patterns, causing cooler summers and warmer winters worldwide.
Researchers studied the 1883 Krakatau eruption's tsunamis, identifying distinctive pumice deposits that provide clues to the source of volcanic material. The analysis helps scientists interpret coastal deposits in areas of active explosive volcanism and assess volcanic hazards.
A Temple University geologist and his team were visiting Mt. Etna when they received word of an impending eruption, which was predicted to the minute. The team had been working on a sensor that measures gas composition to predict eruptions, and their prediction marked a potential breakthrough in volcanic prediction.
Scientists from University of Wisconsin-Madison propose new model for origin of volcanism in young calderas, suggesting high probability of future catastrophic eruption. Tiny crystals of zircon and quartz harbor geochemical clues to past and future volcanic eruptions, including massive explosions that could disrupt global climate.
Researchers at Stanford University are working on a permanent worldwide volcano early-warning network, utilizing advances in technology and communication to revolutionize volcanology. Tiny movements on the surface of a volcano often indicate magma build-up below, which can be detected by radar satellites orbiting the Earth.
Massive sheets of lava produced by flood basalt eruptions generated intense heat, pushing ash and gas into the upper atmosphere and causing dramatic global-scale climate shifts. These events are now believed to have contributed to mass extinctions, including those that wiped out dinosaurs.
A team of Stanford geophysicists used satellite radar images to detect rising volcanoes in the Galápagos Islands, a sign that they may erupt soon. The study found four out of six volcanoes on Isabela Island had risen in size over a seven-year period.
Researchers have discovered chemical deposits from 1815 Tambora and 1883 Krakatau eruptions in a Wyoming ice core, providing a unique insight into past climatic changes. The analysis indicates that major shifts in climate can occur on a 10-year scale, raising concerns about potential future climatic changes.
UB scientists discovered that soft spots on volcanoes can collapse and trigger devastating mudflows that can travel up to 80 miles. The research highlights the danger of older volcanoes with hydrothermal fluids, which change rock structure and make them more vulnerable to collapse.
Researchers found that Montserrat's volcanic ash contains high concentrations of cristobalite, a mineral linked to lung disease silicosis. The study suggests that living near the volcano poses a health risk, and future studies aim to determine acceptable levels of exposure.
Researchers monitored the Soufriere Hills Volcano's cyclic eruptions to understand mechanisms behind them. They identified cyclical events nearly so well as no one before and made predictions on eruption timing and areas affected, saving lives through evacuation efforts.
A new study confirms that magma is forcing Long Valley Caldera to rise, which could lead to a volcanic eruption in the future. The researchers used precise gravity measurements to distinguish between magma and water, finding a systematic increase in mass beneath the resurgent dome.
A new study reveals that glaciers prompted volcanic eruptions after they retreated north over the past 800,000 years. The research found that volcanoes were subdued when glaciers were present and became active when they retreated, suggesting a possible connection between climate change and volcanic activity.
A team of researchers has predicted that a major industrial town in Mexico could be destroyed by rapid volcanic mudflows within the next decade. The study used a mathematical model developed by the US Geological Survey to calculate the potential risks, finding that even small mudflows would have devastating effects.
Researchers at Carnegie Institution's Department of Terrestrial Magnetism discovered a statistically significant correlation between large magnitude earthquakes (M7.0+) and volcanic eruptions separated by up to 750 km, suggesting potential predictive capabilities for monitoring small deformations in active volcanoes.
Geologist Attila Kilinc proposes a new model to explain the forces behind explosive eruptions on Montserrat, citing the oxidation state of magma. The model suggests that mixing hotter and cooler magma leads to water formation, triggering an eruption. Further development of a detection system is needed to accurately predict eruptions.
Drilling in the Caribbean Basin uncovered evidence of massive volcanic eruptions 55 million years ago, which triggered a dramatic climatic change and rapid ocean water inversion. This led to the release of sea floor methane into the atmosphere, causing global warming and speeding evolution of new species.
Researchers caught Kilauea's erupting volcano in a net by analyzing GPS data, revealing the ground stretching and expanding before the rift opened. The team predicts that future analysis of similar events could enable quick warnings for lava flows, allowing people to evacuate in time.
Researchers find parallels between Mount St. Helens' recovery and the Indonesian volcano Krakatau's transformation from a devastated island to a thriving tropical rainforest. Plants establish a stable surface, holding back water and nutrients, allowing for gradual growth and revegetation. This process is key to understanding the renewa...
A graduate student's daily satellite inspection spotted the eruption, providing an early warning system. The discovery also triggered a computerized ash-plume tracking model to forecast the ash cloud's movement and issue alerts to airlines.
A $1.5 million seismic network around Kilauea Volcano will help scientists make more accurate predictions about when volcanoes will erupt and determine potential hazards in nearby areas. The network, which contains 116 stations, is designed to understand the physical characteristics of earthquakes associated with eruptions.