Articles tagged with Volcanoes
Researchers discovered that a volcano's eruption can clean up methane pollution by breaking it down into formaldehyde. The phenomenon could potentially be key to slowing global warming and has implications for reducing methane emissions.
The team analyzed LHS 3844 b's infrared radiation, finding it doesn't match Earth-like silicate-rich minerals. Instead, the spectrum suggests a dark, rocky surface composed of basaltic or magmatic minerals, possibly with a recently active geological history.
The study found that Methana volcano's magma chambers held steady amounts of magma for over 100,000 years, with intense activity peaking during zircon growth. This challenges the assumption that a prolonged period of volcanic silence means a volcano is extinct.
A unique machine learning study identified over 60,000 earthquakes during the 2025 Santorini seismic crisis. The researchers found six times more earthquakes in the first 30 days compared to traditional monitoring, providing insights into fault networks and magma movement.
A Swiss-Italian team has discovered a vast magma reservoir containing approximately 6,000 km³ beneath Tuscany, which poses no threat to the region. The study uses ambient noise tomography to locate resources such as geothermal reservoirs, lithium, and rare earth elements.
Researchers at the University of Lausanne uncover a breakthrough in understanding Mount Etna's origin, suggesting that the volcano may have formed through a mechanism similar to petit-spot submarine volcanoes. This discovery opens up new perspectives for understanding how other volcanic systems may form around the world.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo have discovered a link between tropical volcanic eruptions and droughts in Asia. The study found that large eruptions can suppress monsoon convection, leading to reduced precipitation and droughts.
Researchers at Kobe University have discovered a region beneath the Kikai caldera in Japan that is filled with magma, which they believe is newly injected magma. This finding allows them to propose a general model for how magma reservoirs under caldera volcanoes refill, potentially improving our ability to predict future giant eruptions.
A new study reveals that volcanic eruptions can trigger rainfall patterns similar to those produced by natural climate variability, effectively 'projecting' their influence onto the ocean-driven cycles. The research identifies a complex interplay between natural climate phenomena and volcanic forcing, with implications for climate inte...
Scientists detected statistically significant changes in global atmospheric temperatures in response to three major natural events: Mount Pinatubo, Australian wildfires, and Hunga Tonga eruption. The study's findings suggest that these events may not have played a role in the acceleration of global surface warming in recent years.
The University of Washington's STRIVE team will examine the atmosphere where weather forms, while the EDGE team will study the three-dimensional structure of the Earth's surface. These satellite missions aim to provide new insights into temperature, trace gases, and air pollution.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake on the Island of Hawaiʻi in 2018 may have stalled episodes of periodic slow slip along a major fault underlying the volcano, according to scientists. The resulting 'stress shadow' could keep these events from happening again for decades.
Researchers have developed a new detection method called 'Jerk' that can identify extremely subtle ground movements as precursors of volcanic eruptions. The method was tested at a volcano observatory on La Réunion island and predicted 92% of eruptions between 2014 and 2023, with warning times ranging from minutes to hours.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth have discovered a method to increase muon lifetime using intense laser pulses. By applying quantum interference principles, they aim to develop new scientific facilities that utilize muons instead of electrons.
Research reveals that single-celled organisms are among the first to colonize newly formed lava environments, thriving in scarce water and nutrient conditions. As diversity stabilizes over time, rainwater plays a critical role in shaping microbial communities, suggesting an unexpected link between weather phenomena and life on Earth.
Recent research reveals that volcanic eruptions can cause unpredictable weather patterns, including volcanic rain, dust storms, and unstable Antarctic air. The study also found that the Antarctic surface atmosphere has become less stable and more prone to gravity waves since the 1950s.
MIT researchers analyzed a recently discovered Pompeii construction site to shed new light on ancient Roman concrete, which has endured for thousands of years. They found that hot-mixing was indeed used by the Romans, contradicting ancient texts and providing valuable insights into a material with self-healing properties.
A study suggests that volcanic activity around 1345 CE led to crop failures and famine in southern Europe, prompting Italian city states to import grain shipments from the Black Sea region contaminated with Yersinia pestis. This grain trade may have exacerbated the spread of the plague across Europe.
Shear forces in volcanic conduits can create gas bubbles, leading to a decrease in pressure and preventing explosive eruptions. This process can occur even in magma with high gas content, explaining why some volcanoes flow gently despite being potentially explosive.
A team of researchers has identified a new mechanism behind the 2025 Santorini earthquakes, finding that magma intrusion waves triggered the seismic unrest. The study used advanced machine learning techniques to analyze ground vibrations recorded by seismometers and inferred the movement of pressurized magma with unprecedented detail.
Researchers found that Kīlauea's magma system started behaving anomalously about a year before the 2018 eruption, suggesting a blockage formed between the volcano's summit magma reservoirs. Continuous monitoring data accumulated, gaining insights into Kīlauea's inner workings and its long-term behavior.
Scientists have detected tremor signals at the Oldoinyo Lengai volcano in Tanzania, revealing details about magma movement and volcanic activity. The findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of magma movement and offer a step forward for volcano seismology.
An earthquake swarm in Santorini was triggered by magma displacement, generating over 28,000 recorded earthquakes. The study reveals the chain of events that led to this seismic activity, including a hydraulic connection between two volcanoes.
A team from UNIGE and INGV created a high-resolution 3D image of Vulcano's internal structure using seismic ambient noise tomography and AI. This breakthrough understanding of volcanic structures may lead to more accurate predictions and evacuation plans.
A 2.35-billion-year-old meteorite offers fresh insights into the Moon's volcanic history and suggests ongoing internal heat generation processes. The rock's distinct composition provides new constraints on when and how volcanic activity occurred on the Moon.
Researchers found that thick ice cover suppressed volcanic eruptions, but as glacial ice melts, pressure builds and magma is released, leading to more frequent and explosive eruptions. This phenomenon could occur worldwide, including Antarctica, and may have global climate impacts, including long-term warming.
Research at the University of Southampton reveals a single, asymmetric plume beneath the Afar region in Ethiopia, which is pulsing like a heartbeat. The team found distinct chemical signatures in volcanic rock samples, suggesting that the plume is dynamic and responsive to tectonic plate movement.
Researchers developed a model to explain and predict stealthy eruptions at Veniaminof, Alaska, by identifying key internal conditions such as low magma supply and warm host rock. The study suggests that volcanoes with small, warm reservoirs and slow magma flows are most likely to produce surprise eruptions.
Scientists from the University of Göttingen have made a groundbreaking discovery, finding ruthenium in volcanic rocks on the islands of Hawaii. The finding suggests that material from the Earth's core is leaking into the mantle above, challenging previous assumptions about the planet's internal dynamics.
The 'Isle of Fire' video series, developed by Time for Geography, provides a 50-year perspective on the 1973 Heimaey eruption and its impact on volcanic hazard management. The series features cutting-edge techniques in eruption reconstruction and forecasting, as well as modern management strategies.
Researchers studied corona features on Venus' surface, finding signs of tectonic activity and buoyant mantle material beneath them. This discovery suggests ongoing processes driving coronae formation, potentially similar to Earth's past.
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a way to reduce fluid pressure in the geothermal reservoir under Campi Flegrei, leading to earthquakes. By managing surface runoff and water flow, they aim to prevent cyclic unrest altogether.
A new study has investigated seismic signal shear-wave splitting to provide early warnings of dangerous eruptions. The research team discovered that the amount of splitting doubles before a larger, more explosive eruption, indicating a useful relationship between the parameter and the size of the eruption.
Geologists have connected a 120-million-year-old 'super-eruption' to its source, revealing insights into Earth's complex geological history. The discovery provides a more complete history of the Pacific Ocean basin and sheds light on volcanic activity in the region.
Researchers from China, UK, and USA collaborated to study Uturuncu volcano's 'zombie' behavior, finding that movement of liquid and gas beneath the crater is the cause of unrest. The risk of an imminent eruption is considered low, alleviating fears for local populations.
Researchers found that melting ice sheets in North America and Greenland may have increased horizontal motion of plates by 25% and up to 40% at the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Ridge. This could lead to an increase in volcanic eruptions in Iceland.
A new UCLA-led study reveals that the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai volcano eruption in 2022 actually cooled the Southern Hemisphere by 0.1 C due to the formation of smaller sulfate aerosols. This effect was more significant than initially thought and challenges geoengineering efforts to combat climate change.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis propose a new mechanism to explain Venus' geology: convection in the crust. If true, this process could influence volcano placement and type. High-resolution gravity measurements could detect differences in crust temperature and density.
Scientists have discovered that channels carved by rivers have distinct curves compared to those cut by lava or ice. The research could be used as a diagnostic tool for sinuous channels on other worlds with unknown fluid origins.
Researchers have discovered persistent and large magma bodies beneath dormant volcanoes in the Cascade Range, surprising scientists. The team used seismic waves to identify these magma chambers, which exist beneath volcanoes over their entire lifetime, not just during active eruptions.
Borealis Mud Volcano provides a hard substrate for various species like anemones and octocoral colonies, sustaining local fish populations. The volcano's carbonates also offer shelter and feeding opportunities.
Researchers have discovered that Kīlauea and Maunaloa, Hawai‘i's two most active volcanoes, share a common source of magma within the Hawaiian plume. This magmatic connection results in broad correlations between changes in their lava chemistry.
Researchers found a correlation between silica content and volcano tremor strength, suggesting that more viscous magma causes increased tremor amplitude. The study highlights the potential of combining petrological data collection with geophysical data to improve eruption forecasting.
The Juno mission has discovered that Io's volcanoes are likely fueled by their own chambers of roiling hot magma rather than an ocean of magma. This finding solves a long-standing mystery about the moon's subsurface origins and provides new insights into Io's volcanic activity.
Volcanologists' unique skillset can help urban governments customize lessons learned globally to address specific geographic, demographic, and economic challenges. By applying global knowledge to individual scenarios, cities can prepare for increasingly dangerous climate perils.
The expedition aims to understand how extreme geohazards interact and improve the long-term safety of coastal regions. Researchers use innovative technologies to collect real-time data on earthquakes, ground movements, and volcanic gases.
The study discovered significant alterations in the region's state of stress and deformation following the 1975 Kalapana earthquake. The researchers found that Kīlauea's south flank experienced greater displacement prior to the earthquake, pointing to changes in mechanical properties influencing seismic activity.
Glaciers within three miles of a volcano move 46% faster than average, according to a new study that analyzed velocity data from 85% of the world's glaciers. This increased melt reduces friction between the glacier and the underlying rock, resulting in faster glacier flow.
Researchers propose that a fracture in oceanic crust beneath the volcano's caldera wall caused the massive January 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai. A seismic wave detected 750 kilometers from the seamount may provide valuable early warning signals for impending eruptions.
A Rutgers-led study reveals that ancient volcanoes continued to emit carbon dioxide from deep beneath the Earth's surface, contributing to prolonged climate warming during key moments in Earth's history. This 'cryptic carbon' was found to have lasted millions of years after surface eruptions had ceased.
Researchers analyzed crystals in volcanic rocks to show that South Sister was historically active with greater intensity over a shorter time window than previously believed. The study reveals two distinct periods of eruptions from different sources, providing insights into the volcano's past activity and potential future risks.
Researchers have discovered that iron-rich extinct volcanoes are up to 100 times more efficient at concentrating rare earth metals than active volcanoes. This finding suggests that these ancient volcanoes could be studied for their potential to contain rare earth elements, which are crucial for renewable energy technologies.
Astronomers at Cornell University studied Io's volcanoes to understand tidal heating and its role in planetary formation. They found active volcanoes at the poles, which may regulate tidal heating and provide insight into the moon's internal structure.
Researchers from CNRS and Paris Institute of Planetary Physics developed an innovative imaging method to probe volcano internal structure. The study revealed a large magma storage zone beneath La Soufriere volcano, providing greater anticipation for volcanic eruptions.
A new volcano has been discovered on Jupiter's moon Io through analysis of JunoCam images, featuring multiple lava flows and volcanic deposits. The volcano is located just south of the equator and showcases the moon's ongoing geological activity.
A recent study found that volcanic 'fires' in Iceland were triggered by the storage and melting of magma beneath the Earth's crust. The team used geochemical analysis to discover that the magma comes from underground melting of the crust, rather than directly from the mantle.
A new automated system of monitoring and classifying persistent vibrations at active volcanoes can eliminate hours of manual effort. The system, based on machine learning, documents volcanic tremor, a continuous seismic signal indicating underground movement of magma or gas.
Researchers from the Mann Research Group found strong path dependence in Plio-Pleistocene glaciations, driven by a gradual decrease in regolith and volcanic outgassing. The study suggests that carbon dioxide levels determine the onset of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, and that it's not too late to act to prevent ice sheet collapse.
Researchers analyzed a 17-minute film of the eruption to understand how the ash cloud grew upwards and outwards. They calculated the eruption rate, which determines ash cloud extent, and found that it dropped by about half during the eruption.
Researchers developed a portable device to measure lava viscosity, providing crucial data for evacuation plans and damage assessment. The tool's accuracy allows for better models of lava movement, enabling authorities to respond more effectively.