Articles tagged with Volcanoes
Scientists have re-examined Hawaii's formation, finding the Pacific oceanic plate moved under a drifting hotspot, creating a 50 million-year-old bend in the seamount chain. Mantel circulation models aid understanding of forces on tectonic plates and stress estimation for major earthquakes.
A new study reveals that dust storms and volcanic eruptions have a significant impact on the Atlantic Ocean's temperature. The researchers used satellite data and climate models to find that changes in African dust storm and tropical volcano activity account for about two-thirds of the upward trend in recent decades.
A team of volcanologists developed a new program to quickly and accurately predict areas at high risk for lethal hazards from volcanic eruptions. The program uses existing GIS data to create maps that outline potential surge damage, enabling decision-makers to evacuate or put people on high alert.
Three Alaska volcanoes erupted in midsummer 2008, with Cleveland, Okmok, and Kasatochi volcanoes making significant changes to the landscape. Researchers from the Alaska Volcano Observatory shared their findings on recent eruptions at the American Geophysical Union's fall meeting.
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.
A linear string of mud pots and volcanoes indicates a surface evidence for the southern extension of the San Andreas Fault. Researchers identified 33 geothermal features forming a clear pattern, revealing a planar rift extending to considerable depth in the crust.
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.
Researchers found pyroclastic deposits, glassy rock fragments, and talus blocks at 4,000 meters below sea surface. The discovery suggests that deep-sea volcanic eruptions are possible due to high CO2 buildup in magma.
The world's fastest-growing mud volcano, Lusi, is collapsing and could subside to depths of over 140 meters, according to new research from Durham University. The volcano, which erupted in 2006, has caused significant damage and displacement, with 14 people killed and 30,000 evacuated.
Scientists from Durham University are exploring the Mid-Atlantic Ridge tectonic plate boundary using robots to map individual volcanoes and collect rock samples. The research aims to shed light on the timescales behind Earth's crust formation and related tectonic plates.
A new seismic model reveals that earthquakes at Mount St. Helens are caused by a resonating fluid-filled crack filled with steam, driving a small explosive eruption if the pattern is disturbed. This finding challenges the previous stick-slip model and provides a more detailed understanding of the volcano's behavior.
Geologists at the University of Illinois report a direct relationship between magma production and tectonic plate convergence rates in a Caribbean submarine volcano. Analyzing rock samples from Kick'em Jenny, they found a higher protactinium-to-uranium ratio indicative of slower melting rates due to slow subduction rates.
The emergence of oxygen-producing cyanobacteria released oxygen at levels similar to today, but it had nowhere to go. Terrestrial volcanoes later arose and dominated, increasing oxygen levels in the atmosphere.
A geologist is working with an international committee to develop an emergency plan for Quito, Ecuador, which sits near an active volcano. The plan aims to educate the public and government officials on the dangers of volcanic eruptions and provide escape routes.
A new study uses satellite imagery to detect location of seismic unrest at Mauna Loa, bringing closer understanding of where an eruption may occur. Researchers can now more precisely forecast locations of volcanic activity, providing critical information for populated areas.
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 at Rutgers University have found chemical evidence of recycled rocks in Hawaiian volcanoes, suggesting the Earth's crust is being recycled on a grand scale. This discovery extends beyond calcium and includes other elements such as sulfur, hafnium, and lead, which provide clues about the origin and behavior of magma.
A team of researchers found that earthquake swarms can occur anywhere with seismic activity, challenging the long-held assumption that they are only linked to volcanic and geothermal zones. The study suggests that swarminess in these areas may be driven by hot water or magma pushing fault seams apart.
Geologists at Rutgers University have created three hands-on demonstrations to explain how volcanoes form and evolve. These interactive activities captivate kids while providing a solid foundation for studying earth science in high school. The demos show the actual forces that caused Mt. St. Helens and Kilauea eruptions.
Researchers observed eruptive activity at Northwest Rota-1 for three separate visits over two years, suggesting chronic eruptions. They used an underwater robot to observe explosive activity from 10 feet away, gaining clearer insights than possible on land.
A large and fast-moving lava flow is pouring into the sea on Montagu Island, extending the shoreline on its north side. The event is special because it's rare to observe eruptions under ice sheets, providing unique insights for researchers like Dr John Smellie.
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 are exploring muon radiography to detect hidden burial chambers in the Pyramid of the Sun, track volcanic eruption potential, and identify illicit nuclear materials. The method involves tracking muons passing through objects, allowing for non-invasive detection with minimal radiation exposure.
Scripps scientists challenge conventional theory on seamount chain formation by finding that hot spot chains can change direction due to processes unrelated to plate motion. The study provides new insights into the dynamics of the earth's interior and suggests alternative explanations for seamount patterns.
The CALIPSO project is the first volcano monitoring system of its type installed at an andesitic volcano. By comparing measurements with a computer model, researchers can understand what's happening beneath the surface. The goal is to measure magma reservoir size, magma inflow, and magma characteristics.
Researchers challenge traditional views on volcano eruptions, finding evidence that giant eruptions are significantly less likely than previously thought. They discovered that plutons, which form beneath volcanoes, are built by small molten intrusions over millions of years.
Researchers have identified a new class of ocean ridges with unique characteristics that challenge current understanding of plate tectonics and sea floor formation. These ultraslow spreading ridges may harbor significant mineral deposits, including copper and zinc, and provide insights into the Earth's mantle.
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 found that the Hawaiian hotspot drifted southward between 47-81 million years ago, contradicting the traditional stationary plume theory. This discovery sheds light on terrestrial dynamics and raises fundamental questions about the mantle's role in controlling plate motions.
Researchers DePaolo and Manga argue that mantle plumes are the primary cause of volcanic activity on Earth. They cite strong evidence from Hawaii and other hotspots, including rapid magma movement and unique chemical signatures. The debate highlights the importance of understanding plume origins for connecting seismology and geochemistry.
Professor Phil Gans predicts that volcanic eruptions in Costa Rica are 'inevitable' and could lead to devastating pyroclastic flows. He studied volcanic rocks and found evidence of subduction-related volcanism dating back 24 million years, with major eruptions occurring every few thousand years.
Researchers confirm previous detection of chlorine in Io's plasma torus and model the breakdown of salt into sodium and chlorine atoms, providing insights into Io's volcanic activity and its potential meteoritic origins.
University of Cincinnati geology graduate student Keri Craven investigates how Hawaiian volcanoes age by analyzing rock samples and applying computer models. Her research suggests that the weight of the volcano may drive its aging process.
Researchers discover that the Earth's magnetic field remained stable during a superchron period 95 million years ago, suggesting a single mechanism governs the field. The study also indicates that humanity may face a surprise in the future with possible pole reversals within centuries.
A geologist's study suggests that melting ocean crust under volcanoes can create rich mineral deposits, such as gold and copper. The research provides new insights into the formation of these deposits, which could help identify regions with high potential for mining.
Researchers discovered that nitrogen is quickly recycled through subduction zones in Central American volcanoes. Contrary to expectations, the study found that nitrogen gas was driven down deep into the subduction zone before rising back to Earth's surface in Guatemalan volcano systems.
Researcher Michele L. Aldrich found that Dickinson's poetry incorporated geological terms, indicating an influence from her education at Amherst Academy and Mount Holyoke College. This study aims to encourage students interested in geology to explore the subject through literary examples like Dickinson's poems.
Researchers have found a massive magma reservoir beneath Mt. Vesuvius in Italy, extending over 400 square kilometers and eight kilometers deep. The reservoir is thought to be a zone of neutral buoyancy, where the magma floats in a trapped layer, and may hold clues to future eruptions.
Geologists have found no evidence of impact-induced volcanism on other heavily-impacted planets in our solar system, according to new research by Jay Melosh. The study also provides a theoretical analysis of the conditions created by a large impact on Earth, contradicting a widely-held idea.
A new study simulates the Atlantic Ocean floor's movement over millions of years, predicting that it will plunge beneath the North American continent. The process is expected to take around three million years, triggered by water seeping into offshore rock and making it softer.
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 have solved a long-standing volcanic mystery by finding a tear in the Pacific Plate, leading to the melting of cold slab material and altering its chemical makeup. This discovery sheds new light on the formation of adakites, a type of lava found in various parts of the globe.
Scientists warn that living near active volcanic systems poses a significant risk due to unpredictability. Researchers are working to develop predictive models to mitigate the threat of volcanic eruptions, with some areas like Yellowstone and Long Valley Caldera still considered active systems.
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.
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 at the University of Illinois found a cyclic contribution to global temperature change that may be masking human effects. The residual factor, which occurs over a 65-70 year period, periodically warms and cools the atmosphere, sometimes counteracting the greenhouse effect.
Scientists analyze melt inclusions in Hawaiian crystals, finding highly unusual trace-element contents that match a specific rock type. The study confirms a giant recycling process where ancient oceanic crust is melted and re-formed in the Earth's mantle.
The NASA space shuttle Endeavour will gather information key to the University of Hawaii's research on the aftermath of volcanic eruptions. The mission aims to provide more extensive topographic data on volcanoes, including Mount Pinatubo, using advanced radar interferometry.
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.
The University of Hawai'i computer system uses Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) to detect heat from fires on the ground, providing early warnings for forest services. The system has been tested in Southern California and will soon monitor fires across the West Coast, including California, Oregon, and Washington.
A new theory proposes that some of the carbon in diamonds originates from supernovae explosions and meteorites, rather than organic materials. This idea is supported by the antiquity of diamonds and similarities in carbon isotopic ratios to those found in meteorites.
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 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.
Volcanologists at the University at Buffalo have developed a method to analyze satellite data and identify weak spots on a volcano's surface. By interpreting the data, they can determine properties such as water or iron-bearing minerals that contribute to weakening of the volcanic structure.
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.
Scientists are using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology to study subtle phenomena such as volcano deformations before eruptions and gradual buildup of stress over years. SAR is also being used to map the flow of ice sheets and glaciers, and gather data on land subsidence issues related to fluid withdrawal.