Articles tagged with Volcanology
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.
Researchers used machine learning algorithms to analyze satellite data, combining public and private sources to predict lava flow patterns. The study's findings can aid in early warning systems for volcanic eruptions, providing critical information for safety and analysis.
Researchers discovered a massive magma intrusion on São Jorge Island in the Azores, which stalled just 1.6km below the surface, avoiding an eruption. The study used seismometers and satellite data to reconstruct the underground movement of magma, revealing how it rose through a main fault system.
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.
Researchers used a novel technique to analyze millions of individual particles in Antarctic ice cores, revealing common dust sources during the last Ice Age. The study highlights the importance of atmospheric circulation changes and provides insights into ancient climate systems and potential future environmental shifts.
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.
A research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a comprehensive model simulating the present-day dynamics of western North America's lithosphere and convecting mantle. The study reveals that magma beneath supervolcanoes originates in the shallow asthenosphere, challenging traditional hypotheses about magma generation.
Research suggests that hydrous and repeated mantle melting is key driver of gold enrichment in island arc magmas. The study found that high-degree melting leads to significant concentrations of gold, often several times higher than those found in mid-ocean ridge basalts.
Researchers drilled into magma beneath an active volcano and found that gas escapes within five minutes during drilling. This allows them to reconstruct the original conditions and gain insights into the behavior of magma. The findings can improve the safety of geothermal fields on active volcanoes and pave the way for targeted drilling.
A recent study combines two modelling approaches to capture the seismicity associated with land uplift and earthquake swarms in the Phlegraean Fields. The model explains long-term trends in earthquake activity by combining changes in stress within the Earth's crust with friction behaviour of geological faults.
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.
Researchers analyzed magnetic properties of volcanic rocks in Colombia to uncover a new timeline for the Americas' collision. The results suggest that major crustal shortening occurred mainly during Oligocene-middle Miocene, with tectonic deformation weakening over time.
A large-scale measurement campaign with over 500 seismic stations has produced the first high-resolution image of the structures beneath the Eifel volcanoes. The data reveals a magma reservoir deeper and differently oriented than previously assumed, with surprising findings on recent microearthquakes and fluid accumulations in the crust.
Researchers found a link between mid-14th-century volcanic activity and the start of the Black Death, which killed millions across Europe. The study suggests that climate-driven trade changes carried the deadly bacterium Yersinia pestis, leading to widespread devastation.
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.
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 discovered how continents are slowly peeled from beneath the Earth's surface, stripping material that fuels volcanic eruptions over tens of millions of years. This phenomenon, known as a 'mantle wave,' explains why ocean islands contain materials distinctively continental, despite being found in the middle of oceans.
Madison Myers, an associate professor at Montana State University, has been recognized by the Geological Society of America for her contributions to volcanic field-based work. Her research focuses on monitoring Yellowstone's volcano, with a particular emphasis on effective communication of science to the public.
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.
A new tool developed by Christelle Wauthier can help forecast collapse of volcano sides, also known as flanks or slopes. The models can evaluate the potential for collapse long before ground may give way entirely and suddenly, allowing local authorities and communities to prepare and evacuate ahead of a collapse.
Researchers from Perugia University explore how machine learning can aid in earlier hazard detection and improved risk communication. However, they caution that ML tools must be used responsibly and transparently to ensure accurate predictions and avoid potential pitfalls.
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.
Researchers found that differences in tectonic plate thickness explain the extensive volcanism. Thinner lithosphere funneled hot plume material, causing uplift and volcanic activity. The study sheds light on global significance of the Iceland Plume.
Researchers at Princeton University found that major tropical eruptions create distinct flooding patterns depending on plume location and dispersal. The patterns mostly divide along the line of the equator, with increased rainfall in the tropics in one hemisphere and decreased flooding.
Researchers analyzed atmospheric pressure waves from a massive South Pacific volcanic eruption to determine the speed of seismic waves in Alaska's upper crust. The study provided valuable information on subsurface material properties, such as hardness, which controls seismic velocity.
Researchers used tiny crystal clots to analyze pressure changes before the 2006 Augustine Volcano eruption, which increased pressure enough to break rocks and cause the eruption. The method complements geophysical modeling, increasing understanding of magmatic processes.
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.
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.
Researchers precisely mapped how magma storage changes as Hawaiian volcanoes age, revealing new insights into the volcanic pluming system. The study found that magma flow diminishes and shifts deeper underground as volcanoes move away from a heat-rich hotspot.
A collaborative research project led by Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz aims to understand the impact of thermally induced fracture formation on mineral rock properties. The study will help reduce associated risks and improve geothermal energy's efficiency.
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.
A new study reveals the extreme vulnerability of young volcanic soils to wildfires in the Arequipa shrublands of Peru. The research found that vegetation and soil combustion, combined with post-fire erosion, have caused a severe loss of soil organic carbon, hindering ecosystem recovery.
Researchers from Niigata University conducted indoor analog experiments to simulate rootless cone formation on Earth and its similarity to Martian formations. They found that conduit competition significantly influences rootless cone spatial distribution, aligning with observations on Mars.
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 found inorganic nanostructures surrounding deep-ocean hydrothermal vents that mimic molecules essential for life. These structures can harness energy and convert it into electricity, sparking interest in applying this technology to industrial blue-energy harvesting.
A recent study published in Terra Nova suggests that Iceland's Reykanes Peninsula will experience recurring, moderately sized volcanic eruptions due to interconnected magma plumbing system. The eruptions pose significant risks to local populations and critical infrastructure.
Researchers found a link between ancient ocean oxygen depletion and the massive extinction of marine species during the Jurassic Period. The study provides insights into how human-made carbon emissions may lead to similar extinctions in the future.
Researchers found that historically low volcanic carbon dioxide emissions, combined with weathering of a large pile of volcanic rocks in Canada, led to the prolonged Sturtian glaciation. The team used plate tectonic modeling and computer simulations to investigate the cause and duration of this ice age.
A Brazilian researcher led a team that described a rare medusa, Santjordia pagesi, discovered at a depth of 812 meters in the Sumisu Caldera. The species has a unique bright red stomach and may possess an arsenal of venoms unlike those discovered to date.
A team of researchers, led by UCD's Dr. Claire Harnett, has won a prestigious ERC Synergy grant to explore ways to predict and mitigate the hazards of unexpected volcanic eruptions. The project aims to advance knowledge of volcanic processes and integrate multiple scientific disciplines.
Researchers used seismic data to locate and identify a thin layer of molten silicates overlying Mars' metallic core. The discovery reveals a denser and smaller Martian core, aligning with other geophysical data and analysis of Martian meteorites. This finding provides new insights into how Mars formed, evolved, and became a barren planet.
Researchers linked chemical changes in seawater to volcanic activity and climate change, with a 7-fold decrease in lithium concentration over the past 150 million years. This shift is attributed to reduced seafloor hydrothermal activity, influenced by tectonic plate movements.
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.
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.
The InVADER Mission successfully deployed a high-tech laser laboratory on the ocean floor, marking a paradigm shift in ocean research and exploration. The Laser Divebot collects compositional data without disturbing the environment, removing the need for physical samples.
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 previously unidentified marine reptile fossil from Svalbard has been classified using X-ray analysis, providing unique insights into ancient life in the Norwegian archipelago. The study's findings suggest that fossils from this formation are particularly well-suited for radiographic imaging due to the presence of sulfur minerals.
New research from Rice University suggests that ancient microorganisms helped cause massive volcanic events by facilitating the precipitation of minerals in banded iron formations. The study provides insight into processes that could produce habitable exoplanets and reframes scientists' understanding of Earth's early history.
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.
A new study analyzes volcanic rock samples collected in the 1980s to explain the geologic histories of Fiji and Vanuatu. The research attributes their current locations to subduction of the Samoan Seamount Chain, which caused a double-saloon door tectonic event leading to their separation.
The expansion of forests in Central Europe, circa 11,000 years ago, led to the decline and eventual extinction of large Ice Age mammals such as mammoth and bison. The growth of trees deprived these herbivores of their main food source, grass.
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...
The Chang'E-5 mission returned samples that revealed a previously unknown iron-rich and high-calcium surface of basalts, challenging previous assumptions about the lunar geology community. The samples were primarily composed of pyroxene, contradicting earlier studies that indicated a high abundance of olivine.
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.
A novel three-dimensional model of the fluid stored deep in Earth's crust along the Cascadia Subduction Zone provides new insight into how the accumulation and release of those fluids may influence seismic activity. The study's findings have applications for increasing understanding of seismic activity along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Scientists studied oxygen isotopes in lava samples from the Fagradalsfjall eruption to understand magma sources and mantle dynamics. The research revealed diverse mantle components with uniform oxygen isotope ratios, shedding light on Iceland's geology and refining mantle models.
Researchers at Mainz University found the Cumbre Vieja lava to be exceptionally low in viscosity, resulting in rapid flow and devastating damage. The study published in Nature Communications revealed that the lava's composition, particularly its silica content, contributed to its fluidity.