(ORDO NEWS) — Researchers from Cornell University have been able to estimate in real time the depth at which the hot reservoir of volcanic magma lies.
This allows you to monitor how the eruption develops and predict the behavior of the volcano.
Methods developed by volcanologists can help government officials correctly assess the risk of an eruption in order to make a timely decision on evacuation.
When a volcano erupts, people leave, but volcanologists stay. They collect stones
In recent years, scientists have been using satellite imagery, seismic data and GPS to estimate ground deformation near active volcanoes, but these methods do not provide accurate information about the depth of a hot magma reservoir.
And this is one of the most important parameters for predicting the behavior of a volcano.
During volcanic eruptions, magma reaches the Earth‘s surface and erupts as lava. This produces a fragmented, fine-grained material called tephra.
It can be assembled quickly and has a lot to say. In the new work, scientists have shown how to “question” tephra.
During the formation of volcanic crystals, bubbles of carbon dioxide accidentally enter them. The density of crystals with bubbles depends on the depth at which the crystals form.
If you analyze their density, you can determine the depth at which they formed with an accuracy of up to a hundred meters. This is the depth at which the magma is located.
(A) Canary Islands. (B) Geological map of La Palma. (C) La Palma eruptions, including the 2021 eruption. (D) 2021 eruptions (depth shaded) (E) 2021 eruptions.
Minor events just before the start (September 9), deep (20 to 25 km) and shallow (6 to 12 km) events during the eruption.
Once the method was developed, it had to be tested in practice. And volcanologists have done it.
After fifty years of dormancy, the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands began erupting on September 19, 2021.
Scientists at Cornell University arrived at the site of the eruption, collected the crystals and determined the depth of the magma reservoir. This was done almost in real time.
“When these volcanic crystals grow, they accidentally capture bubbles of carbon dioxide,” says lead author Kyle Dayton. “During a volcanic eruption, these crystals, along with lava, are thrown to the surface.
We collect tephra and look for crystals containing these bubbles. Thanks to this, we can uncover some volcanic mysteries and better prepare for future eruptions.”
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