. Earth Science News .
SHAKE AND BLOW
Researchers find new way to estimate magma beneath Yellowstone supervolcano
by Staff Writers
Pullman WA (SPX) Jun 07, 2018

Washington State University researchers 'spike' a Yellowstone hot spring with deuterium, a stable isotope, to calculate water and heat flowing out of the springs and estimate how fast magma is recharging beneath the Yellowstone supervolcano. The material had no environmental impact and was done with a permit from the National Park Service.

Researchers at Washington State University and the University of Idaho have found a new way to estimate how fast magma is recharging beneath the Yellowstone supervolcano. While their findings offer no help in predicting if the volcano will erupt, they can now get a better understanding of a key factor - a pool of basalt magma recharging the system - in how it works.

"It is the coal in the furnace that's heating things up," said Peter Larson, a professor in the Washington State University School of the Environment. "It's heating up the boiler. The boiler is what explodes. This tells us what is heating the boiler."

Some 640,000 years have passed since the volcano's last major eruption. But it can be "super," having produced one of the largest known blasts on Earth and spewing more than 2,000 times as much ash as Mount St. Helens did in 1980.

A major element in the volcano's power is the explosive, silica-rich rhyolite that break's through the Earth's crust during an eruption. Larson and his colleagues focused on the plume of basalt magma heating the rhyolite from below.

"This gives us an idea of how much magma is recharging the volcano every year," said Larson, whose findings appear in the latest issue of the journal Geosphere.

With funding from the National Science Foundation, the researchers "spiked" several hot springs in Yellowstone National Park with deuterium, a stable hydrogen isotope.

The researchers used the length of time needed for deuterium concentrations to return to background levels and the temperature of the hot springs to calculate the amount of water and heat flowing out of the springs. Using deuterium for estimating heat flow is safe for the environment and has no visual impact to distract from the park visitors' experience.

The team found that previous studies underestimated the amount of water coursing through the springs and the amount of heat leaving the springs. The data also allowed the team to estimate the amount of magma entering the supervolcano from the mantle.

The study also has implications for geothermal energy, helping inform how heat is transported to the earth's surface from molten rock.

Research paper


Related Links
Washington State University
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


SHAKE AND BLOW
Evacuations urged in Hawaii as lava flow advances
Los Angeles (AFP) May 31, 2018
Authorities urged people in Hawaii Wednesday to evacuate an area at risk of being cut off by a flood of lava from the erupting Kilauea volcano. "Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that lava from several fissures continues to advance toward the Kapoho area," a Civil Defense message said, referencing an area that was devastated during a 1960 eruption. "Residents of Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland are advised to evacuate. You are at risk of being isolated due to possible lava inundation," the ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SHAKE AND BLOW
Peace needs at least 15 years: Colombian president

Sentinel-1 warns of refugee island flood risk

Seismometer readings could offer debris flow early warning

China floods to hit US economy: Climate effects through trade chains

SHAKE AND BLOW
Zn-InsP6 complex can enhance excretion of radioactive strontium from the body

What can snakes teach us about engineering friction

Microsoft says buying GitHub for $7.5 bn

Novel power meter opens the door for in-situ, real-time monitoring of high-power lasers

SHAKE AND BLOW
Scientists rethink co-evolution of marine life, oxygenated oceans

Widespread methane seeps off Oregon coast

Lebanon's spearfishers fight to preserve stocks

World's largest freshwater pearl goes for 320,000 euros

SHAKE AND BLOW
Phosphorus nutrition can hasten plant and microbe growth in arid, high elevation sites

Trump administration moves to lift ban on bear baiting in Alaska

Canada, Denmark seek to settle Arctic island dispute

A promising target in the quest for a 1-million-year-old Antarctic ice core

SHAKE AND BLOW
Alibaba shows off automated wine store in Hong Kong

Sugarcane pest produces foam to protect itself from heat

Scientists boost crop production by 47 percent by speeding up photorespiration

Bayer to ditch Monsanto name after mega-merger

SHAKE AND BLOW
Seven killed in storm Alberto flooding in Cuba

Evacuations urged in Hawaii as lava flow advances

Oh no, here we go again: Atlantic hurricane season

Cyclone death toll in Oman, Yemen rises to 11: authorities

SHAKE AND BLOW
Faith leaders, Pygmies join forces in fight for Congo forest

US says air strike kills 12 militants in Somalia

Defence minister warns of intervention in Madagascar crisis

Help wanted: UN mission struggles in troubled C. Africa

SHAKE AND BLOW
Study finds two ancient populations that diverged later 'reconverged' in the Americas

The making of a human population uncovered through ancient Icelandic genomes

How did human brains get so large?

How to build a brain: discovery answers evolutionary mystery









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.