. Earth Science News .
SHAKE AND BLOW
Unremarkable crystals that could help predict volcanic eruptions
by Staff Writers
Dublin, Ireland (SPX) Jan 24, 2018


Mr Etna

They may look inconspicuous and unremarkable, and most people wouldn't notice them, but small crystals in volcanic rocks, such as lava, may hold the key to better understanding advance warnings of volcanic eruptions.

The crystals form inside the volcano when molten rock - magma - starts moving upwards from depths of up to 30 km towards the Earth's surface. The crystals are carried in the erupting magma, and they often continue to grow as they are being transported. Importantly, they also change in composition on their way to the surface.

Two scientists - Dr Teresa Ubide from the University of Queensland, and Professor Balz Kamber from Trinity College Dublin - conducted the research in a project funded mainly by Science Foundation Ireland. They used a laser technique to examine the inside of these crystals in a novel way. And what they discovered is that the crystals contain a memory in the form of growth layers that look similar to tree rings. Reading the history from these layers may lead to more effective volcanic hazard monitoring, including for dormant volcanoes.

Dr Ubide said: "They essentially 'record' the processes right before the eruption starts. At Mount Etna, we found that the arrival of new magma at 10 km depth is a very efficient trigger of eruptions - and within only two weeks."

"In this case, therefore, earth tremors at the depth of magma recharge must be taken as serious signs of potential imminent eruptions. At other volcanoes, the method will allow to establish the relationship between recharge depth, recharge frequency and eruption efficiency. This can then help scientists to better relate physical signs of recharge to eruption potential."

The findings have just been published in leading international journal Nature Communications. The research was conducted on Mount Etna, in Sicily, which is Europe's most active volcano. Dr Ubide's team is now planning to expand the approach to other volcanoes around the world, and to combine the information with geophysical signs of magma movement.

It remains very difficult to predict volcanic eruptions - as evidenced by the eruption at Mount Agung in Bali, which started last November after two months of precursory earthquakes. It led to the evacuation of over 70,000 people and caused massive disruptions in air traffic and tourism, affecting over 100,000 travellers.

Professor of Geology and Mineralogy at Trinity, Balz Kamber, added: "The new approach may also prove useful for studying volcanoes that have remained dormant, such as the currently erupting volcano on Kadovar Island, Papua New Guinea."

"For many volcanoes there is no eruption history, but geologists can collect lavas from past eruptions and study their crystals."

Research paper

SHAKE AND BLOW
Lava fountains shoot from Philippine volcano
Legazpi, Philippines (AFP) Jan 23, 2018
Intense lava fountains shot like fireworks up to 700 metres (2,300 feet) into the air above Mayon, the Philippines' most active volcano, on Tuesday as showering debris turned morning skies dark and spread fear among anxious residents. More than 40,000 people have already fled since smoke and ash started spewing from the mountain, with scientists warning of the danger of an explosive eruption ... read more

Related Links
Trinity College Dublin
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


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
Jihadist corpses poison life in Iraq's Mosul

World Bank signs $300m loan for Nepal quake reconstruction

10 Syrians die of cold trying to flee into Lebanon: officials

Assad regime promotes Syria as a 'tourist' destination

SHAKE AND BLOW
Self-healing fungi concrete could provide sustainable solution to crumbling infrastructure

Ultra-thin memory storage device paves way for more powerful computing

Physicists succeed in measuring mechanical properties of 2-D monolayer materials

Russian scientists found excitons in nickel oxide for the first time

SHAKE AND BLOW
Dutch shocked by call to ban EU electric pulse fishing

Feeding patterns among coastal, deep ocean sharks differ, study shows

Scale-eating fish adopt clever parasitic methods to survive

Clean and green: A moss that removes lead from water

SHAKE AND BLOW
Mothers and young struggle as Arctic warms

Warming Arctic climate constrains life in cold-adapted mammals

Coping with climate stress in Antarctica

Weather anomalies accelerate the melting of sea ice

SHAKE AND BLOW
New 'Buck' naked barley: Food, feed, brew

In sweet corn, workhorses win

New process could slash energy needs of fertilizer, nitrogen-based chemicals

Setback for Romanian farmer's bid to graze sheep near NATO base

SHAKE AND BLOW
Seine tops its banks as heavy rain batters France

Strong quake rocks Jakarta, 6.0 magnitude: USGS

Volcano eruption, avalanche at Japan ski resort kills one

Lava fountains shoot from Philippine volcano

SHAKE AND BLOW
Seven Niger troops killed in Boko Haram attack

Search on for kidnapped Americans and Canadians in Nigeria

Sahel defence ministers in Paris in push for 'G5' force

Former DR Congo army chief accused of coup bid held in Gabon

SHAKE AND BLOW
Bonobos prefer jerks

Unlike people, bonobos don't 'look for the helpers'

Study: When the going gets tough, women are more resilient than men

Study redefines understanding of old age throughout human history









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.