A volcanologist listens to the sounds of lava. The belches and burps can show what's happening inside a volcano.
Using an ear to the Klauea volcano in Hawaii, researchers have been able to track the temperature of magma and the movement of volcanic gasses.
Something unexpected has been revealed by the findings.
The dynamics of a popular volcano are being looked at by an earth scientist.
The lava flows could be seen from the lava lake rim. There was more happening under the surface.
The Klauea volcano experienced gentle eruptions of lava for a decade.
There were two dozen volcanic eruptions above the east rift zone.
The oozing of lava began again in September of 2021.
The Halema'uma'u crater is located on the top of Klauea and is filled with lava.
It is believed that the lava lake is always topped by an underground chamber of magma. How those dynamics work isn't known.
Researchers hope to penetrate the boiling hot abyss by positioning seismology sensors around the crater.
The technique they are using is similar to what a half-filled bottle would sound like. The contents of the bottle affect the volcano's sound levels.
Josh Crozier is a seismologist from the University of Oregon.
Tens of thousands of such events were detected over the last decade. This data is being combined with a model of processes that create signals.
The researchers are hoping to learn more about Klauea's tune so they can better predict when the volcano will erupt again.
Over the course of eight years, the team has been able to track bubbling gas and changing temperatures in the lava lake.
The authors didn't see any signs of magma entering the lake before the eruption.
The chemistry and temperature of the lava lake were the same as in the previous year. The eruption didn't change anything.
Scientists used to think that an influx of magma was the cause of the eruption.
The explosion was caused by the opposite process than the underground magma chamber feeding the lava lake.
The lava appeared to have drained out of the main system and spread eastward. The major east rift eruption destroyed 700 homes and displaced more than 2000 people.
Science, 2018? The photos were taken by the US Geological Survey.
The model shows the eruption of Klauea's magma system.
One of the best studied volcanoes in the world, Klauea's plumbing is a mystery.
The volcano's lava lake, rift zone, and underground magma sources are not fully understood by researchers.
One day, the sounds of lava could help us hear what we are not seeing.
The study was published in a peer-reviewed journal.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
