eruptions

(a) Annual eruption probability based on ice-core (Sigl et al., 2022) and satellite (S. Carn, 2022) datasets. (b) Empirical cumulative probability density function of the SO2 mass distribution of the 1,000-member stochastic scenarios and the Holvol ice-core dataset (95% bootstrap confidence bounds in light gray). We estimate the probability of exceeding CMIP6 volcanic flux using the 1850–2014 flux from current volcanic emission inventories (S. Carn,…

Blasting debris clear into the stratosphere, the eruption of Tonga's Hunga Volcano in January, 2022, shattered records for its explosive power.A study by researchers across the US has uncovered more shocking firsts for the event, estimating an astonishing 192,000 flashes of lightning rippling through its tumultuous plume of ash and water vapor in just 11 hours.Those flashes peaked at a rate of 2,615 per minute, the researchers revealed, making it officially the most intense lightning storm on record. It also produced the…

During fleeting fits, the sun occasionally hurls a colossal amount of energy into space. Called solar flares, these eruptions last for mere minutes, and they can trigger catastrophic blackouts and dazzling auroras on Earth. But our leading mathematical theories of how these flares work fail to predict the strength and speed of what we observe.At the heart of these outbursts is a mechanism that converts magnetic energy into powerful blasts of light and particles. This transformation is catalyzed by a process called…

The last super-eruption at Yellowstone volcano, which occurred 631,000 years ago, was not one huge explosion. Instead, new research suggests it was a series of eruptions or multiple vents spewing volcanic material in rapid succession.  According to the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2022 Annual Report, published May 4, fieldwork over the past year has provided new geological evidence that "the formation of Yellowstone Caldera was much more complex than previously thought." A caldera is a…

Digital elevation model of Mt. Etna (Ganci et al., 2019) obtained from tri-stereo Pléiades data acquired on 18 December 2015. Eastings and northings are in UTM Zone 33°N. Red triangles indicate the location of seismometers while the shaded purple and green regions show the fine-grained and coarse-grained pyroclastic density current deposits, respectively, mapped by Andronico et al. (2018). The white box indicates the search area for the seismic source…

Most diamonds are formed deep inside Earth and brought close to the surface in small yet powerful volcanic eruptions of a kind of rock called "kimberlite".Our supercomputer modeling, published in Nature Geoscience, shows these eruptions are fueled by giant "pillars of heat" rooted 2,900 kilometers (1,802 miles) below ground, just above our planet's core.Understanding Earth's internal history can be used to target mineral reserves – not only diamonds, but also crucial minerals such as nickel and rare earth…

Artist’s impression of the superflare observed on one of the stars in the V1355 Orionis binary star system. The binary companion star is visible in the background on the right. Credit: NAOJResearchers from Kyoto University used both terrestrial and satellite observations to capture a superflare on the binary star system V1355 Orionis. The superflare began with a massive prominence eruption, potentially leading to Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). The study, published in The <span class="glossaryLink"…

The first solar eclipse of 2023 which took place on April 20, 2023 gave a unique opportunity to people to watch a hybrid solar eclipse. But now the images captured by Astronomers Petr Horalek of the Institute of Physics in Opava, and Josef Kujal, Milan Hlavac of the event have left people amazed both. The images show unearthly or ghostly eruptions coming out from the Sun.The unique celestial event of April 20, has given a peek at the eruption and corona of the Sun to the astronomers. Sharing the image Petr Horalek stated…

The SO2 camera installation on Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii, US. The gas plume can be faintly seen rising from the crater at the center of the image and drifting to the left. The flank of Moana Loa can be seen in the background. Credit: Dr. Tom PeringResearchers have made long-term volcano monitoring a possibility by creating a more efficient and cost-effective camera.Gas emissions are a manifestation of the activity taking place beneath a volcano’s surface, and measuring them provides valuable insight into what cannot be…

Studying bronze-age underwater volcanic eruptions is helping researchers better understand the size, hazards and climate impact of their parent eruptions, according to new research from the University of British Columbia. Credit: Johan Gilchrist, University of British ColumbiaBronze-age underwater volcanic deposits are helping researchers understand the size, hazards, and climate impact of massive caldera-forming eruptions. The findings will guide the development of hydrovolcanic climate models and improve hazard…