To make early warning systems for volcanic eruptions more efficient and effective, researchers are continuing to develop techniques using satellite imagery and ecological studies. Josh Fisher, a scientist at Chapman University, is leading initiatives to independently verify the accuracy of satellite data. In order to get clear results, he is currently surveying vegetation around volcanoes. This study is important because there are roughly 1,350 potentially active volcanoes worldwide. Additionally, 10% of the world’s population lives in places at risk from volcanic hazards.
Now, this surprising collaboration between volcanologists and botanists is transforming how we think about monitoring, opening the way to new techniques altogether. Learn how scientists are using satellite technology to find innovative new methods of detecting volcanic activity. In so doing, they hope to predict eruptions before they incur disastrous outcomes.
Advancements in Satellite Monitoring
Nicole Guinn, a PhD researcher at the University of Houston, talks about the wealth of commercial and scientific satellites now at our disposal to help model volcanic activity. These satellites provide the ability to rapidly record and monitor gas emissions from volcanoes, key indicators of impending eruptions. Fisher’s research includes looking at tree health and taking leaf samples to try to correlate them with volcanic activity.
Fisher has directed a team that collected leaf samples from trees near the active Rincón de La Vieja volcano in Costa Rica. As magma moves upward through the Earth’s crust it releases carbon dioxide and other gases in the process. These gases have profound impacts on the nearby communities. Trees have a role to play in watching for volcanic eruptions.
Guinn’s study is a big step in that direction. It provides a well-founded interpretation of the link between tree leaf color and the levels of carbon dioxide produced by magma. Perhaps more importantly, this finding has the potential to develop novel approaches for assessing volcanic activity based on ecological indicators.
The Importance of Interdisciplinary Research
This intersection of ecology and volcanology is an exciting and productive area of research. With collaborators including botanists and climate scientists, volcanologists such as Fisher are taking a multidisciplinary approach. Together, they are using trees as environmental indicators to document changes in the environment caused by volcanic eruptions. This two-way approach allows researchers to monitor signs of volcanic unrest by observing the changes in vegetation surrounding active sites.
In December 2017, government researchers in the Philippines successfully utilized a detection system to identify signs of an impending eruption. They counseled against mass evacuations near the volcano. Thanks to that timely information, more than 56,000 residents and tourists evacuated without incident before the powerful eruption that occurred January 23, 2018. This case exemplified how early warnings and strong evacuation plans can help prevent loss of life during a volcanic eruption.
Fisher’s oeuvre couldn’t be a better fit to these advancements. It zeros in on developing accurate, multi-hazard early warning systems that can operate in remote or rugged landscapes. Though systems like this do exist, many active volcanoes sit in remote regions, complicating detection in a timely manner.
Real-World Applications of Carbon Dioxide Monitoring
The real-world impacts of tracking volcanic carbon dioxide emissions have been experienced up close by scientists such as Schwandner. In the case of Rincón de La Vieja, carbon dioxide is emitted as magma rises. This superheated gas heats surrounding water ponds and provides researchers incredible glimpses into the vaulting volcanoes simmering beneath the surface.
By analyzing these emissions, scientists can gain insights into the behavior of volcanoes and potentially predict eruptions before they occur. Each scientific discipline works together in exciting ways to improve the precision and accuracy of each monitoring technique. That collaboration has fostered a more holistic view of volcanic systems.
Researchers such as Fisher continue to study the ecological effects of volcanic eruptions. Their work is of utmost importance in helping keep people safe around the world. Yet their findings should give us all hope. In doing so, they can help create better early warning systems that will save lives and limit destruction caused by future eruptions.