Stressed out volcanoes more likely to collapse and erupt
A new study has implications for how the world might be better protected against future volcano collapses

Date:
October 16, 2020
Source:
Monash University
Summary:
An international study has discovered how volcanoes experience
stress.

The study has implications for how the world might be better
protected against future volcano collapses.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
An international study led by Monash scientists has discovered how
volcanoes experience stress. The study, published today in Scientific
Reports, has implications for how the world might be better protected
against future volcano collapses.


========================================================================== Volcanic collapse is the worst-case scenario during volcanic crises. It
can trigger dangerous tsunamis or devastating pyroclastic flows (for
example Mount Saint Helens).

"But, these events are very difficult to predict because we often don't
know what is happening inside active volcanoes, and what forces might
make them unstable," said lead study author Dr Sam Thiele, a recent
PhD graduate from the Monash University School of Earth, Atmosphere
and Environment.

"Research on volcano growth helps us to understand these internal
processes and the associated forces that could trigger a deadly collapse
or eruption," he said.

The research team used drones to create a cm-resolution map of the
internal structure of a now dormant volcano on La Palma in the Canary
Islands and measured the width of 100's of thousands of cracks through
which magma flowed during past eruptions.

This allowed them to estimate the forces acting within the volcano, and
show that these slowly build up over time, causing the volcano to become 'stressed' and potentially unstable.

By measuring the width of cracks in the volcano through which magma was transported they were able to estimate the forces involved, which helps
to predict future volcanic eruptions.

The geological features that the research team mapped are formed when
molten intrusions, called dykes, solidify to form a framework inside what
is otherwise a comparatively weak structure comprising mostly layers of
lava and ash.

"This is one of the first studies to look at the long-term effects
of magma movement within a volcano," said study co-author Professor
Sandy Cruden, from the Monash University School of Earth, Atmosphere
and Environment.

"We found that volcanoes gradually become 'stressed' by repeated movement
of this magma, potentially destabilising the whole volcano, influencing
future collapses and eruptions," he said.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Monash_University. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Samuel T. Thiele, Alexander R. Cruden, Steven Micklethwaite,
Andrew P.

Bunger, Jonas Ko"pping. Dyke apertures record stress accumulation
during sustained volcanism. Scientific Reports, 2020; 10 (1) DOI:
10.1038/ s41598-020-74361-w ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201016100930.htm

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