Bristol scientists reveal explosive new research into volcanic behaviour
Researchers from Bristol University have unveiled work which could help scientists better understand volcanic eruptions.
A computational approach which links processes deep below a volcano to potential eruptions is described by the Bristol researchers in a paper published today in the Journal of Geophysical Research today.
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The research could ultimately help scientists to understand magma chamber processes and volcanic eruption timing.
Violent volcanic eruptions can lead to collapse of the solid lid above the drained magma reservoir and create a depression called a caldera. Such caldera-forming eruptions are among the most devastating natural processes on Earth, threatening not only nearby settlements but also impacting upon the global climate.
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The study by PhD student Anne Schopa and Dr Catherine Annen in Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences shows that magma chambers required for caldera-forming eruptions might grow faster and with less initial magma input than previously thought.
Anne Schopa said: "It was previously believed that a gradual increase in the magma input could form a large magma chamber which is necessary prior to a big caldera-forming eruption. However, our numerical heat flow models show that this is quite difficult with a continuously rising magma influx.
"Instead, the magma input has to increase drastically and almost instantaneously above the background magma flux in order to create a big magma reservoir. This increases the difficulty of making volcanic eruption forecasts because precursors of an eruption such as ground deformation would be detectable just shortly before an eruption."
The research was funded by the European Research Council (ERC).
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