Scientists have made an unprecedented discovery that carbon dioxide, not water, plays the primary role in initiating volcanic eruptions, particularly in basaltic volcanoes. This breakthrough challenges previous theories and has expanded our knowledge of the Earth’s internal workings. It also holds significant implications for preparing for volcanic hazards.
Traditionally, geoscientists thought that the combination of water with shallow magma was the chief cause of volcanic eruptions. New investigative tools developed at Cornell, however, have demonstrated that gaseous carbon dioxide can set off explosive volcanic events.
A novel model has shown that basaltic volcanoes, often located in the interior regions of tectonic plates, are powered by magma from deep within the mantle, situated 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface.
Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, this research offers a more comprehensive insight into our planet’s deep internal processes and compositions. It carries substantial ramifications for enhancing planning against volcanic hazards.
Senior author Esteban Gazel, the Charles N. Mellowes Professor in Engineering at Cornell’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, emphasized that this discovery shifts the conventional understanding of volcanic eruptions. Previously, water was considered the main eruption trigger, but now it appears that carbon dioxide is responsible for bringing magma up from deep within the Earth.
Around four years prior, Gazel and postdoctoral researcher Charlotte DeVitre developed a high-precision carbon dioxide densimeter for Raman spectroscopy. They used this to examine microscopic CO2-rich bubbles in crystals originating from volcanic eruptions. This cutting-edge technique proved vital for accurate estimations of magma storage and was even tested during the 2021 eruption in Las Palmas, Canary Islands.
The scientists also formulated methods to assess the laser heating effects on carbon-dioxide-rich inclusions, and developed an experimental reheating procedure to ensure accurate evaluations and consideration of carbon dioxide trapped in the bubbles.
Despite challenges, especially during the pandemic, the researchers examined volcanic samples from the Fogo volcano in Cabo Verde and discovered a high concentration of volatiles in micro-sized melt inclusions within magnesium-iron silicate crystals. They found that the magma was stored deep below the surface, within the Earth’s mantle, and that this process is linked to the deep source feeding these volcanoes.
The research group concluded that volcanic eruptions like those at Fogo are instigated and fueled from the mantle, bypassing the Earth’s crust, driven by deep carbon dioxide. This revelation plays a crucial role in understanding basaltic explosivity and has far-reaching implications for preparedness for future eruptions.
Gazel stated that this research will help society better prepare for eruptions, as deep magma storage cannot be detected through ground deformation until the melt is close to the surface. Understanding the factors triggering eruptions will aid in developing more effective plans for future incidents.
The research, titled “Oceanic Intraplate Explosive Eruptions Fed Directly from the Mantle,” was carried out by a diverse team of experts and was published on 7 August 2023.
The National Science Foundation provided funding for this research, and additional data were collected at Cornell University’s Biotechnology Resource Center, supported by the National Institutes of Health.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: carbon dioxide
What have scientists recently discovered about the cause of volcanic eruptions?
Scientists have found that carbon dioxide, rather than water, is the primary driver of volcanic eruptions, especially in basaltic volcanoes. This discovery overturns previous theories and provides a deeper understanding of the Earth’s internal dynamics.
What are the implications of this discovery for volcanic-hazard preparedness?
The discovery that carbon dioxide triggers volcanic eruptions offers a clearer insight into the deep internal dynamics of our planet. It has significant implications for improving volcanic-hazard planning and preparedness, providing new tools and models for understanding eruptions.
How was this discovery made?
This breakthrough was made using innovative research tools developed at Cornell, including a high-precision carbon dioxide densimeter for Raman spectroscopy. The scientists also examined volcanic samples, such as micro-sized CO2-rich bubbles in crystals from volcanic eruptions, and used new methods to assess the effect of laser heating on carbon-dioxide-rich inclusions.
Where was this research published?
The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Who were the main researchers involved?
The research was led by senior author Esteban Gazel, the Charles N. Mellowes Professor in Engineering in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell, along with Charlotte DeVitre, Ph.D. ’22, now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, and a team of other experts.
How does this discovery change our understanding of volcanic eruptions?
This discovery completely changes the paradigm of how volcanic eruptions occur. Previously, water was thought to be the main driver of eruptions, but the new findings show that it’s carbon dioxide that brings magma from the deep Earth. This insight may revolutionize how we plan for and understand volcanic eruptions in the future.
More about fokus keyword: carbon dioxide
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Cornell University’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
- National Science Foundation
- Cornell Institute of Biotechnology’s Imaging Facility
5 comments
Wow! Never would’ve thought CO2 had anything to do with volcanoes. This is a game changer, isn’t it? What else don’t we know about our planet?
So, if CO2 is now found to be a primary driver in volcanic eruptions, does that mean all previous hazard models are outdated? seems like theres a lot of work to be done now.
This is why I love science – always evolving, always challenging! Who would’ve thought that CO2, somethng we think of only in relation to climate change, plays such a role in volcanic activity?
This is why I love science – always evolving, always challenging! Who would’ve thought that CO2, somethng we think of only in relation to climate change, plays such a role in volcanic activity?
i cant believe how far science has come. this discovery will change the way we prepare for eruptions. hats off to the researchers!