Société Géologique de France’s Post

Around 170,000 years ago, the Yellowstone Caldera — a supervolcano — produced a series of small eruptions in frequent pulses lasting roughly 100,000 years. Remnants from those eruptions can be found on the Earth’s surface today as volcanic rock. And those rocks contain critical clues about the interior of the supervolcano. In the lab of Professor Kari Cooper, graduate student Anjelica Guerrier studies the “black box” of volcanoes, magma chambers. Through isotopic analysis of erupted volcanic crystals, Guerrier and Cooper are gaining insights into the volcanic states preceding eruptions. The research could inform what Guerrier refers to as our “quest for predictability in the face of nature’s awe-inspiring power.” “This research journey isn't just about uncovering geological insights; it can help pave the way for better hazard prevention and mitigation strategies,” Guerrier said. Learn more about Guerrier's research journey: https://lnkd.in/g5vqKpcw #geology #volcanoes #geochemistry #UCDavis #research

For extreme geophysical events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, early warnings from accurate long-term monitoring can save lives 🌋 #EMPIR project #GeoMetre has helped to establish #EURO5000, a new reference baseline that can allow measurements with uncertainties of less than 1mm over distances of up to 5km Read the new case study ➡ https://bit.ly/3XVabKH #EUfunded #measurement #measurementscience #metrology #geodesy #EURO5000 #earthquake #volcano

Scientists have recently unraveled a 200-year-old mystery, revealing the cause of a peculiar celestial event that left the sun appearing blue in 1831. A massive volcanic eruption, previously unmonitored, released sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, creating aerosols that scattered sunlight and filtered out red wavelengths, resulting in the surreal blue hue. This eruption, occurring in a remote area once used as a Soviet nuclear submarine base, remained elusive until recently, when scientists made a breakthrough using modern technology. The impact of this eruption extended beyond the sun's color change, contributing to a global temperature drop of approximately 1°C and exacerbating the Little Ice Age, which lasted from the early 14th to the mid-19th century. The sudden temperature drop led to crop failures, famine, and societal unrest, highlighting the vulnerability of human societies to natural disasters. This discovery also sheds light on the fact that many volcanoes around the world remain unmonitored, posing a significant threat. With only about a third of Earth's active volcanoes consistently monitored, as per the Global Volcanism Program, the potential for another unobserved eruption with severe consequences is a real concern. Despite these challenges, the resolution of this historical mystery serves as a testament to human resilience and ingenuity. As we continue to develop advanced monitoring systems and explore Earth's hidden archives, we can better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of future volcanic eruptions and their potential global consequences. The story of the blue sun reminds us of the intricate connections between our planet's systems and the importance of investing in research and technology to safeguard our future. It's a fascinating tale of scientific discovery and a powerful reminder of nature's power and our role in understanding and respecting it.

Around 170,000 years ago, the Yellowstone Caldera — a supervolcano — produced a series of small eruptions in frequent pulses lasting roughly 100,000 years. Remnants from those eruptions can be found on the Earth’s surface today as volcanic rock. And those rocks contain critical clues about the interior of the supervolcano. “The rocks left behind from eruptions can provide information about what the magma chamber looked like moments before eruption,” said Anjelica Guerrier, a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. “We’re taking advantage of that snapshot that’s been erupted.” Guerrier works in the lab of Kari Cooper, a geochemist studying the “black box” of volcanoes, magma chambers. Through isotopic analysis of erupted volcanic crystals, Guerrier and Cooper are gaining insights into the volcanic states preceding eruptions. The research could inform what Guerrier refers to as our “quest for predictability in the face of nature’s awe-inspiring power.” “This research journey isn't just about uncovering geological insights; it can help pave the way for better hazard prevention and mitigation strategies,” Guerrier said. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gw9ynFeM

CNN article, "‘Mystery volcano’ that erupted and cooled Earth in 1831 has finally been identified,” by Mindy Weisberger, 1/3/2025, https://lnkd.in/efz_P69E "An unknown volcano erupted so explosively in 1831 that it cooled Earth’s climate. Now, nearly 200 years later, scientists have identified the “mystery volcano.” "The eruption was one of the most powerful of the 19th century, spewing so much sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere that annual average temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere dropped by about one 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit). The event took place during the last gasp of the Little Ice Age, one of the coldest periods on Earth in the past 10,000 years. "While the year of this historic eruption was known, the volcano’s location was not. Researchers recently solved that puzzle by sampling ice cores in Greenland, peering back in time through the cores’ layers to examine sulfur isotopes, grains of ash and tiny volcanic glass shards deposited between 1831 and 1834. "Using geochemistry, radioactive dating and computer modeling to map particles’ trajectories, the scientists linked the 1831 eruption to an island volcano in the northwest Pacific Ocean, they reported Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "According to the analysis, the mystery volcano was Zavaritskii (also spelled Zavaritsky) on Simushir Island, part of the Kuril Islands archipelago, an area disputed by Russia and Japan. Before the scientists’ findings, Zavaritskii’s last known eruption was in 800 BC."

Volcanic Lightning Phenomenon. 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦: 👇 https://lnkd.in/gEmA26vv https://lnkd.in/gfyHBKtv https://lnkd.in/gYGpKYQa https://lnkd.in/gZFWrbSc 𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓🔯: Volcanic lightning is a rare and spectacular phenomenon that occurs during volcanic eruptions. It's characterized by flashes of lightning within the volcanic plume, often appearing as a dazzling display of electricity. The exact cause is still debated, but leading theories suggest that the friction between ash particles and ice crystals within the plume creates an electric charge, leading to lightning formation. #volcaniclightning #volcano #eruption #lightning #nature #science #geology #ashcloud #electriccharge #naturalphenomenon #spectacular #rare #geophysics #science #scienceexperiment #sciencehumor #scienceandtechnology #ScienceForKids

Open Access #Geology Research Focus articles are at your fingertips at https://lnkd.in/g7my5zcA. Research Focus articles, such as "Earth Matters: A tempo to our planet’s evolution," by Peter A. Cawood, https://lnkd.in/gf9BXbu3, are short, detailed essays on #geoscience topics. #GSAPubs #Research #Focus Monash Science Image credit: Figure 1 from “RESEARCH FOCUS: Volcanic eruptions: From ionosphere to the plumbing system,” by Chiara Maria Petrone, https://lnkd.in/gKCPG4xJ.

"Zavaritsky volcano consists of a complex of six NW-SE-trending cinder cones and an explosion crater located near the headwaters of the Levaya Avacha River west of the Eastern volcanic zone of Kamchatka. The highest cone, 1567-m-high Mount Peschanaya, lies near the southern end of the cone group. The six cones of Zavaritsky were formed during an eruption about 2800 years ago during which associated lava flows blocked the Levaya Avacha and Ozernaya rivers, forming Lake Vulkanischeskoe along the Ozernaya drainage. Other monogenetic cinder cones are located NW and NE of Zavaritsky volcano. Berezovy cinder cone to the NW erupted about 11,000 to 10,000 radiocarbon years ago. An unnamed cone near the crest of a range dividing the Srednaya Avacha and Kavicha river drainages about 14 km WNW of Zavaritsky volcano erupted about 3000-2500 years ago. The cone is slightly closer to Bakening volcano, but the chemistry of its products are related to those of Zavaritsky. https://lnkd.in/d58Az3ew

2024 may bring devastation to seafloor life as explosive volcanic eruptions hit. 🌋🌊 Read more about this potential disaster in the link below! #volcanoes #oceandisasters #2024predictions #science #adventure #physorg

Exploring the inner workings of volcanoes with powerful synchrotron light 🌋 An expert article in Nature Geosciences highlights how advanced synchrotron techniques can deepen our understanding of volcanic processes and enhance eruption predictions. 🔬 Assoc Prof Teresa Ubide from The University of Queensland used X-ray fluorescence microscopy at ANSTO's Australian Synchrotron to study clinopyroxene crystals — minerals that store essential information about volcanic activity. This research reveals the hidden mechanisms behind volcanic eruptions, which can improve our ability to forecast future activity. Beamline scientist Dr. Andrew Langendam added: “The work done by A/Prof Ubide showcases the XFM beamline's capabilities to scan large areas at high resolution quickly. It’s incredible to see this technology being applied to the study of volcanology.” 🖥️ Read more about this innovative research via - https://lnkd.in/gUYHy7y6 #Volcanology #SynchrotronScience #ANSTO #ScientificInnovation #XrayFluorescence #VolcanicEruptions