Forecasting potential volcano eruptions is paramount to science and the safety of the people around. A new technique is being proposed that could provide researchers with more data on the behavior of volcanoes.
Lasers for Volcanoes
According to Eurekalert, a new technology is being presented by researchers from the University of Queensland that aims to forecast the behavior of volcanoes better. Should it be successful, the technology could save lives worldwide.
The study was introduced by Dr. Teresa Ubide from the School of the Environment and the University of Queensland and a team of international collaborators. The proposed approach was described as laser ablation inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry.
E and T reports that Dr. Ubide acknowledged that although it might be difficult to pronounce, the approach basically involved the use of high-resolution technology to get better data. The data the researchers aim to gather involves a volcano magma's chemical occurrence.
Eurekalert cited Dr. Ubide, who said that learning about magma occurrence was important in eruption patterns and change forecasting. She also likened volcano magma to computer code.
Importance of Magma
Dr. Ubide highlighted that during the eruption, the magma's liquid portion showed incredible chemical change. As such, magma comprises liquid melt, gas, and inner volcano crystals.
Because of the many crystals found in magma, observing its chemistry can be intensely difficult, which is why scientists propose blasting the cool melt. The laser to be used was described as one that eye surgery utilizes.
Eurekalert says that the lasers would be used to analyze the chemical makeup of the magma. Samples from the 2021 La Palma, Canary Island eruption, detailed in a Science report, were collected by Dr. Ubide and the team and were used to formulate their approach.
The eruption reportedly lasted 85 days and stretched over 159 cubic meters of lava across 12 square kilometers. This devastating eruption resulted in $1.4 billion in damages and the evacuation of 7,000 people from the destroyed 1,600 homes.
Future Volcano Predictions
Dr. Ubide said that being able to understand how volcanic eruptions work could be evolutionary and that they would be able to provide better warnings and advice to the public. She stressed that it was critically important to monitor data and that other forms of data gathering were indirect.
She referred to the data from earthquakes, ground changes, and gas, which would've shown indirect information about the inner works of an active volcano. However, this wouldn't be enough to measure what was described as a volcano's "personality."
Dr. Ubide highlights how analyzing magma was the best way to analyze the direct "personality" of a volcano. This would be paramount to understanding its eruption and potential impact.
So far, Dr. Ubide and her team are already using similar techniques as proposed above on volcanic ash. These specimens were notably easier to gather during a volcanic event.
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