Newswise Breaking News Channel: Volcanoes

Could Convection in the Crust Explain Venus' Many Volcanoes?

Washington University in St. Louis — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 07:55:27 EST

Venus -- a hot planet pocked with tens of thousands of volcanoes -- may be even more geologically active near its surface than previously thought. New calculations by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis suggest that the planet's outer crust may be constantly churning, an unexpected phenomenon called convection that could help explain many of the volcanoes and other features of the Venusian landscape.

MSU Researchers Glean Photosynthetic Insights From Volcanic Hot Springs

Michigan State University — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 20:20:13 EST

MSU researchers glean photosynthetic insights from volcanic hot springs

Buried Alive: Carbon Dioxide Release From Magma Deep Beneath Ancient Volcanoes Was a Hidden Driver of Earth's Past Climate

Rutgers University-New Brunswick — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 06:00:00 EST

An international team of geoscientists led by a volcanologist at Rutgers University-New Brunswick has discovered that, contrary to present scientific understanding, ancient volcanoes continued to spew carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from deep within the Earth long past their period of eruptions.

NASA's Hubble Sees a Stellar Volcano

Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 10:00:49 EST

The Hubble Space Telescope has provided a dramatic and colorful close-up look at R Aquarii, one of the most rambunctious stars in our galaxy, weaving a huge spiral pattern among the stars.

U of I-Led Study Uncovers First Evidence of a Volcanic Spatter Cone on Mars

University of Idaho — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 13:05:19 EST

While working under Erika Rader, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences at University of Idaho, a postdoctoral researcher identified a volcanic vent on Mars as a potential spatter cone and compared it to a spatter cone formed during the 2021 eruption of Fagradalsfjall in Iceland.

New model refutes leading theory on how Earth's continents formed

University of Illinois Chicago — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 09:05:48 EST

Computational modeling shows that plate tectonics weren't necessary for early continents

Geologist says Yellowstone hydrothermal explosion is not an indicator of a larger eruption

West Virginia University — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 20:05:20 EST

Mapping Lava Flows with Groundbreaking Field Instrument

American Institute of Physics (AIP) — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 11:00:00 EST

In Review of Scientific Instruments, researchers from the University at Buffalo develop a tool for measuring the viscosity of lava that could increase our understanding of molten rock as well as better improve models of its movement, giving authorities crucial guidance for keeping people safe.

Seafloor life devastated near explosive volcanic eruption in Pacific, URI research shows

University of Rhode Island — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:05:54 EST

A University of Rhode Island oceanographer leading her first research cruise in the southern Pacific uncovered a surprise when her vessel looked below the waters in the Polynesian nation of Tonga.

Iceland: The land of fire and ice

University of Miami — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 10:05:41 EST

A series of volcanic eruptions has rocked Iceland since 2021, as the Reykjanes Peninsula awakened from a nearly 800-year slumber. Climate change could be contributing to the increased volcanic activity, according to a University of Miami marine geoscientist.

Three years later, search for life on Mars continues

University of Cincinnati — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 21:05:07 EST

In the three years since NASA's Perseverance rover touched down on Mars, the NASA science team has made the daily task of investigating the red planet seem almost mundane.

Chula Geologists Find New Evidence of Historic Human Activity on Khao Phanom Rung-Khao Plai Bat, Buriram

Chulalongkorn University — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 08:55:37 EST

Prof. Dr. Santi Pailoplee, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with the Faculty of Archaeology, Silpakorn University, discovered a large number of rocks and rock formations on Khao Phanom Rung-Plai Bat, Chaloem Phra Kiat District, Buriram Province, which geologically signify human activity in the past, not natural formation.

Long dormant volcanoes can erupt rapidly and explosively

Eotvos Lorand University (ELTE) — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 14:05:23 EST

Can a volcano erupt after tens of thousands of years of dormancy? If so, how can this be explained and what makes volcanic eruptions more dangerous, i.e. explosive? These are key questions in volcanic hazard assessment and can also draw attention to volcanoes that appear to be inactive.

New study reveals evidence of recurring ancient supereruption

Ohio State University — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 08:05:30 EST

Researchers have discovered a series of large undersea sediment deposits in a region near Italy that were likely formed by an ancient volcanic supereruption.

Mystery of volcanic tsunami solved after 373 years

Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR) — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 10:05:38 EST

GEOMAR researchers reconstruct historic volcanic eruption using 3D seismics

Mouse mummies point to mammalian life in "Mars-like" Andes

Cell Press — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 17:05:09 EST

The dry, wind-swept summits of volcanoes in the Puna de Atacama of Chile and Argentina are the closest thing on Earth to the surface of Mars due to their thin atmosphere and freezing temperatures.

Cornell fills data gap for volcanic ash effects on Earth systems

Cornell University — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 12:05:00 EST

To bridge the knowledge gap between volcanologists and atmospheric scientists working on climate change and observing global systems, Cornell researchers have characterized volcanic ash samples from many explosive eruptions of a broad compositional range.

Linked faults explain ancient mythology and inform plans for world's longest suspension bridge

University of Oregon — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 03:05:13 EST

New research from the University of Oregon unpacks the geology behind lore, showing how seismically active faults on either side of the straight interact to create a narrow marine passage filled with geologic hazards.

Two out of three volcanoes are little-known. How to predict their eruptions?

Universite de Geneve (University of Geneva) — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 15:55:22 EST

What is the risk of a volcano erupting? To answer this question, scientists need information about its underlying internal structure.

Study: Atmospheric circulation weakens following volcanic eruptions

Washington University in St. Louis — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 11:05:48 EST

A new study in Nature has revealed that the Pacific Walker Circulation has changed its behavior over the industrial era in ways that weren't expected.