The science of the “X-ray vision” that reveals the magma beneath Yellowstone
Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Scott K. Johnson, Science Communication Associate at EarthScope Consortium. Jeopardy is unique for its question-to-the-answer format, with contestants using a clue like “this animal starred in a 1975 Steven Spielberger film and can constantly regrow lost teeth” to correctly respond “what is a shark?” The geophysical techniques that allow us to image the magma beneath Yellowstone―as in a recent study that provided a view of multiple separate magma reservoirs― work similarly. These studies are often of great public
Volcano Watch — Peering into a crystal ball: What tiny crystals can tell us about their trip through the magma chamber
Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. This week's article was written by HVO post-doctoral researcher Heather Winslow. (A) Spatter cone samples from the Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption in and near Nāpau Crater from September 15–20, 2024. Crystals were collected from samples like this. (B) Back-scattered electron image of a plagioclase crystal from the September 2024 Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption. This crystal shows two distinct chemical zones from its core to rim. The core has a different composition from the rim of the
New study reveals insights into Yellowstone Volcanic System’s Hidden Magma Reservoirs
HILO, Hawaii — Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey and Oregon State University examined the area beneath Yellowstone Volcanic system finding that although an eruption is unlikely anywhere in the area, changes to the northeast area of the volcanic system will be the key to understanding future eruptions. Scientists at USGS mapped underground areas containing magma in this volcanic system. Understanding where magma is located is essential for predicting volcanic activity and keeping the public informed about potential risks. This study gave a clear picture of how magma is distributed through the crust at Yellowstone using a method that is most sensitive
An Electromagnetic View of How Magma is Stored beneath Yellowstone
Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Ninfa Bennington, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Yellowstone caldera is one of the largest volcanic systems in the world. Past volcanic activity at the caldera has ranged from the output of lava flows to the explosion of large volumes of ash, and the last eruption in the region—a lava flow—was over 70,000 years ago. In a recent study, USGS investigators with collaborators at Oregon State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison used