Breaking News
admin
May 15 2025
2A groundbreaking study led by scientists at Cornell University has provided new insights into how magma is stored beneath Hawaiian volcanoes as they age and migrate away from a deep-seated hotspot in the Earth’s mantle. By analyzing microscopic gas bubbles trapped in volcanic crystals, researchers have mapped the evolving depths of magma storage with unprecedented precision.
Traditionally, geologists believed that eruptions were fueled primarily by magma stored within the Earth's crust. However, the latest findings, published in Science Advances, suggest a different scenario—one in which magma is stored and matures much deeper in the Earth’s mantle before triggering volcanic eruptions.
As the Pacific Plate slowly moves northwest, the Hawaiian Islands shift away from the intense heat of the mantle plume that fuels their volcanic activity. This movement changes not only the volume of magma reaching the surface but also the depth at which it is stored. Active volcanoes such as Kilauea, located directly over the hotspot on the Big Island, show shallow magma storage. In contrast, older volcanoes farther from the hotspot, like Haleakala on Maui and Diamond Head on O‘ahu, exhibit magma storage at much deeper levels.
“Our study challenges long-standing assumptions and shows that magma doesn’t just sit in the crust waiting to erupt—it’s evolving much deeper in the mantle,” said lead author Esteban Gazel. “This helps us better understand the lifecycle of volcanoes and the risk they pose.”
To achieve this level of detail, the team analyzed fluid inclusions—tiny gas bubbles sealed inside crystals formed from cooling magma. These inclusions preserve pressure information that can be used to calculate the depth at which the magma once resided. Using a laser-based Raman spectrometer paired with a custom-designed gas chamber, researchers were able to control temperature and pressure with high accuracy, narrowing depth estimates to within a few hundred meters.
The method was tested on volcanic samples representing three stages of Hawaiian volcano evolution:
Kilauea, an active shield volcano, showed magma stored at shallow depths of 1 to 2 kilometers.
Haleakala, in its post-shield stage, exhibited two distinct storage zones: one near 2 kilometers and another deep in the mantle between 20 and 27 kilometers.
Diamond Head, a rejuvenated volcanic vent on O‘ahu, revealed magma storage entirely within the mantle, at depths ranging from 22 to 30 kilometers.
“These precise measurements are critical,” Gazel emphasized. “To understand what drives eruptions, we must know where the magma is stored. That’s foundational for building accurate physical models and assessing volcanic hazards.”
The implications of the study extend beyond Hawaii. The same analytical method was used to study the 2021 eruption in La Palma, Canary Islands, and Gazel hopes to see it applied globally.
“Our lab not only develops these techniques but also trains others to use them,” he said. “My vision is to make this analysis available for volcanoes worldwide, improving our understanding of Earth’s inner workings and helping prepare for future eruptions.”
Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-tiny-gas-reveal-secrets-hawaiian.html
This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.
