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For many years, it has been known that one of the largest active volcanic systems in the world dwells beneath the surface of Yellowstone National Park, though its exact workings have remained somewhat mysterious. Geoscientists studying the area, however, discovered what may be key to avoiding an eruption.
A team of researchers from Rice University, the University of New Mexico, the University of Utah, and the University of Texas at Dallas recently found a large magma cap about 2.4 miles beneath the ground in Yellowstone. The molten cap works as a sort of “lid,” trapping heat and pressure beneath it, according to a news release shared by Rice University.
Led by Chenglong Duan and Brandon Schmandt, the research team used seismic imaging and advanced computer models to “see” Yellowstone’s inner workings and shed light on the depth of its magma system, which had previously been theorized to lie anywhere between 1.8 and 5 miles deep.
“For decades, we’ve known there’s magma beneath Yellowstone, but the exact depth and structure of its upper boundary has been a big question,” Schmandt, a professor of Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences, said in a statement. “What we’ve found is that this reservoir hasn’t shut down − it’s been sitting there for a couple million years, but it’s still dynamic.”
Looking beneath Yellowstone’s surface
The new findings suggest that the Yellowstone magma reservoir is “actively releasing gas while remaining in a stable state,” said the press statement. The stability of the volcanic system is “strongly influenced” by this magma reservoir, according to the study published April 16 in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature.
The location of the magma cap, which was later determined through modeling to be made of silicate melt and supercritical water bubbles within a porous rock, was first determined via a high-resolution seismic survey conducted by Schmandt. Using a 53,000-pound vibroseis truck (a device mounted on a truck that injects low-frequency vibrations into the Earth), the team created what were essentially “tiny earthquakes,” making seismic waves that then reflected off of subsurface layers.
An eruption is unlikely for now
Typically, gases like water and carbon dioxide can separate and form bubbles during the rise and decompression of magma. If enough of these bubbles accumulate, they can cause an explosive eruption, according to Rice University.
However, Yellowstone appears to be safe from this fate despite remaining so active, said the researchers. Instead, it appears to be efficiently venting gas through a system that Schmandt compared to “steady breathing” with bubbles rising and releasing through the porous rock. This venting process serves as something of a natural pressure-release valve that lowers eruption risk.
“By identifying this sharp, volatile-rich cap beneath Yellowstone, Schmandt’s team has established a new benchmark for monitoring the volcano’s activity,” Rice University said. “Future research could attempt to detect any shifts in melt content or gas accumulation that may serve as early warning signs of unrest.”
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