Scientists in France have developed a new technique that allows for unprecedented detailed imaging of the insides of volcanoes, improving the accuracy of eruption forecasts.
Researchers have developed an intelligent imaging technique that enables us to look deep inside colossal volcanoes with a level of detail and depth never seen before.
Image showing inside a volcano and the magma region below. (SCREENSHOT FROM SCIENCE ALERT).
The research team at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the Paris Institute of Planetary Physics (PIGP-France) borrowed ideas from medical imaging and optical microscopy to propose their approach, according to a report by Science Alert on September 30.
This new method applies to an existing technique known as matrix imaging, which helps overcome some challenges in volcano mapping, such as the lack of numerous sensors (seismic wave receivers) to record seismic waves reflecting through the Earth.
These waves can be interpreted to identify different types of materials and layouts within the Earth’s crust. With the help of matrix imaging, this interpretation becomes significantly easier.
“Monitoring volcanic eruptions requires accurate tracking of pressure and magma swelling for better forecasts. Understanding deep magma storage areas is crucial for assessing risk, but imaging these systems poses a challenge,” according to research published in the journal Nature.
For their experiments, the researchers selected La Soufrière volcano in Guadeloupe, a French overseas region in the Caribbean. The coverage provided by the seismic network at this location was described by the researchers as “sparse.”
“Matrix imaging technology successfully decoded wave deformations, revealing the internal structure of La Soufrière volcano at depths of up to 10 km,” stated the researchers.
Findings from this study include the presence of multiple complex magma layers stored underground and how these layers connect with other deep geological structures.
This additional data offers clearer insights into what is happening inside the volcano, meaning that eruptions can be predicted more accurately.
Encouragingly, no additional sensors are needed, as matrix imaging can operate with existing data. The researchers are confident that these methods could also be applied to other locations.
