volcanology

A volcano that erupted after being asleep for more than 100,000 years is leading more volcanologists to say we must redefine volcano activity to ensure eruptions don't surprise us.

We’re terribly spoiled these days when it comes to footage of lava and volcanic eruptions. Back when I started FYFD, I could find very few decent photos of lava flows to illustrate posts. And now, thanks to drone cameras, we have a glut of absolutely gorgeous footage of flowing lava. This particular example comes from […]

Changes at the surface of a volcanic edifice, such as snow or hydrological loading, ice cap melting, and flank destabilization, can cause significant surface deformation. Understanding the contribution of surface processes to ground deformation is therefore important for monitoring the state of the underlying volcanic system. The Katla Volcano in Iceland lies under Mýrdalsjökull, the fourth large…

Scientific Data, Published online: 01 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41597-026-07504-9 Volcanic glass geochemical fingerprints of the Black Sea tephra layers in the last ~60 kyr

The sedimentation of volcanic ash produced by explosive volcanic eruptions is commonly modelled as being governed by particles falling individually. However, collective settling processes, such as settling-driven gravitational instabilities can shorten the atmospheric residence time of ash. These instabilities generate downward-propagating plumes known as fingers that descend faster than the term…

Active volcanoes represent a significant hazard to surrounding communities, requiring continuous and reliable monitoring. While seismic signals constitute the main source of information, each volcano produces massive datasets that are difficult to process and interpret manually. Consequently, automated recognition and localization systems have become essential for the real-time detection and asse…

It's not every day that our planet erupts in a fiery outpouring from the ground...

The South Pacific blast may have consumed its own methane — but using this idea against the greenhouse gas is controversial.

The volcano on Indonesia’s Halmahera Island routinely ejects ash, volcanic gases, and volcanic bombs. The post Ever Restless Mount Dukono Erupts appeared first on NASA Science .

Satellites captured footage of an underwater volcano eruption in a part of the sea that remains largely a mystery.

Earth’s largest volcanic system, hidden in mountain chains under the sea, has long been assumed to erupt only quietly. The shallow seafloor off Iceland tells another story. The post When Quiet Undersea Volcanoes Turn Disruptive first appeared on Quanta Magazine

People have long hoped to reliably predict volcanic eruptions. An automated system at Piton de la Fournaise in France has been doing so since 2014 with an impressive 92% accuracy. The tool, called Jerk, makes its predictions based on real-time measurements of subtle ground movements associated with magma fracturing rock on its way to the […]

Nature Communications, Published online: 26 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73472-8 Author Correction: Volatile resorption expedites eruption onset in large silicic systems

Nature Communications, Published online: 25 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-71536-3 CO2-rich magmas beneath Pagan Volcano are stored near Moho depths and ascend to the surface within weeks to months. These findings link deep, rapid magma ascent to carbonate capped seamount subduction and highlight the role of recycled carbon in arc volcanism.

A massive movement of magma unfolded beneath this Atlantic island, but almost nobody realized it at the time.

Satellite imagery shows a surge of new volcanic activity in the ocean near Papua New Guinea. The post New Eruption in the Bismarck Sea appeared first on NASA Science .

Campi Flegrei, a volcanic caldera near Naples, is speeding toward a transition, a new study suggests, but there are still a lot of questions as to whether it will erupt in the near future.

Scientists have uncovered how a huge underground magma surge shook Portugal’s São Jorge Island with thousands of earthquakes. In March 2022, São Jorge Island in Portugal’s Azores experienced thousands of earthquakes caused by a huge underground surge of magma (molten rock), according to a new study led by researchers at UCL (University College London). The [...]

Nature Communications, Published online: 18 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73403-7 Subduction-recycled water trapped in the mantle transition zone can be drawn up by a migrating mid-ocean ridge, triggering deep melting that forms thick oceanic plateau.

We are continuing with our natural hazards theme with 'Bubble-mania; the bubbling clues to magma viscosity and eruptions'. This ELI is a simple test of the viscosity of two similar- looking liquids, linked to volcanic eruption style. Many more 'volcanic' ELIs can be found under Volcanoes in our Natural Hazards category.