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Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
New study by NASA shows tropical trees can warn of volcanic eruptions
NASA has introduced a new way to observe the patterns of volcanoes by monitoring the health of trees through satellite images. In partnership with the Smithsonian Institution's AVUELO (Airborne Validation Unified Experiment: Land to Ocean), scientists at the space agency said they can detect early signs of volcanic eruptions by observing the changing colours of leaves from trees. The scientists revealed that when the leaves from trees near a volcano turn greener, it is indicative of the fact that it is active and is about to erupt soon. They can reportedly detect early signs of an active volcano by tracing the volcanic carbon dioxide (CO₂) consumption patterns of trees in the vicinity. The research shows that with rising magma under the surface of Earth, it releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) into the atmosphere. While tracing sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere is comparatively easier, scientists claim that traces of volcanic-emitted carbon dioxide are much more difficult to detect. This is because CO₂ blends with other gases in the atmosphere, making it difficult to distinguish. Depending on the physiographic signs like seismic waves, deformation in the surrounding land, and the levels of gases, scientists and volcanologists use natural methods to study the pattern of volcanoes. However, they also believe that tracing the effect of volcano-emitted CO₂ on the vegetation around the site will help them assess the activities of volcanoes even at the surface level. The research by volcanologists and NASA scientists further revealed that tropical plants located in the vicinity of volcanoes absorb the carbon dioxide emanating from the rising magma through their roots, and this makes them more healthy and green. Simply put, CO₂ has a fertilising effect on these trees. Scientists have been observing changes in the leaves of these tropical plants through satellite imagery, which is enabling them to study the effect of CO₂ at the surface level. According to volcanologist Florian Schwander, chief of Earth Science Division at NASA's Ames Research Centre, an early warning system for volcanoes already exists. However, he said it is important to upgrade the system for accurate and timely results. In 2019, Schwander and Robert Bogue, a volcanologist from McGill University, Montreal, and 11 other scientists published a study showing the effects of CO₂ emitted from volcanoes on tropical forests. The study concluded that these volcanic emissions of CO₂ have a measurable yet short-term effect on trees. These emissions could also be used to study future impacts on the ecosystems. There are 1,350 active volcanoes worldwide; however, they are mostly located in remote areas, making it difficult for scientists to measure the carbon levels in their vicinity. As part of the research, scientists had to trek through rugged mountain terrains. While volcanologists worked with botanists to observe volcanic activity, scientists decided to monitor these trees through satellite imagery. The AVUELO project, which collaborated with NASA this March, examined the trees in two regions – Panama and Costa Rica – through a spectrometer that they deployed in the volcano-active tropical forests. Using images from NASA's Terra satellite, Landsat 8, the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 and other satellites, volcanologist Nicole Guinn from the University of Houston studied the resemblance of data from space and the field. These images were taken from the trees near Mount Etna volcano near the coast of Sicily, Italy. Guinn examined the existing correlation between the changing colours of leaves and the carbon dioxide emitted from the magma under the volcano. On the other hand, as part of the research, scientist Josh Fisher from Chapman University, California, and his team went to the Rincon de la Vieja volcano in Costa Rica. The team collected leaf samples and measured levels of carbon dioxide emitted from the volcano. Later, they compared the observations from satellite imagery and field observations. Fisher said that 'the aim of this study is not just to understand the correlation between the changing colours of the leaves and the volcanic emitted CO₂ but also to measure the amount of gas trees can absorb when exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide.' This observation was also made by the Philippine government in 2017. Back then, the government of Philippines traced the changing colours of the leaves of tropical trees around the domain of a volcano. The government released an early warning and evacuated over 56,000 people ahead of its eruption on January 23, 2018. With this, the government was not only able to release an early warning but also avoid casualties. Regardless, scientists maintained that satellite imagery was not enough to detect early warning signs of volcanic activity. They need to be supported by ground observation work. However, there is a rise in the global population around volcanic sites. Tracing gases emitted by volcanoes through satellite imagery at these sites is groundbreaking. Talking about the research, volcanologist Schwandner said, 'Tracing the effect of volcanic carbon dioxide on trees will not be a silver bullet. But it could be something that will change the game.' (This article has been curated by Anushka Rajvedi, who is an intern with The Indian Express)
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trees May Be Able to Warn Us When a Volcano Is About to Erupt
The science of predicting volcanic eruptions can genuinely save lives – potentially, a lot of lives – and researchers have shown that tree leaf colors can act as warning signals around a volcano that's about to blow. As volcanoes get more active and closer to an eruption, they push magma up closer to the surface, releasing higher levels of carbon dioxide. That in turn can boost the health of the surrounding trees, making leaves greener. And those changes – specifically in the measurement known as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) – can be spotted by satellites in space. We could be looking at an early warning system for eruptions that doesn't require any local field work or ground sensors, so it could work in remote and difficult-to-access areas. "There are plenty of satellites we can use to do this kind of analysis," says volcanologist Nicole Guinn, from the University of Houston. Guinn was the first author of a recent study looking at carbon dioxide levels around Mount Etna in Italy. The study compared data from sensors around the volcano with satellite imagery, finding a strong relationship between more carbon dioxide and greener trees. Across the course of two years, the team found 16 clear spikes in carbon dioxide and the NDVI, matching magma movements underground. The patterns were even observed farther away from faults in the mountain. That study referenced earlier research from 2019, led by volcanologist Robert Bogue of McGill University, which showed that carbon dioxide emitted by two active volcanoes in Costa Rica had an impact on leaf color in tropical trees in the area. Now Guinn and Bogue, together with other researchers, are working on a project led by NASA and the Smithsonian Institution, analyzing changes in the color of plant life around volcanoes in Panama and Costa Rica. It's part of the collaborative Airborne Validation Unified Experiment: Land to Ocean (AVUELO) mission, which is looking to develop more ways in which we can measure the health of the planet from satellites. Current methods, like NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2, are only strong enough to pick up major eruptions. "A volcano emitting the modest amounts of carbon dioxide that might presage an eruption isn't going to show up in satellite imagery," says Bogue. "The whole idea is to find something that we could measure instead of carbon dioxide directly, to give us a proxy to detect changes in volcano emissions." There are multiple signals that can be interpreted to predict volcanic eruptions, including the rumble of seismic waves and changes in ground height. With the greening of leaves from carbon dioxide emissions, we now have another signal to measure – even if it won't be suitable for all sites. The AVUELO researchers are also interested in the broader effects of increased carbon dioxide on trees. As our world warms up due to human emissions of carbon dioxide, we could be increasingly reliant on vegetation to regulate this greenhouse gas. "We're interested not only in tree responses to volcanic carbon dioxide as an early warning of eruption, but also in how much the trees are able to take up, as a window into the future of the Earth when all of Earth's trees are exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide." says climate scientist Josh Fisher, from Chapman University in California and part of the AVUELO team. The Mount Etna research was published in Remote Sensing of Environment. 60% of The Ocean Floor Could Harbor 'Rare' Supergiant Crustacean Watch: 1,000-Foot Lava Jets Erupt From Hawaii's Kīlauea Volcano Giant Megalodon's Prey Finally Revealed, And It's Not What We Thought
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NASA scientists reveal how trees can predict volcanic eruptions from space
Recent breakthroughs in satellite and environmental sensing technology have introduced a promising method for detecting volcanic unrest by monitoring changes in vegetation health from space. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This innovative approach, supported by in-field data from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's AVUELO (Airborne Validation Unified Experiment: Land to Ocean) mission, enhances early warning systems for volcanic eruptions . By analysing how trees respond to volcanic CO₂ emissions, scientists can detect subtle signs of increased volcanic activity, potentially providing earlier alerts and improving the accuracy of volcanic forecasts, especially in remote or hard-to-reach areas. NASA satellite images can spot volcanic activity through plant growth As magma rises beneath the Earth's surface, it releases gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂). Although existing volcanic monitoring systems generally depend on seismic activity, ground deformation, and on-site gas measurements, detecting low-level CO₂ release from space is still a huge challenge due to atmospheric dilution and sensor limitations. Source: NASA Nonetheless, scientists have found a key biological proxy: trees. Plant life, especially trees that grow near active volcanoes, may take up volcanic CO₂ through roots. This absorption can lead to visibly greener and healthier leaves as a result of the fertilization effect of more CO₂. These physiological effects can be measured using satellite imagery, providing an indirect but quantifiable measure of subsurface volcanic activity. NASA tracks volcanic activity through vegetation changes The AVUELO project, coupled with NASA's Landsat 8 satellite and airborne sensors, has shown the potential for spectral analysis to track these plant changes across vast and sometimes inaccessible volcanic areas. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now By mapping changes in vegetation indices—like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)—researchers can detect regions where tree health has anomalously increased, which could be related to concurrent volcanic gas emissions. Source: NASA A dramatic demonstration of the phenomenon occurred alongside Costa Rica's Rincón de la Vieja volcano. Volcanic CO₂ there warmed and bubbled through water pools while altering vegetation on the ground at the same time. Those observations on the ground as well as in orbit validate the idea that the health of trees could be an early warning sign of magmatic activity. NASA aims to enhance volcano early warning systems As Dr. Florian Schwandner, the Director of the Earth Science Division at NASA's Ames Research Center, explains, the intention is not to supplant current volcanic monitoring methods but to improve and add to their effectiveness. "Volcano early warning systems exist," Schwandner said, "The aim here is to make them better and make them earlier." Conventional approaches are hampered by such volcanoes in remote or heavily forested areas with poor access for placing ground sensors. By utilizing tree response as a proxy for volcanic CO₂, this barrier can be overcome. As McGill University's Dr. Robert Bogue describes, "Volcanoes release a lot of carbon dioxide, but the modest quantities emitted before an eruption go undetectable from space. The concept is to look for something measurable instead—trees provide us with that signal. How ground observations enhance satellite volcano monitoring To verify satellite data, scientists integrate space data with ground observations. Field staff take leaf samples and obtain measurements of CO₂ near volcanoes to verify the accuracy of the vegetation changes determined by satellites. This synthesis approach guarantees the biological proxy's reliability and improves predictability. According to NASA reports, Dr. Nicole Guinn, a volcanologist at the University of Houston, highlighted the value of synthesizing a wide variety of satellite assets, ranging from NASA's Terra to ESA's Sentinel-2, in creating a complete image of the evolution of vegetation on volcanic terrain like Mount Etna in Italy. But she noted that "satellite data alone is not enough," highlighting the need for field verification to establish coherence between vegetation signals and volcanic gas emissions. This new approach marks a major breakthrough in remote sensing and environmental monitoring. Through the natural biological reactions of trees in response to volcanic gas release, researchers are creating an additional tool that might give earlier indications of volcanic eruptions—perhaps days or weeks ahead of conventional indicators. Since climate-resilient monitoring grows more and more vital in the wake of increased global population areas around the vicinity of volcanic regions, this tree-based signal detection presents a scalable and non-invasive approach for the improvement of global volcanic early warning systems. Also Read |
