Latest news with #Geophysics
BBC News
2 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Mount Etna: Volcano erupts again sending ash plumes into sky
Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna, erupted again on Monday, sending large plumes of ash and smoke into the skies above the island of Sicily in Italy. Mount Etna's eruptions happen quite frequent, and they are not usually disruptive or a threat to the local people. The full scale of the eruption is currently unclear, but it is not expected to cause significant damage or are keeping a close eye on the volcano's activity. Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) Etna Observatory said it was likely that part of the volcano's crater had collapsed and that this was the material being carried down its material, known as pyroclastic flow, can be dangerous to the surrounding area, but there has been no indication of it being a threat a the moment. Planes are still able to fly in and out of the island's airports, despite an earlier warning there may be some disruption. Mount Etna is on the largest Mediterranean island of Sicily, which is located off the south coast of last erupted around two weeks ago, when lava was seen spewing into the air and down the side of the mountain.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
Sicily's Mount Etna erupts in a fiery show of smoke and ash miles high
MILAN (AP) — Sicily's Mount Etna put on a fiery show Monday, sending a cloud of smoke and ash several kilometers (miles) into the air, but officials said the activity posed no danger to the population. The level of alert due to the volcanic activity was raised at the Catania airport, but no immediate interruptions were reported. Italy's INGV National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the spectacle on Europe's most active volcano was caused when part of the southeast crater collapsed, resulting in hot lava flows. Officials said the activity appeared to be easing. It was the 14th eruptive phase in recent months. The area of danger was confined to the summit of Etna, which was closed to tourists as a precaution, according to Stefano Branca, an INGV official in Catania. Sicily's president, Renato Schifani, said lava flows emitted in the eruption had not passed the natural containment area, 'and posed no danger to the population.' The event was captured in video and photos that went viral on social media. Tremors from the eruption were widely felt in the towns and villages on Mount Etna's flanks, Italian media reported.
Zawya
14-05-2025
- Science
- Zawya
6.4-magnitude earthquake strikes off Egypt
CAIRO - Egypt's National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) recorded a significant earthquake early on Wednesday. The earthquake, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, struck approximately 631 kilometres north of Rashid. The epicentre was located at a latitude of 35.12°N and a longitude of 27.0°E, with a depth of 76 kilometres. According to NRIAG's data, the earthquake was felt in several parts of Egypt, including coastal areas along the Mediterranean. No casualties or major property damage have been reported. ES
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists make ominous discovery about volcanoes beneath Antarctic ice sheet
Though the effects of melting ice sheets on sea level rise and changes in ocean salinity have been meticulously researched, how this impacts volcanic activity has been largely unstudied — until now. Research on melting glacial ice sheets and the resulting impact on volcanic chambers in the Earth's crust has revealed a startling positive feedback loop effect with alarming implications for the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. In the Antarctic, giant ice sheets averaging about 1.3 miles thick weigh heavily on the Earth's crust. However, as the ice melts, less weight bears down on the crust, causing it to shift upward, as summarized. The study — published in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems and shared by AGU Publications — examined the effects of the shift on magma chambers by studying volcanic deposits from the Andes dating back 35,000 years. Findings suggest that when glacial melt occurs, the highly sensitive magma chambers within the crust are disturbed, which could trigger explosive volcanic eruptions in one of Earth's most significant volcanic areas. The research indicated that as ice sheets lose ice at increasing rates because of warming global temperatures, volcanic explosions could occur at increasing rates and intensity. Extensive melt speeds up the first volatile expulsion — the formation and expansion of gas, the first stage of an eruption — by tens to hundreds of years, per As a result of the high temperature and strength and close proximity to Antarctic ice, these volcanic eruptions, in turn, can accelerate the loss of glacial ice. Thus, a dangerous positive feedback loop can be created, with ice melt triggering more intense volcanic eruptions and more frequent volcanic eruptions hastening the disappearance of Antarctic ice sheets. The study's findings fill critical knowledge gaps that will make it easier for scientists to track the rate of ice sheet disintegration. Do you think our power grid needs to be upgraded? Definitely Only in some states Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Melting ice in both the Arctic and Antarctic has a huge impact on our planet. The Earth depends on ice sheets to reflect sunlight back into space to regulate temperature and create a stable climate. In fact, ice reflects 50% to 70% of the sun's energy away from the planet; without ice, much of that energy would be absorbed. Global sea levels are also impacted by melting ice. As ice melts, sea levels rise, eroding and submerging coastal communities and critical ecosystems and salinating water supplies. Meanwhile, warming temperatures exacerbate extreme weather events like hurricanes. Most importantly, studies like this one give us a better understanding of how and why ice sheets are melting so we can mitigate its causes and protect ourselves from its effects. While there isn't much the average person can do to immediately stop the melting of ice sheets, everyday actions to reduce one's carbon impact are a surefire way to at least slow its progress. One way individuals can reduce their carbon output is by changing transportation habits. Instead of driving, individuals can try walking, biking, or taking public transportation to avoid the pollution that would otherwise be produced by private vehicles. In fact, replacing any drive of two miles or less with walking or biking can save over 600 pounds of carbon from entering the Earth's atmosphere in a year. If opting for a different mode of transportation isn't feasible, there are plenty of other ways to decrease your carbon output. Growing your own food, composting, switching to a natural lawn, investing in energy-efficient devices, installing rooftop solar, and swapping a gas vehicle for an electric one are all excellent options, too. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
