Volcanology articles within Nature Communications

Featured

• Article
  26 February 2024 | Open Access

  Far-travelled 3700 km lateral magma propagation just below the surface of Venus

  In this study, the authors trace lateral magma movement in a ~ 3700 km long fracture on Venus. This Great Dyke of Atla Regio is the longest so-far traced on Venus (and in the solar system) and belongs to a giant radiating dyke swarm of the Ozza Mons volcano of the Atla Regio plume.

  • H. El Bilali
  •  & R. E. Ernst

• Article
  19 January 2024 | Open Access

  Oxide nanolitisation-induced melt iron extraction causes viscosity jumps and enhanced explosivity in silicic magma

  Oxide nanolites crystallisation in natural magma increases melt, and hence bulk magma viscosity mainly due to iron extraction. This increase can be sufficient to drive magma fragmentation depending on magma degassing and ascent dynamics.

  • Francisco Cáceres
  • , Kai-Uwe Hess
  •  & Donald B. Dingwell

• Article
  15 January 2024 | Open Access

  Nanoscale silicate melt textures determine volcanic ash surface chemistry

  Nanotexture-sensitive fracture focusing during magma fragmentation determines the surface chemistry of volcanic ash particles, thereby modifying the reactive interface and subsequent environmental impacts

  • Adrian J. Hornby
  • , Paul M. Ayris
  •  & Donald B. Dingwell

• Article
  30 November 2023 | Open Access

  Volcaniclastic density currents explain widespread and diverse seafloor impacts of the 2022 Hunga Volcano eruption

  During the 2022 Hunga Volcano eruption, 10 km³ of seafloor material was removed, fueling long-run out seafloor density currents. These powerful currents damaged seafloor cables over a length of >100 km, reshaped the seafloor, and caused mass-mortality of seafloor life.

  • Sarah Seabrook
  • , Kevin Mackay
  •  & Michael J. M. Williams

• Article
  20 November 2023 | Open Access

  Comprehensive mapping of lunar surface chemistry by adding Chang'e-5 samples with deep learning

  In this study, the authors map the lunar surface chemistry. They achieve this through a combination of deep learning and actual samples from the Chinese Chang’e-5 mission.

  • Chen Yang
  • , Xinmei Zhang
  •  & Ziyuan Ouyang

• Article
  07 November 2023 | Open Access

  Near-surface magma flow instability drives cyclic lava fountaining at Fagradalsfjall, Iceland

  This study of volcanic gas chemistry during pulsatory lava fountaining at Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland reveals that the intermittency stems from pressure cycles and gas-melt separation within a shallow magma-filled cavity.

  • Samuel Scott
  • , Melissa Pfeffer
  •  & Andri Stefánsson

• Article
  19 October 2023 | Open Access

  Magmatic connectivity among six Galápagos volcanoes revealed by satellite geodesy

  Reddin et al. use satellite radar to measure deformation at six Galápagos volcanoes. They observe correlated deformation signals between multiple volcanoes and attribute them to temporally varying plume supply into interconnected magmatic systems.

  • Eoin Reddin
  • , Susanna K. Ebmeier
  •  & Santiago Aguaiza

• Matters Arising
  16 October 2023 | Open Access

  Reported ultra-low lava viscosities from the 2021 La Palma eruption are potentially biased

  • Guillem Gisbert
  • , Valentin R. Troll
  •  & Juan Carlos Carracedo

• Article
  12 July 2023 | Open Access

  Volcanic evolution of an ultraslow-spreading ridge

  A new age map of the rift valley at an ultraslow-spreading ridge reveals that 50% of the lava flows are <25,000 years old. The study documents a continuous volcanic surface renewal with eruptions occurring throughout the width of the rift valley.

  • H. H. Stubseid
  • , A. Bjerga
  •  & R. B. Pedersen

• Article
  05 June 2023 | Open Access

  Lava dome cycles reveal rise and fall of magma column at Popocatépetl volcano

  Satellite imagery enhanced with deep learning sheds light on the mechanisms driving lava dome construction-destruction cycles. Results suggest that gas retention and escape from the magma system control the dome and crater morphological evolution.

  • Sébastien Valade
  • , Diego Coppola
  •  & Servando De la Cruz-Reyna

• Article
  29 May 2023 | Open Access

  Porosity evolution of mafic crystal mush during reactive flow

  In this study, the authors use a thermodynamically constrained model of melt-mush reaction to simulate the chemical, mineralogical, and physical consequences of reactive flow in a multi-component mush system.

  • Matthew L. M. Gleeson
  • , C. Johan Lissenberg
  •  & Paula M. Antoshechkina

• Article
  20 May 2023 | Open Access

  Evidence for structural control of mare volcanism in lunar compressional tectonic settings

  On the Moon, evidence has been found for the preexisting fault reactivation origin (tectonic inversion) of contractional wrinkle ridges in mare basins and the consequent structural control of volcanic eruptions in compressional tectonic settings.

  • Feng Zhang
  • , Alberto Pizzi
  •  & Yongliao Zou

• Article
  29 April 2023 | Open Access

  Revised Minoan eruption volume as benchmark for large volcanic eruptions

  The authors use seismic and sedimentology data to estimate the volume of the Minoan eruption. The results show that the Plinian phase contributed most to the distal tephra fall, and that the pyroclastic flow volume is significantly smaller than previously assumed.

  • Jens Karstens
  • , Jonas Preine
  •  & Christian Berndt

• Article
  12 April 2023 | Open Access

  The fragmentation-induced fluidisation of pyroclastic density currents

  Fragmentation-induced fluidization occurs in concentrated pyroclastic density currents where rapid particle breakage causes flow compaction and subsequent high pore fluid pressure, reducing friction and explaining their long runout.

  • Eric C. P. Breard
  • , Josef Dufek
  •  & Braden Walsh

• Article
  13 March 2023 | Open Access

  Genesis of Hawaiian lavas by crystallization of picritic magma in the deep mantle

  Here the authors demonstrate that Hawaiian lavas are formed by partial melting of mantle peridotite with subsequent fractionation of clinopyroxene and garnet in the deep magma chamber (90 km) and reequilibration with harzburgite at a shallower depth (<60 km).

  • Junlong Yang
  • , Chao Wang
  •  & Zhenmin Jin

• Matters Arising
  21 February 2023 | Open Access

  Silica is unlikely to be soluble in upper crustal carbonatite melts

  • Michael Anenburg
  •  & Tibor Guzmics

• Article
  11 February 2023 | Open Access

  Subduction initiation triggered the Caribbean large igneous province

  Using a large-scale 3D geodynamic model, the authors show how the transfer of subduction zone from the Pacific to the Atlantic triggered the formation of a mantle plume at the origin of the Cretaceous Caribbean Large Igneous province.

  • Nicolas Riel
  • , João C. Duarte
  •  & Anton Popov

• Article
  23 January 2023 | Open Access

  Magmatic plumbing and dynamic evolution of the 2021 La Palma eruption

  In a new study, the authors use seismological methods to understand the eruption of La Palma 2021. Results suggest a preparatory phase of de-stabilisation of a mushy reservoir, and a co-eruptive phase with seismicity controlled by the drainage and interplay of two reservoirs.

  • Carmen del Fresno
  • , Simone Cesca
  •  & Carmen López

• Article
  23 January 2023 | Open Access

  Velocity-dependent heat transfer controls temperature in fracture networks

  Heat transfer in a fracture network is heterogeneous as it depends pre-dominantly on flow velocity and fracture aperture. This finding has direct implications for the heat distribution and exploitation in geothermal and associated natural systems.

  • Thomas Heinze
  •  & Nicola Pastore

• Article
  13 December 2022 | Open Access

  Magma recharge and mush rejuvenation drive paroxysmal activity at Stromboli volcano

  Petrological studies along with volcano monitoring data relate the unusual 2019 explosive activity at Stromboli volcano (Italy) to deep magma recharges up to a few days prior the eruption and a direct link between deep and shallow magma reservoirs.

  • Chiara Maria Petrone
  • , Silvio Mollo
  •  & Mark Reagan

• Comment
  14 November 2022 | Open Access

  The harmful legacy of colonialism in natural hazard risk

  The colonial practices of geoscience have created long term vulnerabilities to natural hazards. In this comment the ongoing consequence are explored of colonialism as well as the actions that are needed to be taken to reduce natural hazard risk.

  • Jazmin P. Scarlett

• Article
  31 October 2022 | Open Access

  Volcanically hosted venting with indications of ultramafic influence at Aurora hydrothermal field on Gakkel Ridge

  The Aurora hydrothermal field (Arctic Ocean) is hosted in volcanic rocks but also shows evidence of mantle rock influence in the shallow sub-surface. Our discovery is pertinent to disciplines from marine mining to the search for life beyond Earth.

  • Christopher R. German
  • , Eoghan P. Reeves
  •  & Antje Boetius

• Article
  17 October 2022 | Open Access

  Hidden pressurized fluids prior to the 2014 phreatic eruption at Mt Ontake

  Phreatic volcanic eruptions can be unexpected and devastating. Here the authors, using seismic-based methodologies, find that pressurized fluids accumulated 5 months before the deadly phreatic eruption at Mt Ontake; a period previously considered as completely quiescent.

  • Corentin Caudron
  • , Yosuke Aoki
  •  & Toshiko Terakawa

• Article
  17 October 2022 | Open Access

  Genetic model of the El Laco magnetite-apatite deposits by extrusion of iron-rich melt

  Can volcanoes erupt ore deposits? This study combines observations, experiments, and simulations to show that iron ore deposits on El Laco volcano formed by eruption of melt sourced from separation of Fe-rich melt from a silicate magma body beneath.

  • Tobias Keller
  • , Fernando Tornos
  •  & Jenny Suckale

• Article
  07 September 2022 | Open Access

  Ultra-depleted hydrogen isotopes in hydrated glass record Late Cretaceous glaciation in Antarctica

  Analysis of volcanic glass from the Transantarctic Mountains suggests that 90 Million years ago glaciation was widespread in Antarctica, a period in Earth’s history when the continent was considered to be ice-free and part of a global greenhouse.

  • Demian A. Nelson
  • , John M. Cottle
  •  & Alfredo Camacho

• Article
  11 August 2022 | Open Access

  In-conduit capture of sub-micron volcanic ash particles via turbophoresis and sintering

  Here the authors document evidence of ultrafine ash captured within ash-venting nozzles at Cordón Caulle volcano (Chile). This decouples eruptive processes from the emitted products, as explained by a new model of in-vent ash migration and sticking.

  • Jamie I. Farquharson
  • , Hugh Tuffen
  •  & C. Ian Schipper

• Article
  09 August 2022 | Open Access

  Endogenically sourced volatiles on Charon and other Kuiper belt objects

  We show cryovolcanic eruptions released sufficient methane to source volatile products on Charon. Irradiated methane products are found on other Kuiper belt objects, so endogenically sourced volatiles could be important across the Kuiper belt.

  • Stephanie M. Menten
  • , Michael M. Sori
  •  & Ali M. Bramson

• Article
  21 July 2022 | Open Access

  Sulfur and chlorine budgets control the ore fertility of arc magmas

  Earth’s largest copper deposits form in continental arcs, yet it is not well understood what determines whether a magmatic system generates economic mineralization or not. Here the authors show that the abundance of chlorine and sulfur, rather than the abundance of ore metals controls magmatic ore fertility.

  • Carter Grondahl
  •  & Zoltán Zajacz

• Article
  15 July 2022 | Open Access

  Responding to eruptive transitions during the 2020–2021 eruption of La Soufrière volcano, St. Vincent

  The 2020 – 2021 eruption of La Soufrière volcano transitioned from an effusive to explosive eruption style. Here the authors show that input from multiple monitoring datasets and an evolving conceptual model were key to anticipating and responding to the eruptive transition at the La Soufrière volcano, St. Vincent, in a resource-constrained setting.

  • E. P. Joseph
  • , M. Camejo-Harry
  •  & R. S. J. Sparks

• Article
  30 June 2022 | Open Access

  Primitive noble gases sampled from ocean island basalts cannot be from the Earth’s core

  Li et al. established a liquid-liquid partition model based on ab initio calculations to reveal that He and Ne strongly fractionate during core-mantle separation, which concludes the primitive volatiles seen in hotspots cannot be from the core.

  • Yunguo Li
  • , Lidunka Vočadlo
  •  & John P. Brodholt

• Article
  29 June 2022 | Open Access

  Diverse mantle components with invariant oxygen isotopes in the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption, Iceland

  The 2021 eruption in the Reykjanes Peninsula of Iceland was the first in 800 years and was supplied by melts from diverse mantle source domains with near-identical oxygen isotope ratios, providing a unique insight into the Icelandic mantle plume.

  • I. N. Bindeman
  • , F. M. Deegan
  •  & T. R. Walter

• Article
  11 June 2022 | Open Access

  Modest volcanic SO₂ emissions from the Indonesian archipelago

  Indonesia is the country with the most active volcanoes, several of which are renowned for climate-changing eruptions. Here the authors show a rather moderate sulfur emissions budget and reinforce the idea that sulfur-rich eruptions reflect long-term accumulation of volatiles in the reservoirs.

  • Philipson Bani
  • , Clive Oppenheimer
  •  & Mita Marlia

• Article
  10 June 2022 | Open Access

  Dendritic crystallization in hydrous basaltic magmas controls magma mobility within the Earth’s crust

  In situ 4D experiments at high temperature and moderate pressure reveal that rapid dendritic crystallization in hydrous basaltic magmas promotes a rheological transition within minutes, controlling magma mobility within the Earth’s crust.

  • Fabio Arzilli
  • , Margherita Polacci
  •  & Mike R. Burton

• Article
  08 June 2022 | Open Access

  Eruption of ultralow-viscosity basanite magma at Cumbre Vieja, La Palma, Canary Islands

  The rheological properties of the 2021 Cumbre Vieja magma on La Palma, Canary Islands is investigated. The study indicates that this eruption was fueled by magma having among the lowest viscosities observed for mafic systems, and consequently produced lavas that were flowing in the supercritical and possibly turbulent regime.

  • Jonathan M. Castro
  •  & Yves Feisel

• Article
  03 June 2022 | Open Access

  Low-degree mantle melting controls the deep seismicity and explosive volcanism of the Gakkel Ridge

  Joint implementation of seismic tomography and numerical thermo-mechanical modeling sheds light to the causes of explosive submarine volcanic eruptions on the Gakkel Ridge and deeply penetrating seismicity down to 25 km depth.

  • Ivan Koulakov
  • , Vera Schlindwein
  •  & Aleksey Ivanov

• Article
  30 May 2022 | Open Access

  Trans-crustal structural control of CO₂-rich extensional magmatic systems revealed at Mount Erebus Antarctica

  Episodic magma eruption and CO₂ release to the atmosphere are controlled where two structural trends meet to cause dilatancy.

  • G. J. Hill
  • , P. E. Wannamaker
  •  & P. Kyle

• Article
  20 May 2022 | Open Access

  Inflated pyroclasts in proximal fallout deposits reveal abrupt transitions in eruption behaviour

  Jones et al. identify a new type of volcanic deposit, inflated pyroclasts, that form by continued gas expansion post-deposition. They show how these deposits can be indicative of abrupt transitions in eruptive behaviour at mafic volcanoes.

  • Thomas J. Jones
  • , Yannick Le Moigne
  •  & Donald B. Dingwell

• Article
  12 May 2022 | Open Access

  22 years of satellite imagery reveal a major destabilization structure at Piton de la Fournaise

  At Piton de la Fournaise volcano, satellite deformation allows to constrain the geometry of 57 magmatic intrusions. Versatile modeling reveals that a major spoon-shaped destabilization structure accommodates intrusions and seaward flank displacement.

  • Quentin Dumont
  • , Valérie Cayol
  •  & Aline Peltier

• Article
  20 April 2022 | Open Access

  Seismic precursors to the Whakaari 2019 phreatic eruption are transferable to other eruptions and volcanoes

  Volcanic eruptions that occur without warning can be deadly in touristic and populated areas. Using a machine learning approach, the authors here discover distinctive patterns hidden in the seismic signals of a number of New Zealand and Alaskan volcanoes, that occur before most of the eruptions studied.

  • Alberto Ardid
  • , David Dempsey
  •  & Shane Cronin

• Article
  31 March 2022 | Open Access

  Fibre optic distributed acoustic sensing of volcanic events

  Fibre Optic Distributed Acoustic Sensing on Mount Etna provides new opportunities for monitoring volcanic processes and demonstrates nonlinear interaction of infrasound wave with scoria layer, mapping its thickness and illuminating hidden structures.

  • Philippe Jousset
  • , Gilda Currenti
  •  & Charlotte M. Krawczyk

• Article
  29 March 2022 | Open Access

  Large-scale cryovolcanic resurfacing on Pluto

  Giant icy volcanos (cryovolcanos) on Pluto are unique in the imaged solar system and provide evidence for unexpected, active geology late in Pluto’s history.

  • Kelsi N. Singer
  • , Oliver L. White
  •  & Kimberly Ennico-Smith

• Article
  22 February 2022 | Open Access

  Melt stripping and agglutination of pyroclasts during the explosive eruption of low viscosity magmas

  The pyroclast properties and features can provide insights into the dynamics of explosive eruptions of low viscosity magma. Here, the authors show how lava droplets, or pyroclasts are subject to melt removal and melt addition during transport in a gas jet and present a method to reconstruct eruption conditions from the pyroclast textures.

  • Thomas J. Jones
  • , James K. Russell
  •  & Lea Hollendonner

• Article
  15 December 2021 | Open Access

  Destructiveness of pyroclastic surges controlled by turbulent fluctuations

  The hazards of pyroclastic surges remain poorly mitigated globally. Here, the authors show that their destructiveness is amplified by turbulent excursions of dynamic pressure energy that focusses inside the largest eddies and internal gravity waves.

  • Ermanno Brosch
  • , Gert Lube
  •  & Luke Fullard

• Article
  29 November 2021 | Open Access

  Thermochemical anomalies in the upper mantle control Gakkel Ridge accretion

  The ultimate driver of ultraslow spreading ridges is unknown. Here the authors use spreading rates derived directly from isotopic ages of seafloor samples to link magmatic and amagmatic segments with thermochemical variations in the upper mantle.

  • John M. O’Connor
  • , Wilfried Jokat
  •  & Anthony A. P. Koppers

• Review Article
  25 November 2021 | Open Access

  Volcanic activity and hazard in the East African Rift Zone

  New observations of volcanic and magmatic activity in Africa are changing our views of continental rifting and raising awareness of the associated hazards. However, despite a shift from crisis response to reducing disaster risks, limited capacity means mitigating geohazards remains challenging.

  • Juliet Biggs
  • , Atalay Ayele
  •  & Tim J. Wright

• Article
  17 November 2021 | Open Access

  Fluid migrations and volcanic earthquakes from depolarized ambient noise

  Deep fluids inside volcanoes disrupt the oscillations of signals produced by wind and sea. Imaging this disruption through space and time allows tracking hazardous fluid migrations leading to earthquakes before they reach the surface.

  • S. Petrosino
  •  & L. De Siena

• Article
  03 November 2021 | Open Access

  The Tharsis mantle source of depleted shergottites revealed by 90 million impact craters

  The ejection sites of the martian meteorites are still unknown. Here, the authors build a database of 90 million craters and show that Tharsis region is the most likely source of depleted shergottites ejected 1.1 Ma ago, thus confirming that some portions of the mantle were recently anomalously hot.

  • A. Lagain
  • , G. K. Benedix
  •  & K. Miljković

• Article
  02 November 2021 | Open Access

  Volumetric extrusive rates of silicic supereruptions from the Afro-Arabian large igneous province

  Quantifying the tempo of large-volume silicic magma generation and eruption is a long-standing but elusive task. Here we show that the three largest sequentially dated eruptions, totaling >4,300 km³, occurred within 48 ± 34 kyr and yield the highest known long term volumetric extrusive rate of silicic volcanism on Earth.

  • Jennifer E. Thines
  • , Ingrid A. Ukstins
  •  & Mark Schmitz

• Article
  21 September 2021 | Open Access

  Episodic transport of discrete magma batches beneath Aso volcano

  Repetitive shallow resonances provide a pathway to unravelling episodic magma transport deep in the magma plumbing system. Episodic deformation of ~1 nanoradian over ~100 s beneath Aso volcano potentially provides a link between long-term volcanic output and short-term eruption dynamics.

  • Jieming Niu
  •  & Teh-Ru Alex Song

• Article
  31 August 2021 | Open Access

  Paleocene/Eocene carbon feedbacks triggered by volcanic activity

  The Paleocene–Eocene boundary coincided with runaway global warming possibly analogous to future climate change, but the sources of greenhouse gasses have remained unresolved. Here, the authors reveal volcanism triggered initial warming, and subsequent carbon was released after crossing a tipping point.

  • Sev Kender
  • , Kara Bogus
  •  & Melanie J. Leng