Scientists have found a special layer of magma just 3.8 km below Yellowstone National Park. This layer is full of gas and acts like a lid, helping to release pressure and reduce the risk of a volcanic eruption.
Advanced Seismic Imaging Reveals Underground Secrets
Researchers from top U.S. universities used high-tech seismic imaging to look deep underground. They discovered that the magma cap not only stores heat but also lets gas escape safely through the ground. This keeps the system stable yet active, like a volcano that breathes.
What the Scientists Say About the Discovery
Brandon Schmandt, a professor at Rice University, said the magma has been under Yellowstone for millions of years. Even though it hasn’t erupted, it’s still very much alive and dynamic. Chenglong Duan, who led the imaging process, said their new method gave them one of the clearest images ever of Yellowstone’s underground magma system.
How They Found the Magma Cap
The team used a 53,000-pound vibroseis truck, a machine usually used in oil and gas exploration. It created small man-made earthquakes. Seismometers recorded the waves bouncing back from underground layers. They found a clear boundary exactly 3.8 kilometers below the surface, showing where the magma layer begins.
What’s Inside This Magma Cap?
The magma layer is made of partially melted rock mixed with super-hot gas bubbles. Scientists believe this mix contains 14% empty space, and half of that is filled with gases like water vapor and carbon dioxide. This makes the cap volatile, but not dangerous.
Why This Reduces the Risk of Eruption
Although the magma cap is rich in gases, it’s not full enough to cause an eruption. Instead, the gas slowly escapes through tiny cracks in the rocks, similar to a volcano breathing steadily. This natural release system helps keep the pressure low.
Challenges in Doing the Research
Doing this study wasn’t easy. The team had to work during the COVID-19 pandemic and follow strict rules inside Yellowstone National Park. They were only allowed to operate the heavy truck at night and from specific roadsides. Over 600 sensors were used and collected just a few weeks later.
Processing the Data Took Time and Creativity
Even after gathering the data, making sense of it was tough. The ground under Yellowstone is very complex and scattered the seismic waves. Duan said he had to try new techniques, including one called STA/LTA, to make the signals clear. This was the first time this method was used with a wave-equation imaging tool.
Why This Discovery Matters
This new information gives scientists a much better idea of how Yellowstone’s volcano works. In the future, they can watch for changes in gas or melt that might signal danger. It also proves that this new imaging method can be used for other things too, like carbon storage, energy exploration, or monitoring other volcanoes.
From the Researchers
“Even when the data is messy, don’t give up,” said Duan. “We kept trying until we saw a clear picture of what’s really under Yellowstone.”
Schmandt added, “This work shows that with creativity and hard work, we can understand what’s going on deep underground — and that’s important for science, safety, and energy.”
