Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery inside the Yellowstone supervolcano, finding a “breathing” magma cap that helps reduce the chances of a massive eruption. The 2.6-mile deep cap acts as a lid, trapping heat and pressure beneath it but also releasing some pressure through porous channels, making the system less likely to blow.
The study’s findings, published in the journal Nature, provide fresh insights into Yellowstone’s ancient volcanic system and its magma beginning point. Researchers have been studying the volcano for decades, but the exact depth and structure of its upper boundary has remained unclear.
To determine the cap’s location, scientists used a 53,000-pound vibroseis truck to generate tiny earthquakes that sent seismic waves into the ground. By analyzing when the reflected waves returned to the surface, they calculated the depth of the top of the magma system.
The researchers found that the cap layer is likely composed of molten minerals and supercritical water bubbles within a porous rock. These bubbles can increase pressure and trigger eruptions, but in Yellowstone, they rise and escape through the porous cap, releasing pressure and lowering the risk of an eruption.
Lead researcher Brandon Schmandt compared this system to “steady breathing,” suggesting that the volcano’s magma is efficiently venting gas through cracks and channels, which makes sense given its abundant hydrothermal features.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/scientists-find-breathing-magma-cap-inside-yellowstone-supervolcano