Trees around volcanoes act as early warning systems.
Before a volcano erupts, magma rising beneath the surface releases gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂). But detecting that gas early is tough – it’s invisible, odorless, and already common in the atmosphere.
Now, scientists have discovered that trees near volcanoes may act as natural early warning systems – and satellites can pick up the signals from space.
As CO₂ seeps into the soil and air, nearby trees absorb it. That extra carbon supercharges photosynthesis, making leaves greener and subtly changing how they reflect light. Those changes are invisible to the naked eye but detectable by satellites like NASA’s Landsat 8 and ESA’s Sentinel-2.
In a new study, a NASA-Smithsonian team confirmed this link by combining satellite data and on-the-ground measurements from volcanoes in Chile and Costa Rica. They tracked leaf color, tested CO₂ levels, and found that vegetation changes closely matched volcanic activity.
This method could be a game-changer. Roughly 10% of the world’s population lives near potentially active volcanoes – many in remote, hard-to-monitor regions. Instead of relying only on ground sensors, scientists can now use plants themselves as indicators, watching from orbit for early signs of unrest.
It’s not a perfect system. Some volcanoes aren’t forested, and vegetation reacts differently depending on climate. But when combined with seismic data and gas sensors, this plant-based approach adds a powerful new tool for eruption forecasting.
“There’s not one signal from volcanoes that’s a silver bullet,” says NASA volcanologist Florian Schwandner. “But this could change the game.”
Learn more: https://scitechdaily.com/volcanoes-send-secret.../...
By: From Quarks to Quasars FB
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