Using Lasers to Predict Volcanic Eruptions

Researchers have developed a new method using laser technology to analyze the chemical composition of erupted magma from volcanoes. By isolating the melt signal and analyzing it with mass spectrometry, this method provides a faster and more detailed measure of melt chemistry and its evolution over time. The study focused on the 2021 eruption at La Palma in the Canary Islands and found variations in lava chemistry linked to changes in earthquakes, sulfur dioxide emissions, eruption style, and hazards. This method could help improve monitoring and forecasting of volcanic eruptions, providing valuable insights into why they start and when they will end.