All articles tagged with #geothermal activity
Iran's dormant Taftan volcano has shown signs of activity after 700,000 years, with satellite data revealing a slow summit rise and increased gas emissions, indicating it is not extinct and may become active again, highlighting the need for better monitoring and understanding of volcanic risks.
A new thermal pool has unexpectedly appeared in Yellowstone's Norris Geyser Basin, likely formed by a series of small hydrothermal explosions rather than a major event, highlighting the park's ongoing geothermal activity and unpredictability.
A new thermal pool has formed in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone, likely from multiple small hydrothermal events between late December 2024 and early February 2025, indicating ongoing geothermal activity without a single major explosion.
Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have found evidence suggesting that the dwarf planets Eris and Makemake, located in the Kuiper Belt, may have underground oceans of liquid water due to geothermal activity. Observations indicate that methane on their surfaces is likely produced from within the planets' rocky cores, pointing to potential sources of liquid water beneath their icy surfaces. The findings raise the possibility of these dwarf planets containing habitable oceans and could also apply to Saturn's moon Titan, potentially impacting its presumed habitability.
Scientists have found evidence of hydrothermal or metamorphic activity within the icy dwarf planets Eris and Makemake, located in the Kuiper Belt. This discovery, made using data from the James Webb Space Telescope, suggests that these distant worlds may have warm or even hot geochemistry in their rocky cores, potentially leading to the presence of liquid water beneath their icy surfaces. The findings challenge previous assumptions about the nature of icy bodies in the outer solar system and open up new possibilities for studying potential habitability in these distant worlds.
Fears of a volcanic eruption in Iceland have led to the closure of the famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa and the evacuation of the town of Grindavik. Iceland, known for its geothermal activity, sits on the Mid-Atlantic Rift and has over 130 volcanoes. The country's Viking heritage and unique cuisine add to its appeal, but the current seismic activity has put the nation on edge as it waits to see if another volcanic giant will awaken.
A swarm of earthquakes, including a notable magnitude 4.4, rattled communities near Santa Rosa in north-central California. The ShakeAlert system was activated, and while there were no immediate reports of damage, the seismic activity reportedly woke sleeping residents and caused dogs to bark. Geothermal activity on Cobb Mountain had recently generated earthquakes in the area, but experts say the possibility of a major earthquake is remote. California generally gets two or three earthquakes large enough to cause moderate damage to structures that are magnitude 5.5 and higher each year.