The causes of the correlation remain almost as mysterious as they were in Pliny's day, though scientists have identified two likely culprits. Strong quakes centered close by volcanoes can open fractures in the fiery mountains, making it easier for pressurized, molten rock to explode toward the surface. Further from a quake, deformation is less likely, but seismic waves still pack enough punch to shake the magma beneath a volcano. Liquid rock is full of dissolved gases, and agitating it is like shaking a bottle of seltzer water -- bubbles form, priming the system for an eruption. But whether one process leads to the eruption, or both are important, is still unknown, Michael Manga of the University of California, Berkeley said. Mostly that's because volcanoes aren't well understood. "This is deeply connected with improving our understanding of how volcanic systems work. In a sense it's a large-scale natural experiment," he said. "You take your volcano, you hit it a little with an earthquake, and you see how it responds." Related Links: |
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