Scientists explore the anatomy of a ‘zombie volcano’ that’s showing signs of activity

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🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists have unraveled the mystery behind Bolivia’s Uturuncu volcano, a so-called “zombie volcano” that has shown signs of activity after 250,000 years of dormancy
• Using satellite imagery, seismic data, and computer models, researchers discovered that Uturuncu’s unrest is due to a hydrothermal system of magma, gases, and fluids rather than imminent magma movement — suggesting no near-term eruption risk

🔭 The context: First detected via satellite in the late 1990s, Uturuncu’s surface had been subtly rising, sparking fears of reactivation
• However, new multi-disciplinary research shows that a vast magma body, the Altiplano-Puna Magma Body beneath the Andes, is heating underground fluids that migrate upward without indicating eruptive behavior
• This finding clarifies the dynamics within a category of volcanoes globally dubbed "zombie volcanoes," many of which remain scientifically underexplored

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Understanding dormant but active volcanoes improves volcanic hazard assessments, essential for safeguarding communities and infrastructure
• Furthermore, insights into hydrothermal systems could inform strategies for harnessing geothermal energy and sourcing critical minerals like copper and nickel, vital for clean energy technologies
• Sustainable resource extraction from such systems could align energy needs with environmental stewardship

⏭️ What's next: Researchers aim to apply similar investigative methods to other zombie volcanoes worldwide, enhancing predictive models for volcanic hazards and identifying geothermal and mineral resource opportunities
• Future studies will seek to distinguish between volcanoes in permanent decline and those at risk of reawakening, with broader implications for energy, mining, and disaster preparedness sectors

💬 One quote: “It looks like it’s just the volcano degassing, letting off steam and calming down, if anything,” — Dr. Mike Kendall, University of Oxford

📈 One stat: The Altiplano-Puna Magma Body beneath Uturuncu spans approximately 124 miles (200 kilometers), making it the largest known active magma reservoir in the Earth’s crust

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