00:00Hawaii's Kaleawea volcano has produced 54 episodes of towering lava fountains since December 2024.
00:07Now, scientists are getting a clearer picture of what drives these spectacular eruptions.
00:12A study published in Science examines more than a year of activity at the volcano's summit.
00:18The key clue is what happens beneath the surface before the lava bursts skyward.
00:22As magma accumulates underground, pressure builds, and the summit ground swells.
00:27Scientists track these changes alongside earthquake signals, sounds, and volcanic gas emissions.
00:33When an eruption begins, the summit rapidly deflates as magma escapes.
00:38Think of opening a fizzy drink.
00:40Released pressure allows gas bubbles to expand.
00:43Inside a volcano, however, the process involves molten rock, complex gas movement, and enormous heat.
00:50Researchers found that relatively low carbon dioxide emissions
00:53weaken one proposed explanation involving gas-rich foam.
00:57But the precise mechanisms remain under investigation.
01:01These repeated eruptions are giving scientists valuable data
01:05to improve understanding of volcanic activity and its warning signs.
01:09Disclosure.
01:09This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
01:14This video contains information available within the stars.
01:14Let's go.
