Tag Archives: Geophysics

Monitoring Volcanic Eruptions Using Lightning

Posted on March 27, 2020 by

Volcanologist Alexa Van Eaton explains the origins of electrical activity in volcanic ash plumes and why it sometimes leads to detectable lightning. Continue reading →

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Real-time observations explain magma dynamics of Kilauea’s 2018 eruption

Posted on January 3, 2020 by

Piston-like caldera collapses drove episodic lava flows far from the summit.  Continue reading →

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Plants slow river migration

Posted on December 13, 2019 by

Rivers in unvegetated landscapes migrate an order of magnitude faster than their vegetated counterparts. Continue reading →

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Volcano topography can distort ground deformation data

Posted on May 10, 2019 by

Cliff-like features could explain the anomalous measurements taken by tiltmeters deployed at Hawaii’s Kilauea and other volcanoes. Continue reading →

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Measurements of elusive mineral could explain mantle discontinuity

Posted on March 1, 2019 by

A predicted phase transition shows up in high-pressure experiments. Continue reading →

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Mineral measurements could explain mantle seismology

Posted on February 12, 2019 by

A predicted phase transition shows up in high-pressure experiments. Continue reading →

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Mars smiles for InSight’s cameras

Posted on December 7, 2018 by

We look forward to learning more about Mars as InSight’s scientific operations commence. Continue reading →

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Size-sorted sand creates uncommon length scale in windblown formations

Posted on July 2, 2018 by

A combination of grain-size distribution and critical wind speed is responsible for megaripples. Continue reading →

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New tools for forecasting steam-blast eruptions

Posted on June 1, 2018 by

Satellite data can pinpoint predictors of future explosive activity. Read more in Physics Today…

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How to build megaripples out of sand

Posted on May 30, 2018 by

Sorting of grains by steady winds produces rare formations larger than ripples but smaller than dunes. Continue reading →

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