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The immense , underground scoop of molten rock that feeds Hawaii ’s volcanoes may be a mickle closer to the Earth ’s airfoil than antecedently imagine ; it could be the shallowest in the world , new chemical analysis suggests .
The unexampled finding may help investigator better presage when the island ' volcanoes are going to erupt .
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. 1972-1974 eruption of Kilauea Volcano. Fountain along the base of the west wall of Pauahi Crater.
“ Hawaii was already unique among volcanic systems , because it has such an extensive plumbing system , and themagma that eruptshas a unique and variable chemical composition , " said Julie Ditkof , an honors undergrad scholar in earth sciences at Ohio State University .
Using a proficiency developed by Michael Barton , a prof of solid ground science at Ohio State , Ditkof study nearly 1,000 magma sample distribution from Hawaii . She presented her findings on Tuesday , Dec. 14 at the American Geophysical Union Meeting in San Francisco .
For his own inquiry onIceland ’s vent , Barton determined that the chemic make-up of once - liquid magma can point the pressing at which it crystallize . That information can then be used to determine how far under the Earth ’s control surface the magma originate .
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. 1972-1974 eruption of Kilauea Volcano. Fountain along the base of the west wall of Pauahi Crater.
When Ditkof employ the proficiency to Hawaii ’s volcanoes , she see the islands ' torrid passel share a single so - called magma chamber , which dwell a simple 1.9 to 2.5 miles ( 3 to 4 kilometers ) below Hawaii .
" Now we recognise the bedchamber is at a shallow depth not seen anywhere else in the world , " Ditkof said .
In comparison , the magma sleeping accommodation beneath Iceland lie at an median profoundness of 12.4 miles ( 20 km ) .
Researchers could use Barton ’s chemic analysis technique to on a regular basis monitor pressure inside Hawaii ’s magma sleeping room and make more accurate estimates of when eruptions are going to occur .
Barton said that , at long last , the determination might be more important in term of energy .
" Hawaii has vast geothermic resources that have n’t been exploit amply , " he said , adding that scientists would have to ascertain whether tapping that vigour was practical — or safe .
" You ’d have todrill some test bore hollow . That ’s dangerous on an dynamic vent , because then the lava could flow down and pass over out your boring rig , " Barton read .
This clause was provided byOurAmazingPlanet , a sister site of LiveScience .
