Analysis of the change in the stratovolcano's tilt just prior to the explosion suggests that the cracking of a previously intact fluid barrier caused the country's deadliest eruption since 1926.
Hazards & Disasters
Posted inNews
Glacial Outburst Flood near Mount Everest Caught on Video
More than 2 million cubic meters of water, hidden deep within Lhotse Glacier, spilled down toward the village of Chukhung, Nepal, in 2016.
Posted inScience Updates
Using Strain Rates to Forecast Seismic Hazards
Workshop on Geodetic Modeling for Seismic Hazard; Menlo Park, California, 19 September 2016
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Tracking Volcanic Bombs in Three Dimensions
A new method allows researchers to precisely track in three dimensions bits of fragmented magma as they are expelled in explosive volcanic eruptions.
Posted inOpinions
Airline Flight Paths over the Unmapped Ocean
An assessment of ocean depth knowledge underneath commercial airline routes shows just how much of the seafloor remains "terra incognita."
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Alteration Along the Alpine Fault Helps Build Seismic Strain
Detailed analysis of cores drilled through New Zealand's most dangerous on-land fault indicates that its permeability and strength are altered by mineral precipitation between seismic events.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Scientists Develop New Tool to Monitor Reef Health
A first-of-its-kind system could reveal short-term changes in threatened reefs worldwide.
Posted inOpinions
Defining Snow Drought and Why It Matters
Swings from snow drought to extreme winter rainfall make managing reservoirs, like the Oroville Dam, incredibly difficult. But what exactly is "snow drought"?
Posted inNews
Overlooked Data Source Improves Quake Intensity Maps
A new approach may fine-tune estimates of the range of shaking from earthquakes and help define areas of potential damage.
Posted inNews
Revived Climate Change Forum Focuses on Threats to Human Health
Public health and environmental organizations brought together by former vice president Al Gore held a pared-down meeting to replace a canceled one.