Unexplainable The view from inside a volcano
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May 7, 2025 
Mike Poland, the scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, shares captivating insights into the hidden world of volcanoes. He discusses the challenges of predicting eruptions and the revolutionary plan to drill into magma chambers for real-time data. Joining him are Yan Lavallée and John Eichelberger, who emphasize the importance of innovative techniques and international collaboration. They explore the complexities of evacuating populations during volcanic unrest and the stunning implications of uncovering magma dynamics for science and geothermal energy.
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1970s Soufrière Evacuation Story
- In the 1970s, the evacuation of Soufrière de Guadalupe due to volcanic unrest disrupted lives but the eruption was minor.
- Werner Herzog documented the eerie deserted island, highlighting the challenges of eruption prediction and evacuation timing.
Limits of Current Forecasting
- Volcanologists are good at predicting eruptions but not at forecasting their size or duration.
- Improving eruption forecasting requires going beyond surface monitoring to understanding magma chambers directly.
Need for Data and Models
- Volcano eruption forecasting mostly relies on pattern recognition, similar to early weather forecasting.
- To improve, volcanology needs abundant direct data and physics-based models like meteorology developed.