Fresh research examines topic - Abruptly, the ground moves. Could another volcano be emerging in the Eifel region?
Active volcanism in the Eifel region remains a mystery for researchers. Studies show that the earth is gradually rising there by just one millimeter annually. Additionally, numerous low-frequency earthquakes have been detected at depths of 10 to 45 kilometers over time. At Lake Laach, traces of gases emanating from deep within the earth reveal ongoing magmatic activity.
Torsten Dahm, a geosciences expert from the German Research Center (GFZ) in Potsdam, states, "Eifel's volcanism is currently active. While it's impossible to predict when another eruption might occur, it's crucial to monitor shifts and patterns for early detection." Whether this will happen in a century or millennium, only time can tell. To keep tabs on any changes, data monitoring is essential.
Underground Magma Reservoir
Researchers suggest that the Eifel's major eruption 13,000 years ago was as massive as the 1991 Pinatubo volcanic eruption in the Philippines, which ejected 5 billion cubic meters of ash and dust into the atmosphere. It's presumed that a huge amount of magma lies beneath the Eifel's surface at about 50 kilometers depth. The region also includes Luxembourg, eastern Belgium, and southern Netherlands.
Dahm points out, "There's still much we don't know about the underground. We know an old magmatic reservoir lies somewhere beneath Lake Laach, but its exact location is unclear. Uncovering its location and understanding the Earth's crust and mantle structure is our primary objective for a recent investigation that concluded in fall 2023."
Harnessing Geothermal Energy
Approximately 350 temporary seismic stations were set up around the Eifel's volcanic areas to record seismic activity and environmental noise for a year. The collected data is now being analyzed. If the reservoir's location is determined, geothermal energy could potentially be derived from it. Dahm states, "If we discover the reservoir's location and confirm its current state, it could still be warm and may provide geothermal energy."
The Eifel region is the only volcanically active area in Germany. Dahm, the Head of Earthquake and Volcano Physics at the GFZ, states they're planning to enhance the earthquake-monitoring system by installing 11 additional measuring stations across the Eifel. Additionally, their GPS monitoring network is examining changes in the ground's movement, with over 20 stations set up around Lake Laach within recent years.
In 2019, German scientists announced that the Eifel region still boasts active volcanic activity. Since 2013, eight clusters of low-frequency earthquakes have been witnessed under Lake Laach at depths up to 45 kilometers, hinting at rising magmatic fluids in the Earth's upper mantle. They wrote in Geophysical Journal International that these quakes indicate such a phenomenon.
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Source: www.stern.de
