NASA Satellite Detects Tree Leaf Changes as Early Volcano Eruption Warning Signal

NASA scientists may quickly be capable of forecast volcanic eruptions by monitoring how bushes reply from area. Now, in a brand new collaboration with the Smithsonian Establishment, they’ve found that tree leaves develop lusher and greener when beforehand dormant volcanic carbon dioxide seeps up from the bottom — an early warning {that a} cone of magma is pushing upwards. Now, utilizing satellites akin to Landsat 8 and knowledge from the current AVUELO mission, scientists suppose this organic response could possibly be seen remotely, serving as an added layer of early warning for eruptions in high-risk areas that at the moment menace tens of millions worldwide.

NASA Makes use of Tree Greening as Satellite tv for pc Clue for Early Volcano Eruption Warnings in Distant Areas

As per the analysis by NASA’s Earth Science Division at Ames Analysis Centre, greening happens when bushes soak up volcanic carbon dioxide launched as magma rises. These emissions precede sulfur dioxide and are tougher to detect immediately from orbit.

Whereas carbon dioxide doesn’t all the time seem apparent in satellite tv for pc photographs, its downstream results — enhanced vegetation, for instance — might help reinforce current volcanic early warning techniques, notes volcanologist Florian Schwandner. It could possibly be vital as a result of, because the U.S. Geological Survey says, the nation remains to be some of the volcanically energetic.

Globally, about 1,350 probably energetic volcanoes exist, many in distant or hazardous areas. On-site gasoline measurement is expensive and harmful, prompting volcanologists like Robert Bogue and Nicole Guinn to discover tree-based proxies.

Guinn’s examine of tree leaves round Sicily’s Mount Etna discovered a robust correlation between leaf color and underground volcanic exercise. Satellites akin to Sentinel-2 and Terra have confirmed able to capturing these delicate vegetative adjustments, notably in forested volcanic areas.

To verify this technique, local weather scientist Josh Fisher led NASA-Smithsonian groups in March 2025 to Panama and Costa Rica, accumulating tree samples and measuring gasoline ranges close to energetic volcanoes. Fisher sees this interdisciplinary analysis as key to each volcano forecasting and understanding long-term tree response to atmospheric carbon dioxide, which can reveal future local weather situations.

The advantages of early carbon dioxide detection have been demonstrated within the 2017 eruption of Mayon volcano within the Philippines, the place it allowed mass evacuations and saved greater than 56,000 lives. It has its limitations, like unhealthy terrain or an excessive amount of environmental noise, but it surely could possibly be a game-changer.