Geophysicists and seismologists have identified the location of Yellowstone's shallowest magma reservoir with unprecedented precision.
The reservoir's top lies 3.8 km below the surface, and it shows evidence of gas bubbles and molten silicic rock filling the volcanic rock's pore space.
Researchers used artificial seismic waves and a network of portable seismometers to determine the reservoir's properties, aiding in more accurate predictions of the supervolcano's eruption potential.
This study not only provides insights into Yellowstone's volcanic activity but also offers methods that could help monitor the eruption potential of other volcanoes.