Volcano eruptions prediction now possible via historical data

Is it possible to predict a volcanic eruption and how ?

Scientists have developed a new method of predicting volcanic eruptions by collecting geological and historical data on previous eruptions of the volcano.

Researchers from the Department of Earth Sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London collected volcanic eruptions data of the Santorini volcano in Greece, to work out the capacity of the volcano's magma-chamber.

The volcano eruption prediction model allowed them to estimate the pressure increase in the magma-chamber when it's being refilled and therefore forecast when it's likely to rupture and potentially cause an eruption, Science Daily reported.

Research claims that the new volcano prediction model has the potential to forecast when magma chambers in other volcanoes could rupture and potentially lead to eruptions, which should aid emergency planning and risk assessments.

Journal Reference:

John Browning, Kyriaki Drymoni, Agust Gudmundsson (2015). Forecasting magma-chamber rupture at Santorini volcano, Greece. Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/srep15785