A new study reveals that carbon dioxide and water were key drivers of two historic Mount Etna eruptions, offering insights for volcanic risk assessment. - Researchers used Raman spectroscopy to measure CO2 density in tiny bubbles within magma crystals, reconstructing the volcano's plumbing system.
- The 122 B.C. eruption involved slow magma rise from 22 km depth, pausing at shallow levels for weeks before erupting.
- A 4,000-year-old eruption featured rapid magma ascent from 24-30 km depth, driven by high CO2 concentrations. - Mount Etna is unique in that both water and CO2 compete to control eruption dynamics.
The findings could improve physical models for predicting volcanic behavior worldwide.