Overview

• Researchers used artificial seismic waves and 650 portable seismometers to create high-resolution images of Yellowstone's magma reservoir.
• The study determined the magma chamber’s upper boundary lies 3.8 kilometers beneath the surface, a key finding for understanding volcanic pressure dynamics.
• The uppermost portion of the chamber is 86% solid rock, with the remaining 14% consisting of volatile-filled pore spaces containing molten material and gases.
• Scientists confirmed that volatile gases escape through geothermal features, preventing dangerous gas accumulation and ruling out immediate eruption risk.
• These imaging techniques, developed by teams from the University of Utah and University of New Mexico, offer a model for studying other active volcanoes globally.