Dormant Volcanoes Found to Harbor Persistent Magma Chambers

New research reveals large magma bodies beneath the Cascade Range's dormant volcanoes, challenging long-held assumptions about volcanic activity.

Scientists used seismic wave data to study six volcanoes in the Cascade Range, uncovering large magma chambers beneath both active and dormant sites.
This discovery overturns the belief that magma chambers dissipate over time in dormant volcanoes, suggesting they persist throughout a volcano's lifecycle.
Eruptions appear to release only a fraction of magma, with chambers gradually refilling over time through crustal melting processes.
The findings could reshape how volcanic activity is monitored, as the presence of magma may not always indicate an imminent eruption.
The U.S. Geological Survey is expanding its monitoring networks under the National Volcano Early Warning System to better predict volcanic behavior.