Study Reveals Persistent Magma Chambers Beneath Dormant Cascade Volcanoes

New research challenges long-held assumptions about dormant volcanoes, finding large magma reservoirs that persist throughout their lifetimes.

Scientists used seismic waves to study six Cascade Range volcanoes and found large magma chambers beneath all of them, including dormant ones.
The research suggests that magma chambers persist throughout a volcano's lifetime, rather than dissipating after eruptions as previously believed.
This discovery shifts the understanding of volcanic activity, as large magma bodies are now considered a baseline condition rather than a sign of imminent eruptions.
The study highlights the need for improved volcanic monitoring systems, especially for sparsely studied volcanoes, to better predict potential activity.
Researchers developed a portable seismic imaging method that could be applied globally to enhance volcanic hazard assessments.