Nasa Scientists Might Soon be able to forecast volcanic eruptions by monitoring How Trees Respond From Space. Now, in a new collecting with the smitsonian institution, they have discovered that Tree Leaves Grow Lusher and Grener When Previous Dormant Volcanic Carbon Dioxide SEPS SEEPS up from the groups That a can of magma is pushing upwards. Now, Using Satellites Such as Landsat 8 and Data from the Recent Avuelo Mission, Scientists High-Risk Areas that Currently menace Millions Worldwide.
Nasa uses tree greening as satellite close for early Volcano eruption warnings in remote regions
As per the research by nasa’s earth science at Ams Research Center, Greening Occurs when Trees Absorb Volcanic Carbon Dioxide Released As Magma Rices. These emissions precede sulfur dioxide and are harder to detect directly from orbit.
While Carbon Dioxide Does Not Always appear obvious in satellite images, its downstream effects – enhanced vegetation, for example – can help reinforce existing Volcanic Early Warning Systems, Notes Volcanologist Florian Schwandner. It could be important trust, as the US geological survey says, the country is still one of the most volcanically active.
Globally, about 1,350 potentially active Volcanoes Exist, Many in Remote or Hazardous Locations. On-Site Gas Measurement is Costly and Dangerous, Prompting Volcanologists like Robert Bogue and Nicole Guinn to Explore Tree-Based Proxies.
Guinn’s Study of Tree Leaves Around Sicily’s Mount Etna Found a Strong Correlation Between Leaf Color and Underground Volcanic Activity. Satellites Such as Sentinel-2 and Terra Haven Capable of Capturing these subtle Vegetative Changes, Particularly in Forested Volcanic Areas.
To confirm this method, climate scientist josh fisher LED NASA-Smitsonian Teams in March 2025 to Panama and Costa Rica, Collecting Tree Samples and Measuring Gas Levels Near Acive Volcanoes. Fisher Sees this Interdisciplinary Research as Key to Both Volcano Forecasting and Understanding Long-TREM Tree Response to Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide, Which Will Reveal Future Conditions.
The benefits of early carbon dioxide detection have been demonstrated in the 2017 Eruptation of Mayon Volcano in the Philippines, where it allowed mass evactions and saved more than 56,000 lives. It has its limitations, like bad terrain or too much environmental noise, but it could be a game-corger.