It seems to be seething beneath the Eifel.
In their study, US researchers found an extraordinary combination of stretching and lifting of the subsurface.
German researchers discovered active volcanism in the Eifel last year.
In their study, US researchers discovered a unique combination of expansion and uplift of the earth's surface.
Is a volcanic eruption imminent in Germany?
Mendig / Reno - The
last
volcanic eruption
occurred in the
Eifel
about 13,000 years ago
.
However, volcanism in the region is still active.
US scientists from the
University of Nevada
at
Reno have
now discovered new evidence.
In a study, they evaluated measurement data from thousands of GPS antennas in
Western Europe
over 20 years.
Vulkan: Huge eruption in Germany?
US researchers determine uplift and expansion of the earth's surface
The researchers found that the earth in the
Eifel
rises by one millimeter per year.
At the same time, there is a
horizontal expansion of
the earth's surface.
“The Eifel is the only region in the study where the ground movement was significantly greater than expected,” explains
Corné Kreemer
, the study's lead author.
The results also suggest that rising rock material may cause the ground to move.
If you look at this evidence, "it seems clear that something is brewing under the heart of Northwestern Europe," continues the expert.
The scientists assume that
magma accumulates
under the
Eifel
at a depth of around 50 kilometers.
The
Eifel
is the center of this abnormally strong uplift.
The whole area also includes
Luxembourg
, the east of
Belgium
and the south of the
Netherlands
.
Volcanic system in the Eifel was first documented by German researchers last year
German researchers already proved last year that the Eifel is an
active volcanic system
*.
Since 2013, they have detected eight series of low-frequency earthquakes at a depth of ten to 45 kilometers.
These are indications that under the
Laacher See volcano
magmatic fluids from the upper mantle could rise into the earth's crust, they wrote in the "Geophysical Journal International" at the time.
We wish you a nice weekend with the #LaacherSee in the #Eifel!
⛅️ Only rising gas bubbles remind you that a #volcano slumbers here.
A study now shows that this is still active - but an eruption is not imminent for several thousand years.
pic.twitter.com/PHlQ7GNzqa
- State government of Rhineland-Palatinate (@rlpNews) February 8, 2019
Volcanic eruption in Germany is currently not imminent
Torsten Dahm
from the
German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ)
in
Potsdam
, who was involved in the German study, gives the all-clear.
A
volcanic eruption
in
Germany is
currently not imminent.
The new US study is "a nice confirmation" for the activity in the
Eifel
.
"However, the investigations do not change our assessments of the volcanic hazard," says Dahm.
A bigger outbreak is expected sometime in the future "most likely again in the Eastern Eifel at the Laacher See."
The experts agree: Developments in the
Eifel
should continue to be monitored.
Thomas Dreher
from the
Rhineland-Palatinate State Office for Geology and Mining
in
Mainz
is also in favor of expanding measurements in the region.
However, he does not fear any endangerment to people or infrastructure "even in the next 1000 years."
Most recently, the Icelandic authorities warned of a possible volcanic eruption after a series of smaller earthquakes.
In December 2019, a volcanic eruption in New Zealand left 17 dead.
(ph / dpa) * merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen digital editorial network.
List of rubric lists: © Thomas Frey / dpa
