Eifel under pressure: Dangerous magma chambers under our foot?

Current studies in the Eifel indicate persistent volcanic activity that could have potentially dangerous consequences for Central Europe. In an area that is considered the largest volcanic area in Central Europe and has recorded over 400 outbreaks in around 40 million years, indications of Magmatic melt have now been discovered. These results come from an extensive examination of the earth's crust, which applied new methods to a more than 35 -year -old data record. The results were published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters , such as the Wetterauer Zeitung reported.

The volcanic eruptions in the Eifel occur at intervals of around 5000 to 10,000 years, with the last outbreak took place about 11,000 years ago. Current measurements have been able to show that in depths of 10 to 30 kilometers below the recent part of the volcanic field may be underground chambers full of magma. The Laacher-Seee volcano, one of the most active in the region, has been showing signs of activity for years, which is a great danger. For comparison: Last summer there were two outbreaks of Etna, which paralyzed the airport on Sicily. For 2025, a research team predicted an outbreak of an underwater volcano.

research and measurements on volcanic activity

As part of a measurement campaign, which is referred to as "Large-N", extensive data on the volcanic activity below and around Lake Laacher are currently collected. The name of this campaign refers to the large number of measuring instruments used. Around thirty scientists have installed 350 geophone, which are distributed within a radius of around ten kilometers around Lake Laacher. These geophone, a kind of seismometer, measure all the non -noticeable earthquakes over a period of about a year.

The measurement network aims to provide a more precise picture of underground processes, as well as to analyze possible changes in the rock and volcanic activities. The CO2 mofettes on the east bank of Laacher Lake are particularly striking, which indicate magmatic processes in the upper mantle of ground. The escaping gases have been shown to come from great depth and are of magmatic origin. In addition, increased carbon dioxide values ​​in the area have been detected, especially in lowering, which is another sign of the active volcanic situation. Project manager Torsten Dahm hopes that some of the geofon locations will remain permanently after completing the experiment in order to continue to support the ongoing observations, such as National Geographic