Unexplainable Podcast Summary: "The View from Inside a Volcano"

Release Date: May 7, 2025
Host/Author: Vox
Episode Title: The View from Inside a Volcano

Introduction

In this episode of Unexplainable, Vox delves deep into the enigmatic world of volcanoes, exploring the challenges scientists face in predicting eruptions and the innovative proposal to drill into a volcano's magma chamber. Hosted by Byrd Pinkerton, the episode features insights from renowned volcanologists and highlights the potential revolutionary impact of unprecedented direct observations of magma.

Historical Context: Soufriere de Guadalupe in the 1970s

The episode begins with a recount of volcanic activity on the Caribbean island of Basseterre, particularly focusing on the Soufriere de Guadalupe volcano. Mike Poland, a volcanologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, provides a historical perspective on volcanic unrest in the 1970s.

• Mike Poland (Volcanologist 1) [01:06]: "A volcano called Soufriere. Actually, there's seems like most volcanoes in the Caribbean are named Soufriere, but this one is Soufriere de Guadalupe."

In the mid-1970s, Soufriere de Guadalupe exhibited alarming signs of potential eruption, including increased earthquake activity and steam explosions.

• Mike Poland [01:31]: "So you were seeing more and more earthquakes. They were getting up to like magnitude threes. They were being felt. And then there were these sort of steam explosions."

Historical eruptions in the Caribbean have been catastrophic, with the 1902 eruptions of Soufriere de Trinidad and Soufriere de Saint Vincent claiming tens of thousands of lives due to devastating ash flows.

• Mike Poland [01:47]: "There is a history of really bad eruptions in the Caribbean... that killed tens of thousands of people."

The Dilemma of Evacuation

Faced with the signs of an impending eruption, authorities decided to evacuate over 70,000 residents from Basseterre. Filmmaker Werner Herzog documented this dramatic exodus in his documentary "La Soufriere," capturing the eerie quiet of an abandoned city.

• Filmmaker [03:05]: "During the flight, we got the impression that these were the last hours of this town and the last pictures ever taken of all."

However, the eventual eruption was minor, rendering the massive evacuation unnecessary and causing significant social and economic disruption.

• Mike Poland [04:29]: "Except the ensuing eruption was minor. If anything, the evacuation itself wound up being more of an issue than the volcano."

This incident underscores the delicate balance volcanologists must maintain between ensuring public safety and avoiding unnecessary panic.

Challenges in Volcanology: Predicting Eruptions

Despite advancements in monitoring technology since the 1970s, predicting the magnitude and impact of volcanic eruptions remains a significant challenge.

• Mike Poland [05:25]: "Yeah, Pretty much now."

Volcanologists are adept at determining whether a volcano will erupt but struggle to forecast the specifics of the eruption itself.

• Mike Poland [05:57]: "Once an eruption starts, is it going to be one that lasts a long time? Will it get to be a big eruption? Will it be a kind of a piddly eruption? That's really hard to tell."

The primary hurdle lies in understanding the complex dynamics of magma chambers—the molten rock reservoirs beneath volcanoes.

The Magma Observatory Proposal

To bridge this knowledge gap, a groundbreaking proposal has emerged: drilling directly into a volcano's magma chamber to establish a magma observatory. This bold initiative aims to provide real-time data from within the heart of the volcano, potentially transforming eruption forecasting.

• Mike Poland [06:08]: "And to answer these important questions, to kind of take the next big leap in improving our forecasts, Mike says it's not just about continuing to improve our monitoring equipment."

The concept involves creating a "glass-bottomed volcano" by drilling into the magma chamber and installing monitoring instruments that can withstand extreme temperatures.

Implementation: Building the Magma Observatory

Volcanologist John Eichelberger narrates the inception of this ambitious project, which gained traction after accidental drilling into a magma chamber in Iceland resulted in the formation of obsidian glass plugs instead of explosive eruptions.

• John Eichelberger (Volcanologist 2) [15:37]: "Oh, it's going to erupt. It's going to destroy the whole thing."

Inspired by these incidents, Eichelberger collaborated with international scientists to propose a deliberate drilling project at the Krafla volcanic site in Iceland.

• Jan Lavallee (Volcanologist 3) [17:25]: "The first international magma observatory."

The team plans to install a drill rig, cool the drilling path with fluids to prevent immediate eruption, and embed measuring devices within the cooled glass pocket formed at the magma chamber's edge.

• Jan Lavallee [19:56]: "So they'll take tools like these, stuff that measures temperature and pressure in real time, and they will lower those into their pocket."

As the cooling fluids cease, magma will gradually reheat the glass pocket, eventually enveloping the instruments. This controlled process aims to provide a window into the magma chamber's dynamics.

Potential Impacts and Expert Opinions

The proposed magma observatory promises to revolutionize volcanology by offering unprecedented insights into magma behavior, eruption precursors, and the fundamental physics governing volcanic activity.

• Jan Lavallee [21:43]: "I don't think we can really fully conceive how it's going to change things, but I think it will be revolutionary. There's no doubt about it."

Mike Poland expresses optimism about the project's potential to yield unexpected discoveries.

• Mike Poland [22:01]: "It's whenever you try these things, you learn things, and often it's not what you expect."

Beyond improving eruption forecasts, the observatory could aid in harnessing geothermal energy and open avenues for scientific exploration previously deemed impossible.

Conclusion

"The View from Inside a Volcano" presents a compelling narrative about the complexities of volcanic prediction and the innovative strategies scientists are employing to enhance our understanding. By potentially drilling into magma chambers, volcanologists aim to transform eruption forecasting, mitigate disaster risks, and unlock new scientific and energy opportunities. This episode underscores the relentless human quest to explore and comprehend the planet's most formidable natural phenomena.

Notable Quotes

• Mike Poland [02:07]: "These clouds of ash that rush along the landscape at hurricane speeds... they're devastating."

• Filmmaker [03:56]: "This is a police station. It was entirely abandoned. It was a comfort for us not having the law hanging around."

• Jan Lavallee [19:56]: "So they'll take tools like these, stuff that measures temperature and pressure in real time, and they will lower those into their pocket."

• Volcanologist 3 [21:42]: "I don't think we can really fully conceive how it's going to change things, but I think it will be revolutionary. There's no doubt about it."

Further Resources

• Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT): For more information on the magma observatory project, visit the Krafla KMT website krafla-kmt.com.

• Mike Poland's Paper: Partly Cloudy with a Chance of Lava Flows – An in-depth exploration of volcano forecasting methodologies.

Credits

• Reported and Produced by: Byrd Pinkerton
• Edited by: Meredith Hoddinott and Jorge Just
• Music: Noam Hassenfeld
• Mixing and Sound Design: Christian Ayala
• Fact-Checking: Melissa Hirsch
• Special Thanks: Matt Haney

For more episodes and to support the show, visit vox.com/members.