Scientists at NASA have found that trees may act as natural monitors of volcanic unrest and issue important pre-eruption warnings, days or even weeks in advance of conventional techniques detecting threat. This has been achieved with the use of sophisticated satellite and airborne sensing techniques, and this shift in volcano monitoring is particularly significant in remote or inaccessible parts of the world.

As magma rises beneath Earth’s surface, it emits gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂), often undetectable by conventional satellites due to atmospheric dilution. However, a team of NASA scientists, working with collaborators from McGill University and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s AVUELO mission, have found a surprising solution trees can absorb volcanic CO₂, visibly altering their health and appearance. "When trees absorb volcanic CO₂ through their roots, the extra carbon functions as a fertiliser, greening and healthening their leaves," said Dr. Robert Bogue of McGill University. "They are subtle but quantifiable from space with vegetation indices."

 Landsat 8 And Sentinel-2 Monitor Tree Health

NASA has been employing Landsat 8 satellite imagery and data from ESA's Sentinel-2 and airborne sensors to identify such vegetative changes using the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Abnormal greening in areas around volcanoes can signify heightened underground volcanic activity. A good example was seen near Costa Rica's Rincón de la Vieja volcano, where surface bubbling pools of CO₂ coincided with abrupt changes in vegetation. "It was a dramatic confirmation that nature provides us with warnings if we know where to look," volcanologist Dr. Nicole Guinn from the University of Houston stated.

Classically, volcano warning systems depend on seismicity, ground deformation, and direct gas measurements, each of these needing physical instruments at or close to the volcano. This is problematic in forested, high-altitude, or remote areas. “It was a dramatic validation that nature gives us signals if we know how to look,” said Dr. Florian Schwandner, Director at NASA Ames Research Center. "Our intention is not to replace current instruments, but rather to complement and make them sooner." To corroborate their measurements, scientists take leaf samples and measure ground CO₂. This integration of field data and satellite analysis guarantees precise readings and enhanced forecasting models. AVUELO is a classic example of this combination of heaven and earth.

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While climate change and expanding populations contribute to heightened risk in volcanic areas, scientists feel that this tree-monitoring of volcanoes will revolutionize early warnings. Natural plant responses are being used to create an invasive, affordable, and highly sensitive network for disaster readiness."Satellite data provides the big picture. Trees provide the signal. The combination of them could save lives," Dr. Guinn added in the statement.

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