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Studying how magma behaves underground might assist harness powerful geothermal energy. Scientists from the Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) in Iceland plan to drill into the magma beneath the Krafla volcano, beginning in 2027.
Pressure and temperature sensors will probably be positioned within the first of two boreholes to trace adjustments to the magma, which might assist predict volcanic eruptions.
The second will home a check run for a brand new sort of geothermal energy station. “[Magma] are the warmth supply that energy the hydrothermal techniques that result in geothermal vitality. Why not go to the supply?” says Yan Lavallée, volcanologist and head of KMT’s science committee.
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Krafla is likely one of the world’s most lively volcanic areas, the place temperatures method 2,372°F (1,300°C). The best problem to accessing this vitality shouldn’t be having the tools soften.
Iceland has been harnessing the Earth’s geothermal vitality for some time — the place it drills into underground areas to supply steam from heated water. Ormat from Israel is a leader in this space. Water in a magma chamber inside a volcano isn’t steam, however somewhat it’s “supercritical” — it’s water water so scorching and below stress that it’s not liquid or steam, however that fourth state of matter near a vapor.
In concept a magma geothermal plant has the potential to supply at the least 10 occasions the facility of a standard geothermal plant.
According to researchers Iceland’s ongoing volcanic eruptions might proceed on and off for years to a long time, offering renewable vitality but in addition threatening the nation’s most densely populated area and important infrastructure.
Related: submerged super volcanoes
The eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula have pressured authorities to declare a state of emergency, with a sequence of eight eruptions having occurred since 2021. This southwestern area is dwelling to 70 % of the nation’s inhabitants, its solely worldwide airport, and several other geothermal energy vegetation that offer scorching water and electrical energy.
The most up-to-date eruption in May by way of June triggered the evacuation of residents and guests of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a preferred vacationer attraction, for the third time in additional than two months.
Although Iceland sees common eruptions as a result of it sits above a volcanic scorching spot, the Reykjanes Peninsula has been dormant for 800 years. Its final volcanic period continued over centuries nevertheless, prompting scientists to foretell the renewed volcanism to be the beginning of a protracted episode.
Under an hour’s drive from the island’s capital metropolis Reykjavík, the eruptions pose appreciable dangers for financial disruption, and so they go away evacuated communities unsure of a potential return.
An worldwide staff of scientists has been watching the volcanoes over the previous three years. Analyzing seismic tomography imaging and the composition of lava samples, they’ve uncovered elements of the geological processes behind the brand new volcanic period. They predict the area might have to arrange for recurring eruptions lasting years to a long time and probably centuries.
The researchers report their findings in a paper revealed June 26 within the journal Terra Nova. The venture included collaborations from the University of Oregon, Uppsala University in Sweden, University of Iceland, Czech Academy of Sciences and University of California, San Diego. The work follows an earlier Nature Communications research of the preliminary Reykjanes eruptions in 2021.
Some of the dangers of tapping into magma for geothermal vitality are the dangers of making earthquakes. Sudden adjustments in circulation might endanger operations and there may be at the moment no tools that may safely deal with the extreme warmth. Also magma releases gases like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), which might pose native environmental hazards and contribute to atmospheric air pollution if not managed correctly.
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