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NASA scientists may soon be able to anticipate volcanic eruptions by studying tree responses from orbit. In a new partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, they have discovered that tree leaves grow lusher and greener when previously dormant volcanic carbon dioxide seeps up from the earth, indicating that a cone of magma is pushing upward. Scientists believe satellites like Landsat 8 and data from the AVUELO mission can detect biological responses remotely, providing early warning for high-risk eruptions that threaten millions globally.
NASA uses tree greening as a satellite clue for early warnings of volcanic eruptions in remote regions
According to NASA's Earth Science Division at Ames Research Center, greening happens when plants absorb volcanic carbon dioxide that is generated when lava rises. These emissions precede sulfur dioxide and are more difficult to detect directly from space.
Volcanologist Florian Schwandner explains that while carbon dioxide may not be seen in satellite imagery, its downstream consequences, such as increased vegetation, can support current volcanic early warning systems. According to the US Geological Survey, the nation is among the most volcanically active.
Globally, there are around 1,350 potentially active volcanoes, many of which are in isolated or dangerous places. On-site gas monitoring is expensive and risky, encouraging volcanologists such as Robert Bogue and Nicole Guinn to investigate tree-based proxies.
Guinn's research of tree leaves near Sicily's Mount Etna discovered a substantial link between leaf colour and subsurface volcanic activity. Satellites like Sentinel-2 and Terra have shown capable of detecting these tiny vegetative changes, especially in wooded volcanic zones.
To validate this strategy, climate scientist Josh Fisher led NASA-Smithsonian teams to Panama and Costa Rica in March 2025, collecting tree samples and monitoring gas levels near active volcanoes. Fisher sees this multidisciplinary study as critical for both volcano forecasting and understanding long-term tree responses to atmospheric carbon dioxide, which will disclose future climate conditions.
Early carbon dioxide detection was beneficial during the 2017 Mayon volcano eruption in the Philippines, leading to widespread evacuations and saving over 56,000 lives. Although it has limits, such as poor terrain and excessive external noise, it has the potential to be a game changer.
