Uturuncu Awakens: The Science of a ‘Zombie’ Volcano
Uturuncu Awakens: The Science of a ‘Zombie’ Volcano
EARTH & SCIENCE
🌋 April 30, 2025
Thematic Focus: Volcanology, Geohazards, Seismic Imaging
Opening Whisper:
Even a mountain long asleep may murmur truths beneath its skin.
Key Highlights
- Uturuncu Volcano, dormant for 250,000 years, lies in Bolivia’s Central Andes.
- It’s nicknamed a “zombie volcano” due to its silent unrest and unusual behaviour.
- Sombrero Deformation Pattern: The centre of the volcano is rising, while outer regions are sinking.
- Recent research by Oxford and Cornell Universities used seismic tomography and data from 1,700+ earthquakes.
- Findings: Fluids and gases are moving beneath the surface, but the risk of imminent eruption is low.
- The Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex contains Earth’s largest known magma body in the crust.
- Seismic tomography is used like a CT scan for Earth—mapping hidden magmatic pathways.
- Study enhances eruption forecasting and geothermal understanding, crucial for local community safety and disaster preparedness.
GS Paper Mapping:
- GS Paper 1: Geography – Volcanoes, Seismic Activity, Landforms
- GS Paper 3: Disaster Management – Monitoring geohazards, preparedness in vulnerable zones
- Essay Paper: Science & Society – Role of modern technology in environmental risk analysis
A Thought Spark — by IAS Monk:
A volcano may slumber for centuries,
But science teaches us to listen, even to its silence.
For in its silence, the Earth speaks its oldest truths.
