
21/07/2025
How Trees Quietly Warn Us About Volcanoes
Trees don’t have voices, but they have ways of speaking, especially when something’s wrong beneath their roots. Believe it or not, trees living near volcanoes can help warn us before an eruption happens. And all we have to do is learn how to read the signs.
When magma starts rising underground, volcanoes release more gases like carbon dioxide. Trees absorb these gases through their roots and leaves. They get stressed, just like we do under pressure. Their leaves might turn yellow too early, stop growing, or fall off even before autumn begins. It's their way of saying, “Something isn’t right.”
Even the inside of a tree tells a story. Each ring marks a year of growth, and during tough times, like when volcanic gases fill the soil, those rings grow thinner. Scientists study these rings like pages in a diary, uncovering evidence of past eruptions and spotting warning signs of future ones.
Today, with satellites and drones, we can watch forests more closely than ever. If a whole stretch of trees starts acting strangely, it might be time to pay attention. They may not shout or panic, but trees do speak. And when they do, it’s often nature’s quiet way of protecting us.
Sources:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/nasa-scientists-reveal-how-trees-can-predict-volcanic-eruptions-from-space/articleshow/121331744.cms
https://www.sciencealert.com/trees-may-be-able-to-warn-us-when-a-volcano-is-about-to-erupt
https://www.preventionweb.net/news/greener-trees-can-provide-early-warning-volcanic-awakening
https://scitechdaily.com/volcanoes-send-secret-signals-through-trees-and-nasa-satellites-can-see-them/
https://www.newsnationnow.com/science/trees-help-detect-warning-volcanos-erupt/
https://www.ndtv.com/science/scientists-can-tell-when-a-volcano-is-about-to-erupt-using-this-green-cue-8558599