London, July 25 : Seismic imaging has revealed that magma rising under the surface of a volcano may not be mushroom-shaped.
According to a report in New Scientist, the plumes of hot magma that fuel the volcanism of “hotspots” like Hawaii and Iceland have long been thought to be efficient conduits of Earth’s fiery contents.
Yet, it seems they can be rather lacklustre on their way to the surface.
Generally, the plumes of hot magma that rise through the mantle are pictured as mushroom-shaped; with a thin stalk feeding a bulbous head, or hotspot, beneath the crust.
However, seismic imaging in Iceland has revealed a patchy structure without a stalk, leading some researchers to suggest there are no plumes at all.