NASA Discovers: Tropical Trees Can Warn of Volcanic Eruptions

A New Way to Predict Danger

NASA, the American space agency, has found something very surprising. A new study shows that tropical trees can help warn us before a volcano erupts. This discovery can help save many lives by giving us an early signal of danger.

Eruptions of volcanoes can be extremely dangerous. Hot lava, smoke, and ash can destroy homes, forests, and towns. People occasionally run out of time to leave the volcano before it explodes. That’s why scientists are always looking for new ways to predict eruptions early. Now, thanks to trees, we may have a new helper in this task.

---

What Did NASA Find?

NASA looked at the forests near volcanoes with special equipment and satellites. They were watching Rincón de la Vieja, a volcano in Costa Rica in Central America. They studied the trees around this volcano for many years.

What they found was amazing. Before the volcano erupted, the trees started to change their behavior. These changes were small but clear. For instance, trees started using less water and their leaves changed in appearance. These signs happened weeks before the eruption.

---

How are trees aware? Trees can’t talk, but they can still give signs. Scientists say that the volcano changes the ground and the air around it when it gets ready to erupt. This affects the soil, water, and gases in the area.

Trees grow in the soil, and they take water and food from it. When something changes underground, the trees feel it first. For example:

The soil becomes hotter or drier.

Toxic gases from the volcano come out and enter the air or soil.

The trees' roots receive less water. Because of this, the trees start to act differently. Their leaves may turn color, fall off early, or stop growing. These are like warning signs. NASA’s machines can now watch for these changes from space.

---

Why Is This Important?

This new finding is extremely beneficial. In many places, people live near volcanoes. If a volcano erupts suddenly, many people can die. But if we get a warning days or weeks before, we can move people away from danger.

Usually, scientists check volcanoes with tools that measure:

Earth shaking (earthquakes)

Smoke and gas from the top

Heat inside the volcano

But these tools can miss early signs. Trees, however, start reacting earlier. This gives us extra time to prepare.

---

How NASA Watched the Trees

NASA used satellites from space to look at the color and health of tree leaves. They also used machines on the ground to measure how much water trees were using.

One tool they used is called ECOSTRESS. It is on the International Space Station (ISS). It checks how much heat and water plants are using. Before the eruption, ECOSTRESS saw that the trees were using much less water than usual. This was a clear sign something was wrong.

NASA also used Landsat satellites to look at the color of the trees. Healthy trees have green leaves. However, numerous trees turned yellow or brown prior to the eruption. This happened even though there was no drought or disease. The only reason was the volcano getting ready to erupt.

---

What distinguishes tropical trees? Tropical trees grow in warm, wet places. They are very sensitive to changes in their environment. This makes them perfect early warning systems for volcanoes.

These trees grow quickly and use a lot of water. If something disturbs their water or the soil, they react fast. Their leaves, color, and shape can change in just a few days. This is what makes them useful to scientists.

---

Can This Work for All Volcanoes?

Not all volcanoes are the same. Some erupt slowly, others very fast. Some are in dry areas, while others are in rainforests. This tree warning system works best in tropical areas with lots of trees.

For example, this method may not work well in deserts or snowy mountains. But in places like Indonesia, the Philippines, Central America, and parts of Africa, this can be very helpful.

---

Helping People Around the World

Many poor countries live near volcanoes. They do not always have enough tools or money to watch volcanoes closely. However, satellites can assist in monitoring trees from afar because they are free. This means NASA’s discovery can help many countries keep their people safe. It can be part of a global warning system.

---

What Happens Next?

NASA and other scientists want to:

1. Study more volcanoes with trees nearby.

2. Build better satellite tools to see tree changes faster.

3. Teach local people and governments how to use tree data as a warning.

This can create a new way to protect people from natural disasters.

---

A New Chapter in Science

Nature is full of secrets. Sometimes, we just need to look closely to understand them. Trees have always been important to life – they give us air, food, and shelter. Now we know they can also save lives by warning us of danger.

This discovery is a great example of how science and nature can work together. With help from space technology and tropical trees, we are one step closer to a safer future.

---

In Simple Words

Volcanoes can be very dangerous.

NASA found that tropical trees change before a volcano erupts.

Trees use less water and change leaf color when a volcano is about to blow.

These changes happen before scientists' machines see signs.

NASA used satellites and machines to watch tree health.

This method can help warn people earlier and save lives.

It works best in warm places with many trees.

Trees are now our natural warning system.