IN ICELAND, AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF SCIENTISTS IS PREPARING FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY MISSION: DRILLING THE EARTH’S CRUST TO REACH MAGMA. THE PROJECT, CALLED “KRALA MAGMA TESTBED” (KMT), aims to deepen the knowledge of the behavior of this incandescent mass, located beneath the Earth’s surface, studying the dynamics of pressure, composition and temperature
An unprecedented experiment in Iceland
This type of research is particularly relevant because magma plays a fundamental role in rock formation, tectonic movements and volcanic activities. Being able to predict eruptions and exploit the immense underground heat reserves could transform the volcano’s futuresustainable energy and from safety.
Located in northeastern Iceland, Krafla is an active crater that has experienced approximately thirty eruptions over the past millennium. With its landscape characterized by pools of bubbling mud and fumaroles emitting very hot fumes, it is now the focus of a groundbreaking scientific project.
Il Krakra Magma Testbed (KMT), led by Bjorn Guðmundsson together with an international team, it wants to drill up to 2.1 kilometers deep to reach a magma chamber and thus create an unprecedented underground observatory. This project provides scientists with the opportunity to obtain direct data on the pressure, temperature and chemical composition of molten material, essential information for improving the ability to predict eruptions.
The professor Yan Lavalleespecialist in magmatic petrology (discipline that studies rocks resulting from volcanic processes), describes the initiative as authentic “moonshot” scientific (term used by astronauts to define the 1969 moon landing), underscoring that the information collected could revolutionize our knowledge of the Earth’s internal dynamics.
The potential of geothermal energy
One of the most exciting aspects of the KMT project is the opportunity to… bring about a revolution geothermal energy. Iceland already gets 25% of its electricity and 85% of its home heating from electricity geothermal resourceswhere the hot fluids trapped underground are used to produce steam and power turbines.
However, drilling into the magma itself could significantly increase this energy capacity. The nearby Krafla geothermal power plant currently supplies electricity and hot water to about 30,000 homes, but estimates suggest that reaching the magma could significantly increase energy production.
Second Bjarni Palssonexecutive director of geothermal development at the Icelandic Energy Company LandsvirkjunDrilling to hit the magma chamber could increase a well’s energy efficiency by up to ten times compared to traditional geothermal wells.
In 2009, Icelandic engineers accidentally found magma only 2.1 km deep during geothermal drilling, much closer to the surface than expected. The superheated steam generated there reached record temperatures of 452°C, demonstrating the potential of this incredibly energetic heat source.
A technological and ecological challenge
The project is of course not without technical challenges. Drilling in extreme environments, such as near volcanoes, requires the development of innovative materials that can withstand high temperatures and corrosion caused by volcanic gas Traditional geothermal wells are built of carbon steel, which loses strength above 200°C.
To tackle this problem, the team at Victory of Nanna Karlsdottirprofessor of industrial engineeringUniversity of Icelandtests advanced nickel and titanium alloys, which can ensure the durability and efficiency of the new drillings.
Although the risk associated with drilling near magma appears high, precedent suggests that such operations are safe. Guðmundsson insists that the melted material accidentally found in 2009 did not cause any explosions or catastrophic events. Furthermore, the Icelandic geological environment, with its particular tectonic and volcanic structure, makes the occurrence of earthquakes or toxic emissions during drilling unlikely.
More accurate predictions, greater security
Until now, monitoring of active craters has been based on indirect methods, such as the use of seismometers and satellite measurements, which provide limited insight into the processes taking place at depth. Inserting sensors directly in the magma chamber represents an unprecedented opportunity to observe up close the movements and changes that precede an eruption. This could help researchers more accurately understand the phenomena developing beneath the Earth’s surface.
The information collected will have concrete value in risk management for communities living near volcanoes. A more precise prediction of eruptive activities could significantly reduce dangers to local people, turning volcanological research into a fundamental tool for public safety. But there is more.
Benefits for the future
With over 800 million people worldwide living within 100 km of active volcanoes, the benefits of better understanding the behavior of magma would be enormous, both in terms of public safety and energy innovation.
Rosalind Sagittariusgeothermal expert at Griffith University (Australia), describes the KMT project as a potential project “revolution” for the energy sector. Geothermal energy is already considered one of the most promising sources for reducing CO2 emissions. Consequently, with the growing demand for clean and sustainable energy, this technology could become a key solution to meet global needs.
Source
Natural Geosciences