6<\/p>\n The dormant Uturuncu volcano in Bolivia, South America releasing a plume of gasCredit: Alamy 6<\/p>\n The volcano has been shuddering and deforming the ground – sparking fears of an eruptionCredit: Getty 6<\/p>\n Some scientists fear there could be a pressurised build up of magma – but this new study disagreesCredit: Getty 6<\/p>\n The volcano<\/a>, in the Andes of southwest Bolivia, last spewed lava 250,000 years ago.<\/p>\n It has shown signs of unrest for several decades – including releasing gas and mini earthquakes<\/a>. <\/p>\n And now scientists think they know why.<\/p>\n A new study published on Monday in the journal PNAS suggests the disturbances have been caused by swirling of liquid and gas beneath the mountain<\/a> – rather than an explosive magma build-up.<\/p>\n The researches wrote: “This not only explains why a ‘”zombie'” volcano remains active but also offers insights into its eruption potential.”<\/p>\n They added that their research has developed a technique that could be help figure out the risk of other, active volcanoes<\/a> erupting.<\/p>\n Uturuncu is a whopping dormant volcano in the middle of South America’s barren Andes mountains.<\/p>\n It’s peak towers 6,008 metres above sea level.<\/p>\n Scientists know it as a “stratovolcano”, which is the name for the large, steep, cone-shaped structure.<\/p>\n This formed by layers of lava, volcanic ash and rock repeatedly hardening over the years.<\/p>\n Tourists evacuated as volcano starts erupting in Iceland hols hotspot & red alert issued as magma builds up<\/p>\n When stratovolcanoes erupt it is often very explosive, because the thick layers of rock trap gas easily.<\/p>\n Mount Vesuvius, which decimated Pompeii, is the most famous example of a stratovolcano.<\/p>\n Satellite and GPS radar show that the area around Uturuncu has been deforming in a “sombrero” pattern since the 1990s.<\/p>\n This involves the central peak rising whilst its surroundings sink.<\/p>\n Uturuncu has been growing upwards at a rate of about 1cm each year, data shows.<\/p>\n This gradual shape-shifting, combined with the frequent earthquakes and gas plumes, led some scientists to believe there was a huge build-up of magma underground.<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n Uturuncu rises 6008m above sea level in the Atacama DesertCredit: Alamy 6<\/p>\n Scientists think that liquid and gs sloshing around beneath the surface has caused the disruptionCredit: Getty<\/p>\n However, the new study found that – rather than a pressurised build-up of magma – the activity is more likely due to hot fluids and gases being sent up from something called the Altiplano-Puna Magma Body.<\/p>\n This is a deep well of magma that sits beneath southern Bolivia, northern Chile<\/a> and northern Argentina.<\/p>\n Scientists think this reservoir is releasing expulsions up chimney-like spouts.<\/p>\n These get trapped just below the surface, they believe, and cause some commotion as they break through.<\/p>\n If the deformation and earthquakes are due to fluids and gas sloshing around beneath the surface, on not a sharp rise of magma, the volcano is less likely to erupt – as previously feared.<\/p>\n![\"Uturuncu](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/cn7cj3-uturuncu-volcano-bolivia-south-990786858.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Uturuncu](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/uturuncu-volcano-background-au-loin-990786433.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Lava](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/000-metres-southern-rim-bocca-971954731.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Map](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/RR-29-04-MAP-VOLCANO_58c68f.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Uturuncu](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/NINTCHDBPICT000990786856.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Laguna](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/laguna-celeste-et-volcan-uturuncu-990786443.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n