After 7 lakh years of silence, Iran’s ‘sleeping giant’ volcano suddenly starts moving - scientists on alert

Volcanoes have always been an interesting part of Earth’s various landforms, majestic, mysterious forces that influence landscapes and change history with fiery bursts.Recently, a dormant volcano came to life in Iran, and its fiery bursts were recorded by satellites. Taftan, Iran's towering stratovolcano at 12,976 feet (3,942 meters), hasn't erupted in human history, and its last confirmed blast dates back roughly 710,000 years ago.Recent satellite scans reveal ground uplift at the summit, rising about 3.5 inches over just 10 months, which might be a sign of active forces below, according to Earth.com. This stratovolcano, layered with lava and ash, has seen five major eruption phases in deep time, but records beyond 10,000 years are scarce.Pablo J. González, lead author from Spain’s IPNA-CSIC Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology, detailed this in a Geophysical Research Letters study. Without ground-based GPS, satellites provide the only reliable watch. Scientists used InSAR radar from Sentinel-1 satellites to detect the central summit rise, ongoing without reversal. Pressure builds 1,600 to 2,070 feet down in a hydrothermal zone where hot water and gases circulate, per the study. This shallow pocket sits above magma 3.2 km deep, signalling a gas buildup in rocks or a small melt pulse releasing volatiles. Earth.com reported that the uplift's persistence flags the need for ongoing monitoring in this remote Baluchistan region.To confirm volcanic origins, teams checked for rain or earthquakes, but nothing of the sort had actually happened. Internal dynamics cause the swell, with the source above the magma chamber. There are no surface hazards yet, but a steady watch is important for noting patterns. This sudden surge in elevation after 700,000+ years isn't an eruption alarm yet. Hydrothermal activity often precedes change, urging preparedness. The study calls for regular satellite checks, given the spotty history. Taftan straddles tectonic plates, part of the Makran subduction zone. González's team stresses sustained InSAR to track evolution.