Lusi mud eruption a natural disaster

A new study released on July 21st by leading European scientists from Bonn University and ETH-Zurich concludes that the Lusi mud eruption is a natural disaster and a geological rarity of a newborn, tectonic-scale hydrothermal system triggered by the Yogyakarta earthquake. This extensive, peer reviewed study has been published in the one of the world's most preeminent scientific journals - Nature Geoscience.

With their publication, scientists from Bonn and Zürich point out, that earthquakes can trigger processes over long distances, and this focusing effect may apply to other hydrothermal and volcanic systems. Stephen Miller concludes: "Being a geological rarity, the mud volcano may contribute to a better understanding of triggering processes and relationships between seismic and volcanic activity". Miller also adds; "maybe this work will settle the long-standing controversy and focus instead on helping those affected".

Read Nature News Article / Read abstract and download full article from Nature Geoscience

Bonn University Press Release / Swiss Federal Institute of Geology, ETH-Zurich News Article