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Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Madison Myers, assistant professor of Igneous Processes at Montana State University, and Megan Saalfeld, PhD student at MSU.

What does a magma chamber look like? At first thought, many of us would imagine a large cavern in the crust filled with molten rock. While this has been the traditional model for a number of decades, geophysical imaging (using seismic waves to look for areas of increased heat and melt, which result in slower seismic wave speeds) of the regions below volcanic systems have never found evidence for this style of magma storage.

As more data became available from geochemical and geophysical studies, our idea of what a magma chamber looks like has continued to evolve. By understanding what a magma system looks like prior to an eruption, we can start to understand how volcanic reservoirs are built and sustained over time. This information can then be used to help us to monitor and prepare for future eruptions.