A major discovery, born in Colombia, has just rewritten what science knew about one of the most closely monitored and feared volcanoes in the world: Yellowstone. An international team, led by the Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS), uncovered over 86,000 previously undetected earthquakes, hidden beneath the caldera of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.
The study, published in the prestigious journal Science Advances, was made possible thanks to the use of artificial intelligence tools, 3D seismic models, and the talent of researchers trained at UIS. By analyzing more than 15 years of collected data, the scientists were able to identify patterns that reveal a seismic activity much more intense, complex, and interconnected than previously thought.
“Until now, scientists believed that earthquake swarms—clusters of small tremors—were isolated events. The surprising thing was seeing how they repeat in the same locations after years of silence. That tells us that Yellowstone’s underground activity has a memory and is more interconnected than we thought,” explained Professor Manuel Alberto Flórez, Ph.D. in Geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), UIS professor, and lead author of the study.
One of the key contributors to this research was Mia Valentina Angulo, a master’s student in Geophysics, who began this work during her undergraduate thesis in Physics at UIS, focusing on the implementation of artificial intelligence techniques to analyze seismic data.
“My job was to automatically detect the earthquake swarms, understand how the tremors cluster and move through space and time. We discovered that many of them reappear in the same places, which gives us clues about what’s happening inside the volcano,” said Mia Angulo, co-author of the study.
Another mind behind the analysis was Professor José David Sanabria, who participated in data interpretation and highlighted the global importance of the findings:
“Yellowstone is not just a volcano. It’s a volcanic, tectonic, and hydrothermal system. Studying it not only helps us understand that region better, but also provides tools we can apply in other parts of the world, including Colombia. Understanding how these swarms behave can save lives,” Sanabria stated.
The 86,000 identified quakes not only reshape our understanding of Yellowstone, but also open new doors for seismic monitoring worldwide. Thanks to this research, we now know that more than half of the quakes in that area occur in the form of swarms—many of them repeating—which indicates a highly active internal dynamic with potential implications for global safety.
But this breakthrough also marks a milestone for UIS. “This is an example of how science done in Colombia can lead processes of international impact. The Geophysics Master’s Program at UIS is now consolidated as a top-tier research incubator,” concluded Professor Flórez.
Mia emphasized that her training at UIS, first as a Physics undergraduate and now as a Geophysics graduate student, was fundamental to the development of the research.
“During my undergraduate studies in Physics at UIS, I discovered my passion for studying complex natural phenomena like earthquakes, which, besides being fascinating, have a direct impact on human life. That personal motivation, combined with solid training in math, physics, and programming, allowed me to develop the skills needed to analyze real data and contribute to research aimed at better understanding the Earth’s internal processes.
But beyond the technical knowledge, what really made the difference was the quality of UIS professors: demanding, approachable, and deeply committed to their students’ growth. They don’t just teach—they inspire, guide, and open doors so we can project ourselves onto the international scientific stage. UIS gave me both the academic and human foundation to take on this challenge with confidence and scientific rigor,” she stated.
Full article here: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adv6484
