0000000000190929
AUTHOR
Melissa Anne Pfeffer
Gas emissions and crustal deformation from the Krýsuvík high temperature geothermal system, Iceland
Abstract The Krýsuvik volcanic system is located on the oblique spreading Reykjanes Peninsula, SW Iceland. Since early 2009 the region has been undergoing episodes of localized ground uplift and subsidence. From April–November 2013, we operated near-real time monitoring of gas emissions in Krýsuvik, using a Multi-component Gas Analyzer System (Multi-GAS), collecting data on gas composition from a fumarole (H2O, CO2, SO2, H2S). The dataset in this study, comprises a near-continuous gas composition time series, the quantification of diffuse CO2 gas flux, analytical results for direct samples of dry gas, seismic records, and GPS data. Gas emissions from the Krýsuvik geothermal system were exam…
Degassing regime of Hekla volcano 2012-2013
Hekla is a frequently active volcano with an infamously short pre-eruptive warning period. Our project contributes to the ongoing work on improving Hekla's monitoring and early warning systems. In 2012 we began monitoring gas release at Hekla. The dataset comprises semi-permanent near-real time measurements with a MultiGAS system, quantification of diffuse gas flux, and direct samples analysed for composition and isotopes (δ13C, δD and δ18O). In addition, we used reaction path modelling to derive information on the origin and reaction pathways of the gas emissions.Hekla's quiescent gas composition was CO2-dominated (0.8mol fraction) and the δ13C signature was consistent with published value…
Rapid shifting of a deep magmatic source at Fagradalsfjall volcano, Iceland
AbstractRecent Icelandic rifting events have illuminated the roles of centralized crustal magma reservoirs and lateral magma transport1–4, important characteristics of mid-ocean ridge magmatism1,5. A consequence of such shallow crustal processing of magmas4,5 is the overprinting of signatures that trace the origin, evolution and transport of melts in the uppermost mantle and lowermost crust6,7. Here we present unique insights into processes occurring in this zone from integrated petrologic and geochemical studies of the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. Geochemical analyses of basalts erupted during the first 50 days of the eruption, combined with associate…
Sulfur Degassing From Steam-Heated Crater Lakes: El Chichón (Chiapas, Mexico) and Víti (Iceland)
The composition of the gases released by El Chichón (Chiapas, Mexico) and Víti (Askja volcano, Iceland) volcanic lakes is examined by Multi-GAS for the first time. Our results demonstrate that H2S and SO2 are degassed by these pH 2–3 lakes. We find higher CO2/H2S and H2/H2S ratios in the lakes' emissions (31–5,685 and 0.6–35, respectively) than in the fumarolic gases feeding the lakes (13–33 and 0.08–0.5, respectively), evidencing that only a fraction (0.2–5.4% at El Chichón) of the H2S(g) contributed by the subaquatic fumaroles ultimately reaches the atmosphere. At El Chichón, we estimate a H2S output from the crater lake of 0.02–0.06 t/day. Curiously, SO2 is also detected at trace levels …
Reaction path models of magmatic gas scrubbing
Gas-water-rock reactions taking place within volcano-hosted hydrothermal systems scrub reactive, water-soluble species (sulfur, halogens) from the magmatic gas phase, and as such play a major control on the composition of surface gas manifestations. A number of quantitative models of magmatic gas scrubbing have been proposed in the past, but no systematic comparison of model results with observations from natural systems has been carried out, to date. Here, we present the results of novel numerical simulations, in which we initialized models of hydrothermal gas-water-rock at conditions relevant to Icelandic volcanism. We focus on Iceland as an example of a "wet" volcanic region where scrubb…
Gradual caldera collapse at Bardarbunga volcano, Iceland, regulated by lateral magma outflow
Large volcanic eruptions on Earth commonly occur with a collapse of the roof of a crustal magma reservoir, forming a caldera. Only a few such collapses occur per century, and the lack of detailed observations has obscured insight into the mechanical interplay between collapse and eruption.We usemultiparameter geophysical and geochemical data to show that the 110-square kilometer and 65-meter-deep collapse of Bárdarbunga caldera in 2014–2015 was initiated through withdrawal of magma, and lateral migration through a 48-kilometers-long dike, from a 12-kilometers deep reservoir. Interaction between the pressure exerted by the subsiding reservoir roof and the physical properties of the subsurfac…
Ground-Based measurements of the 2014-2015 holuhraun volcanic cloud (Iceland)
he 2014–2015 Bárðarbunga fissure eruption at Holuhraun in central Iceland was distinguished by the high emission of gases, in total 9.6 Mt SO2, with almost no tephra. This work collates all ground-based measurements of this extraordinary eruption cloud made under particularly challenging conditions: remote location, optically dense cloud with high SO2 column amounts, low UV intensity, frequent clouds and precipitation, an extensive and hot lava field, developing ramparts, and high-latitude winter conditions. Semi-continuous measurements of SO2 flux with three scanning DOAS instruments were augmented by car traverses along the ring-road and along the lava. The ratios of other gases/SO2 were …