0000000000221408
AUTHOR
Mike Burton
First observational evidence for the CO<sub>2</sub>-driven origin of Stromboli's major explosions
Abstract. We report on the first detection of CO2 flux precursors of the till now unforecastable "major" explosions that intermittently occur at Stromboli volcano (Italy). An automated survey of the crater plume emissions in the period 2006–2010, during which 12 such explosions happened, demonstrated that these events are systematically preceded by a brief phase of increasing CO2/SO2 weight ratio (up to >40) and CO2 flux (>1300 t d−1) with respect to the time-averaged values of 3.7 and ~500 t d−1 typical for standard Stromboli's activity. These signals are best explained by the accumulation of CO2-rich gas at a discontinuity of the plumbing system (decreasing CO2 emission at the surfa…
Crater Gas Emissions and the Magma Feeding System of Stromboli Volcano
Quiescent and explosive magma degassing at Stromboli volcano sustains high-temperature crater gas venting and a permanent volcanic plume which constitute key sources of information on the magma supply and dynamics, the physical processes controlling the explosive activity and, more broadly, the volcano feeding system. The chemical composition and the mass output of these crater emissions (gases, trace metals, radioactive isotopes) were measured using different methodologies: within-plume airborne measurements, ground-based plume filtering, and/or in situ analysis, remote UV and open-path Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy. The results obtained, summarized in this paper, demo…
Intercomparison of SO2 camera systems for imaging volcanic gas plumes
Abstract SO 2 camera systems are increasingly being used to image volcanic gas plumes. The ability to derive SO 2 emission rates directly from the acquired imagery at high time resolution allows volcanic process studies that incorporate other high time-resolution datasets. Though the general principles behind the SO 2 camera have remained the same for a number of years, recent advances in CCD technology and an improved understanding of the physics behind the measurements have driven a continuous evolution of the camera systems. Here we present an intercomparison of seven different SO 2 cameras. In the first part of the experiment, the various technical designs are compared and the advantage…
Magmatic Gas Composition Reveals the Source Depth of Slug-Driven Strombolian Explosive Activity
Strombolian-type eruptive activity, common at many volcanoes, consists of regular explosions driven by the bursting of gas slugs that rise faster than surrounding magma. Explosion quakes associated with this activity are usually localized at shallow depth; however, where and how slugs actually form remain poorly constrained. We used spectroscopic measurements performed during both quiescent degassing and explosions on Stromboli volcano (Italy) to demonstrate that gas slugs originate from as deep as the volcano-crust interface (approximately 3 kilometers), where both structural discontinuities and differential bubble-rise speed can promote slug coalescence. The observed decoupling between de…
Unusually large magmatic CO2gas emissions prior to a basaltic paroxysm
[1] The low-intensity activity of basaltic volcanoes is occasionally interrupted by short-lived but energetic explosions which, whilst frequently observed, are amongst the most enigmatic volcanic events in Nature. The combination of poorly understood and deep, challenging to measure, source processes make such events currently impossible to forecast. Here we report increases in quiescent degassing CO2 emissions (>10,000 t/day) prior to a powerful explosive event on Stromboli volcano on 15 March 2007. We interpret such large CO2 flux as being sourced by passive gas leakage from a deeply (>4 km) stored magma, whose depressurization, possibly caused by the onset of an effusive eruption on 28 F…
Intercomparison of volcanic gas monitoring methodologies performed on Vulcano Island, Italy
[1] Volcanic gas emissions from fumaroles on the rim of La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Italy, were measured simultaneously using direct sampling (for H2O, CO2, total sulfur, HCl and HF), filter packs (for SO2, HCl, HF) and short-path active-mode FTIR measurements (for H2O, CO2, SO2, HCl and HF) in an intercomparison study in May 2002. The results show that Cl/F ratios were in good agreement between all three methods, and that FTIR and direct sampling determined comparable proportions of CO2 and H2O. Amounts of total S observed in direct sampling data were approximately double the amounts of SO2 measured with filter packs and FTIR. This difference could be attributed either to the fact FTI…
Total volatile flux from Mount Etna
[1] The Total Volatile (TV) flux from Mount Etna volcano has been characterised for the first time, by summing the simultaneously-evaluated fluxes of the three main volcanogenic volatiles: H2O, CO2 and SO2. SO2 flux was determined by routine DOAS traverse measurements, while H2O and CO2 were evaluated by scaling MultiGAS-sensed H2O/SO2 and CO2/SO2 plume ratios to the UV-sensed SO2 flux. The time-averaged TV flux from Etna is evaluated at ∼21,000 t·day−1, with a large fraction accounted for by H2O (∼13,000 t·day−1). H2O dominates (≥70%) the volatile budget during syn-eruptive degassing, while CO2 and H2O contribute equally to the TV flux during passive degassing. The CO2 flux was observed to…
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 …
Magma Degassing at Piton de la Fournaise Volcano
Since about 1860 AD, magmatic gas release at Piton de la Fournaise volcano is very weak during intra-eruptive phases and essentially occurs during the relatively short-lived eruptions. Recent gas measurements performed during an eruption in October 2010, combined with detailed review of melt and fluid inclusion composition in magmas erupted over the past 50 kyrs, indicate that most PdF eruptions extrude magmas having variably degassed at shallow depth (P 1 kbar) and the shallow magmas, whose fluids are efficiently scrubbed by the hydrothermal system and the water table. Quantification of SO2 fluxes permits to track syn-eruptive magma ascent at shallow level (above sea level). Deeper exsolut…