Search results for "Volcano"

Geochemistry and mineralogy of travertine deposits of the SW flank of Mt. Etna (Italy): Relationships with past volcanic and degassing activity

2007

Abstract Travertine deposits outcropping in the lower SW flank of Mt. Etna were studied for their mapping, as well as for their chemical, mineralogical and isotopic compositions. These deposits are dated to about 24 to 5 ka in the Adrano area, located at the western limit of the study area. In this area travertines show high Mg contents and are composed mostly of dolomite, thus apparently ruling out any primary deposition in favour of a diagenetic origin. Travertines outcropping near Paterno, in the east part of the study area, should be younger than 18 ka. Those located to the SSW of Paterno (Paterno–Diga) show high Sr contents and aragonite as dominant mineralogical phase, thus suggesting…

Recycled crustal carbon in the depleted mantle source of El Hierro volcano, Canary Islands

2021

The Canary Islands, in the eastern Atlantic, are among the most enigmatic Oceanic Island provinces on Earth, as the mantle source feeding its volcanism exhibits wide spatial heterogeneity and a multiplicity of sources. Multi-isotope whole-rock studies have long revealed the presence of a recycled oceanic crust/lithosphere component in the mantle source. However, noble gas systematics have been more challenging to interpret, and the available carbon isotope data is limited and cannot support/dismiss this interpretation. Here, we present the very first isotopic characterisation of CO2 and noble gases (He-Ne-Ar) in fluid inclusions (FI) in minerals hosted in mantle xenoliths from El Hierro, th…

Understanding Degassing Pathways Along the 1886 Tarawera (New Zealand) Volcanic Fissure by Combining Soil and Lake CO2 Fluxes

2019

CO2 flux measurements are often used to monitor volcanic systems, understand the cause of volcanic unrest, and map sub-surface structures. Currently, such measurements are incomplete at Tarawera (New Zealand), which erupted with little warning in 1886 and produced a ∼17 km long fissure. We combine new soil CO2 flux and C isotope measurements of Tarawera with previous data from Rotomahana and Waimangu (regions also along the 1886 fissure) to fingerprint the CO2 source, understand the current pathways for degassing, quantify the CO2 released along the entire fissure, and provide a baseline survey. The total CO2 emissions from the fissure are 1227 t⋅d–1 (742–3398 t⋅d–1 90 % confidence interval…

Coupled petrological-geodynamical modeling of a compositionally heterogeneous mantle plume

2018

Abstract Self-consistent geodynamic modeling that includes melting is challenging as the chemistry of the source rocks continuously changes as a result of melt extraction. Here, we describe a new method to study the interaction between physical and chemical processes in an uprising heterogeneous mantle plume by combining a geodynamic code with a thermodynamic modeling approach for magma generation and evolution. We pre-computed hundreds of phase diagrams, each of them for a different chemical system. After melt is extracted, the phase diagram with the closest bulk rock chemistry to the depleted source rock is updated locally. The petrological evolution of rocks is tracked via evolving chemi…

On the Volcanology of the West Eifel Maars

1987

The Quaternary alkali-basaltic volcanic field of the West Eifel is the classic maar region of the world. Related to the formation of the continental rift zone which extends through Central Europe, ultrabasic magmas rose from the upper mantle through the continental crust and fed 240 small volcanoes. Next to scoria cones with their lava flows, maars are most frequent and represent 25% of the volcanoes. Since 1820 and until 1970 their origin was mostly believed to be related to explosive exsolution of juvenile volatile phases. Since 1970, however, several authors have suggested that the West Eifel maars are phreatomagmatic in origin, i.e. rising magma contacted groundwater in near-surface lev…

Dynamics of mild strombolian activity on Mt. Etna

2015

Abstract Here we report the first measurements of gas masses released during a rare period of strombolian activity at the Bocca Nuova crater, Mt. Etna, Sicily. UV camera data acquired for 195 events over an ≈ 27 minute period (27th July 2012) indicate erupted SO2 masses ranging from ≈ 0.1 to ≈ 14 kg per event, with corresponding total gas masses of ≈ 0.1 to 74 kg. Thus, the activity was characterised by more frequent and smaller events than typically associated with strombolian activity on volcanoes such as Stromboli. Events releasing larger measured gas masses were followed by relatively long repose periods before the following burst, a feature not previously reported on from gas measureme…

2017

Strombolian volcanism is a ubiquitous form of activity, driven by the ascent and bursting of bubbles of slug morphology. Whilst considerable attention has been devoted to understanding the behaviour of individual slugs in this regime, relatively little is known about how inter-slug interactions modify flow conditions. Recently, we reported on high temporal frequency strombolian activity on Etna, in which the larger erupted slug masses were followed by longer intervals before the following explosion than the smaller bursts (Pering et al., 2015). We hypothesised that this behaviour arose from the coalescence of ascending slugs causing a prolonged lag before arrival of the next distinct bubble…

On the determination of coherent solar climates over a tropical island with a complex topography

2020

Abstract Many tropical islands aim at developing a greener self-sufficient energy production systems based on renewable energy, notably solar-generated electricity. This work explores the mean diurnal and annual solar cycles over La Reunion island (southwest Indian Ocean: 21°S, 55.5°E), and their spatial behavior, using the Solar surfAce RAdiation Heliosat – East (SARAH-E) satellite-derived data at high spatial ( 0.05 ° × 0.05 ° ) and time (hourly) resolutions over period 1999–2016. Comparisons of the SARAH-E data with ground-based measurements over the period 2011–2015 show differences of ~ 15 % for diurnal-seasonal variations. The solar resource over the island displays strong spatial var…

Tracking Formation of a Lava Lake From Ground and Space: Masaya Volcano (Nicaragua), 2014-2017

2018

A vigorously degassing lava lake appeared inside the Santiago pit crater of Masaya volcano (Nicaragua) in December 2015, after years of degassing with no (or minor) incandescence. Here we present an unprecedented-long (3 years) and continuous volcanic gas record that instrumentally characterizes the (re)activation of the lava lake. Our results show that, before appearance of the lake, the volcanic gas plume composition became unusually CO 2 rich, as testified by high CO 2 /SO 2 ratios (mean: 12.2 ± 6.3) and low H 2 O/CO 2 ratios (mean: 2.3 ± 1.3). The volcanic CO 2 flux also peaked in November 2015 (mean: 81.3 ± 40.6 kg/s; maximum: 247 kg/s). Using results of magma degassing models and budg…

The 2007 eruption of Stromboli volcano: Insights from real-time measurement of the volcanic gas plume CO2/SO2 ratio

2009

Abstract The recent eruption of Stromboli in February–April 2007 offered a unique chance to test our current understanding of processes driving the transition from ordinary (persistent Strombolian) to effusive activity, and the ability of instrumental geophysical and geochemical networks to interpret and predict these events. Here, we report on the results of two years of in-situ sensing of the CO 2 /SO 2 ratio in Stromboli's volcanic gas plume, in the attempt to put constraints on the trigger mechanisms and dynamics of the eruption. We show that large variations of the plume CO 2 /SO 2 ratio (range, 0.9–26) preceded the onset of the eruption (since December 2007), interrupting a period of …