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Chacón, Zoraida
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- PublicationOpen AccessVapour discharges on Nevado del Ruiz during the recent activity: Clues on the composition of the deep hydrothermal system and its effects on thermal springs(2017-04-08)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; The Nevado del Ruiz volcano is considered one of the most active volcanoes in Colombia, which can potentially threaten approximately 600,000 inhabitants. The existence of a glacier and several streams channelling in some main rivers, flowing downslope, increases the risk for the population living on the flank of the volcano in case of unrest, because of the generation of lahars and mudflows. Indeed, during the November 1985 subplinian eruption, a lahar generated by the sudden melting of the glacier killed twenty thousand people in the town of Armero. Moreover, the involvement of the local hydrothermal system has produced in the past phreatic and phreatomagmatic activity, as occurred in 1989. Therefore, the physico-chemical conditions of the hydrothermal system as well as its contribution to the shallow thermal groundwater and freshwater in terms of enthalpy and chemicals require a close monitoring. The phase of unrest occurred since 2010 and culminated with an eruption in 2012, after several years of relative stability, stillmaintains amoderate alert, as required by the high seismicity and SO2 degassing. In October 2013, a sampling campaign has been performed on thermal springs and stream water, located at 2600–5000 m of elevation on the slope of Nevado del Ruiz, analyzed for water chemistry and stable isotopes. Some of these waters are typically steam-heated (low pH and high sulfate content) by the vapour probably separating from a zoned hydrothermal system. By applying a model of steam-heating, based on mass and enthalpy balances, we have estimated themass rate of hydrothermal steam discharging in the different springs. The composition of the hottest thermal spring (Botero Londono) is probably representative of a marginal part of the hydrothermal system, having a temperature of 250 °C and low salinity (Cl ~1500 mg/l), which suggest, along with the retrieved isotope composition, a chiefly meteoric origin. The vapour discharged at the steam vent “Nereidas” (3600 m asl) is hypothesized to be separated from a high temperature hydrothermal system. Based on its composition and on literature data on fluid inclusions, we have retrieved the P-T-X conditions of the deep hydrothermal system, aswell as its pH and fO2. The vapour feeding Nereidas would separate from a biphasic hydrothermal system characterized by the following parameters: t= 315 °C, P= 15 MPa, NaCl = 10 wt%, CO2=5 wt%, and similar proportion between liquid and vapour. Considering also the equilibria involving S-bearing gases and HCl, pH would approach the value of 1.5 while fO2 would correspond to the FeO-Fe2O3 buffer. Chlorine content is estimated at 10,300mg/l. Changes in the magmatic input into the hydrothermal system couldmodify its degree of vapourization and/or P-T-X conditions, thus inducing corresponding variations in vapour discharges and thermal waters. These findings, paralleled by contemporary measurements of water flow rates, could give significant clues on risk evaluation.227 45 - PublicationRestrictedGeochemistry of REE, Zr and Hf in a wide range of pH and water composition: The Nevado del Ruiz volcano-hydrothermal system (Colombia)(2015-12-06)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;Inguaggiato, C.; Università di Palermo ;Censi, P.; Università di Palermo ;Zuddas, P.; Universites Sorbonne, Paris, France ;Londoño, J. M.; Servicio Geologico Colombiano, Manizales, Colombia ;Chacón, Z.; Servicio Geologico Colombiano, Manizales, Colombia ;Alzate, D.; Servicio Geologico Colombiano, Manizales, Colombia ;Brusca, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia ;D'Alessandro, W.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; ; ; ; ; ; ; The geochemical behaviour of Rare Earth Elements, Zr and Hf was investigated in the thermal waters of Nevado del Ruiz volcano system. A wide range of pH, between 1.0 and 8.8, characterizes these fluids. The acidic waters are sulphate dominatedwith different Cl/SO4 ratios. The important role of the pH and the ionic complexes for the distribution of REE, Zr and Hf in the aqueous phase was evidenced. The pH rules the precipitation of authigenic Fe and Al oxyhydroxides producing changes in REE, Zr, Hf amounts and strong anomalies of Cerium. The precipitation of alunite and jarosite removes LREE from the solution, changing the REE distribution in acidic waters. Y–Ho and Zr–Hf (twin pairs) have a different behaviour in strong acidic waterswith respect to the water with pH near-neutral. Yttrium and Ho behave as Zr and Hf in waters with pH near neutral-to-neutral, showing superchondritic ratios. The twin pairs showed to be sensitive to the co-precipitation and/or adsorption onto the surface of authigenic particulate (Fe-, Al-oxyhydroxides), suggesting an enhanced scavenging of Ho and Hf with respect to Y and Zr, leading to superchondritic values. In acidic waters, a different behaviour of twin pairs occurs with chondritic Y/Ho ratios and sub-chondritic Zr/Hf ratios. For the first time, Zr and Hf were investigated in natural acidic fluids to understand the behaviour of these elements in extreme acidic conditions and different major anion chemistry. Zr/Hf molar ratio changes from 4.75 to 49.29 in water with pH b 3.6. In strong acidic waters the fractionation of Zr and Hf was recognized as function of major anion contents (Cl and SO4), suggesting the formation of complexes leading to sub-chondritic Zr/Hf molar ratios.376 86 - PublicationOpen AccessExcess degassing drives long-term volcanic unrest at Nevado del Ruiz(2024-01-12)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; This study combines volcanic gas compositions, SO2 flux and satellite thermal data collected at Nevado del Ruiz between 2018 and 2021. We find the Nevado del Ruiz plume to have exhibited relatively steady, high CO2 compositions (avg. CO2/ST ratios of 5.4 ± 1.9) throughout. Our degassing models support that the CO2/ST ratio variability derives from volatile exsolution from andesitic magma stored in the 1-4 km depth range. Separate ascent of CO2-rich gas bubbles through shallow (< 1 km depth), viscous, conduit resident magma causes the observed excess degassing. We infer that degassing of ~ 974 mm3 of shallow (1-4 km) stored magma has sourced the elevated SO2 degassing recorded during 2018-2021 (average flux ~ 1548 t/d). Of this, only < 1 mm3 of magma have been erupted through dome extrusion, highlighting a large imbalance between erupted and degassed magma. Escalating deep CO2 gas flushing, combined with the disruption of passive degassing, through sudden accumulation and pressurization of bubbles due to lithostatic pressure, may accelerate volcanic unrest and eventually lead to a major eruption.42 17 - PublicationOpen AccessSynoptic analysis of a decade of daily measurements of SO2 emission in the troposphere from volcanoes of the global ground-based Network for Observation of Volcanic and Atmospheric Change(2021)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ; ;; Volcanic plumes are common and far-reaching manifestations of volcanic activity during and be-tween eruptions. Observations of the rate of emission and composition of volcanic plumes are essential to rec-ognize and, in some cases, predict the state of volcanic activity. Measurements of the size and location of theplumes are important to assess the impact of the emission from sporadic or localized events to persistent orwidespread processes of climatic and environmental importance. These observations provide information onvolatile budgets on Earth, chemical evolution of magmas, and atmospheric circulation and dynamics. Space-based observations during the last decades have given us a global view of Earth’s volcanic emission, particularlyof sulfur dioxide (SO2). Although none of the satellite missions were intended to be used for measurementof volcanic gas emission, specially adapted algorithms have produced time-averaged global emission budgets.These have confirmed that tropospheric plumes, produced from persistent degassing of weak sources, dominatethe total emission of volcanic SO2. Although space-based observations have provided this global insight intosome aspects of Earth’s volcanism, it still has important limitations. The magnitude and short-term variabilityof lower-atmosphere emissions, historically less accessible from space, remain largely uncertain. Operationalmonitoring of volcanic plumes, at scales relevant for adequate surveillance, has been facilitated through the useof ground-based scanning differential optical absorption spectrometer (ScanDOAS) instruments since the be-ginning of this century, largely due to the coordinated effort of the Network for Observation of Volcanic andAtmospheric Change (NOVAC). In this study, we present a compilation of results of homogenized post-analysisof measurements of SO2flux and plume parameters obtained during the period March 2005 to January 2017of 32 volcanoes in NOVAC. This inventory opens a window into the short-term emission patterns of a diverseset of volcanoes in terms of magma composition, geographical location, magnitude of emission, and style oferuptive activity. We find that passive volcanic degassing is by no means a stationary process in time and thatlarge sub-daily variability is observed in the flux of volcanic gases, which has implications for emission budgetsproduced using short-term, sporadic observations. The use of a standard evaluation method allows for intercom-parison between different volcanoes and between ground- and space-based measurements of the same volcanoes.The emission of several weakly degassing volcanoes, undetected by satellites, is presented for the first time. Wealso compare our results with those reported in the literature, providing ranges of variability in emission notaccessible in the past. The open-access data repository introduced in this article will enable further exploitationof this unique dataset, with a focus on volcanological research, risk assessment, satellite-sensor validation, andimproved quantification of the prevalent tropospheric component of global volcanic emission.405 49 - PublicationRestrictedThe hydrothermal system of Cerro Machín volcano (Colombia): New magmatic signals observed during 2011–2013(2017)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ;Cerro Machín volcano in Colombia recently (2009–2013) exhibited new seismic activity. A geochemical characterization of emitted fluids was carried out based on the chemical and isotopic compositions of fumaroles and thermal springs discharged in this volcanic area with the aim of improving the volcano monitoring program. The isotopic composition of fumaroles located in the upper part of the dome was characterized by depleted δD and δ18O relative to the meteoric recharge fluids, which is due to a separation of the liquid phase in the lower part of the dome. A clear magmatic He signature was found in the fumaroles, with an increased magmatic contribution observed in the discharged fluids during 2011–2013 corroborating the increase in recorded seismic activity. Coupling the geochemical and seismic information has highlighted a clear awakening of Cerro Machín volcanic activity, indicating that this volcano is still active deserve an improvement of volcanic monitoring activity by the scientific community.169 6 - PublicationOpen AccessVolcanic Gas Emissions Along the Colombian Arc Segment of the Northern Volcanic Zone (CAS‐NVZ): Implications for volcano monitoring and volatile budget of the Andean Volcanic Belt(2019-11-14)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ; ;Studying spatial and temporal trends in volcanic gas compositions and fluxes is crucial both to volcano monitoring and to constrain the origin and recycling efficiency of volatiles at active convergent margins. New volcanic gas compositions and volatile fluxes are here reported for Nevado del Ruiz, Galeras, and Purace, three of the most persistently degassing volcanoes located in the Colombian Arc Segment of the Northern Volcanic Zone. At Nevado del Ruiz, from 2014 to 2017, plume emissions showed an average molar CO2/ST ratio of 3.9 ± 1.6 (ST is total sulfur, S). Contemporary, fumarolic chemistry at Galeras progressively shifted toward low‐temperature, S‐depleted fumarolic gas discharges with an average CO2/ST ratio in excess of 10 (6.0–46.0, 2014–2017). This shift in volcanic gas compositions was accompanied by a concurrent decrease in SO2 emissions, confirmed on 21 March 2017 by high‐resolution ultraviolet camera‐based SO2 fluxes of ~2.5 kg/s (~213 t/day). For comparison, SO2 emissions remained high at Nevado del Ruiz (weighted average of 8 kg/s) between 2014 and 2017, while Puracé maintained rather low emission levels (<1 kg/s of SO2, CO2/SO2 ≈ 14). We here estimate carbon dioxide fluxes for Nevado del Ruiz, Galeras, and Puracé of ~23, 30, and 1 kg/s, respectively. These, combined with recent CO2 flux estimates for Nevado del Huila of ~10 kg/s (~860 t/day), imply that this arc segment contributes about 50% to the total subaerial CO2 budget of the Andean Volcanic Belt. Furthermore, our work highlights the northward increase in carbon‐rich sediment input into the mantle wedge via slab fluids and melts that is reflected in magmatic CO2/ST values far higher than those reported for Southern Volcanic Zone and Central Volcanic Zone volcanoes. We estimate that about 20% (~1.3 Mt C/year) of the C being subducted (~6.19 Mt C/year) gets resurfaced through subaerial volcanic gas emissions in Colombia (Nevado del Ruiz ~0.7 Mt C/year). As global volcanic volatile fluxes continue to be quantified and refined, the contribution from this arc segment should not be underestimated.297 24