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Hydrogen emissions from Erebus volcano, Antarctica
Author(s)
Language
English
Obiettivo Specifico
5V. Sorveglianza vulcanica ed emergenze
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
/74 (2012)
ISSN
0258-8900
Electronic ISSN
1432-0819
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Pages (printed)
2109 – 2120
Issued date
November 1, 2012
Keywords
Abstract
The continuous measurement of molecular hydrogen (H2) emissions from passively degassing volcanoes has recently been made possible using a new generation of low-cost electrochemical sensors. We have used such sensors to measure H2, along with SO2, H2O and CO2, in the gas and aerosol plume emitted from the phonolite lava lake at Erebus volcano, Antarctica. The measurements were made at the crater rim between December 2010 and January 2011. Combined with measurements of the long-term SO2 emission rate for Erebus, they indicate a characteristic H2 flux of 0. 03 kg s-1 (2. 8 Mg day-1). The observed H2 content in the plume is consistent with previous estimates of redox conditions in the lava lake inferred from mineral compositions and the observed CO2/CO ratio in the gas plume (~0. 9 log units below the quartz-fayalite-magnetite buffer). These measurements suggest that H2 does not combust at the surface of the lake, and that H2 is kinetically inert in the gas/aerosol plume, retaining the signature of the high-temperature chemical equilibrium reached in the lava lake. We also observe a cyclical variation in the H2/SO2 ratio with a period of ~10 min. These cycles correspond to oscillatory patterns of surface motion of the lava lake that have been interpreted as signs of a pulsatory magma supply at the top of the magmatic conduit.
Type
article
File(s)
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Name
Moussallam et al 2012.pdf
Size
2.73 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
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