Gas Emissions From the Western Aleutians Volcanic Arc

The Aleutian Arc is remote and highly active volcanically. Its 4,000 km extent from mainland Alaska to Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula hosts over 140 volcanic centers of which about 50 have erupted in historic times. We present data of volcanic gas samples and gas emission measurements obtained during an expedition to the western-most segment of the arc in September 2015 in order to extend the sparse knowledge on volatile emissions from this remote but volcanically active region. Some of the volcanoes investigated here have not been sampled for gases before this writing. Our data show that all volcanoes host high-temperature magmatic-hydrothermal systems and have gas discharges typical of volcanoes in oceanic arcs. Based on helium isotopes, the western Aleutian Arc segment has minimal volatile contributions from the overriding crust. Volcanic CO2 fluxes from this arc segment are small, compared to the emissions from volcanoes on the Alaska Peninsula and mainland Alaska. The comparatively low CO2 emissions may be related to the lower sediment flux delivered to the trench in this part of the arc.

Download Full-text

On the use of plume models to estimate the flux in volcanic gas plumes

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-22159-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Julia Woitischek ◽

Nicola Mingotti ◽

Marie Edmonds ◽

Andrew W. Woods

Keyword(s):

Electrochemical Sensors ◽

Measurement Techniques ◽

Flux Measurement ◽

Hydrothermal Systems ◽

Mount Etna ◽

Volcanic Gas ◽

Gas Flux ◽

Convective Structures ◽

Video Images ◽

Villarrica Volcano

AbstractMany of the standard volcanic gas flux measurement approaches involve absorption spectroscopy in combination with wind speed measurements. Here, we present a new method using video images of volcanic plumes to measure the speed of convective structures combined with classical plume theory to estimate volcanic fluxes. We apply the method to a nearly vertical gas plume at Villarrica Volcano, Chile, and a wind-blown gas plume at Mount Etna, Italy. Our estimates of the gas fluxes are consistent in magnitude with previous reported fluxes obtained by spectroscopy and electrochemical sensors for these volcanoes. Compared to conventional gas flux measurement techniques focusing on SO2, our new model also has the potential to be used for sulfur-poor plumes in hydrothermal systems because it estimates the H2O flux.

Download Full-text

Mercury concentrations in thermal waters of the Bolshoi Semyachik hydrothermal system, Russia, Kamchatka.

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-15094 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anton Nuzhdaev

Keyword(s):

Hydrothermal System ◽

Kamchatka Peninsula ◽

Hydrothermal Systems ◽

Thermal Waters ◽

Hydrothermal Solutions ◽

Average Value ◽

Thermal Fields ◽

Gas Jets ◽

First Time ◽

Hydrothermal Fields

The study of mercury receipt within volcanic activity zones and large hydrothermal systems recently causes the big interest connected with attempts of an estimation of volumes of natural mercury receipt on a daily surface.The hydrothermal system connected with volcanic massif Big Semyachik is one of the largest on the territory of Kamchatka peninsula. On the surface, the hydrothermal system is manifested by three large hydrothermal fields - the Verhnee Field, the parychay Dolina, and the Northern Crater of the Central Semyachik, the heat export from which is estimated at 300 MW (Vakin, 1976). On the surface of the thermal fields hot thermal waters and powerful steam-gas jets are unloaded.&#160; At the same time, due to the inaccessibility of thermal fields remain poorly studied, and in particular, there is no information on the concentrations of mercury in hydrothermal solutions.During fieldwork in 2020 all types of thermal waters were sampled, chemical types of waters were established, concentrations of mercury in hydrothermal solutions: for hot thermal waters the average value of mercury was - 0.44 mcg / L, and in steam-gas jets - the average value of mercury was - 4.60 mcg / L.Thus, in the course of the work the data on concentrations of mercury in hydrothermal solutions of one of the largest hydrothermal systems of Kamchatka were received for the first time.&#160;

Download Full-text

14C Wiggle-Matching of the B-Tm Tephra, Baitoushan Volcano, China/North Korea

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/s0033822200046038 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 933-940 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Shinya Yatsuzuka ◽

Mitsuru Okuno ◽

Toshio Nakamura ◽

Katsuhiko Kimura ◽

Yohei Setoma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽

North Korea ◽

Radiocarbon Dating ◽

Gas Emission ◽

Volcanic Gas ◽

Ams Radiocarbon Dating ◽

Eruption Age ◽

The Difference ◽

Volcanic Gas Emission

We performed accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating and wiggle-matching of 2 wood samples from charred trunks of trees (samples A and B) collected from an ignimbrite deposit on the northeastern slope of the Baitoushan Volcano on the border of China and North Korea. The obtained calendar years for the eruption are cal AD 945–960 for sample A and cal AD 859–884 and cal AD 935–963 for sample B in the 2-σ range. These results are unable to determine the precise eruption age. The reason for the difference in reported ages may be due to volcanic gas emission prior to the huge eruption.

Download Full-text

Hydrothermal Systems in Kamchatka Peninsula and the Adjoining Region: Geological and Hydrochemical Characteristics

Thermodynamic Inversion ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-53512-8_8 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 203-223

Author(s):

Vladimir N. Kompanichenko

Keyword(s):

Kamchatka Peninsula ◽

Hydrothermal Systems ◽

Hydrochemical Characteristics

Download Full-text

Volcanic activity and gas emissions along the South Sandwich Arc

Bulletin of Volcanology ◽

10.1007/s00445-020-01415-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 83 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Emma J. Liu ◽

Kieran Wood ◽

Alessandro Aiuppa ◽

Gaetano Giudice ◽

Marcello Bitetto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Isotope ◽

Volcanic Activity ◽

Emission Rate ◽

Tectonic Setting ◽

Hydrothermal Systems ◽

Molar Ratio ◽

The South ◽

Gas Emissions ◽

Volcanic Arc

AbstractThe South Sandwich Volcanic Arc is one of the most remote and enigmatic arcs on Earth. Sporadic observations from rare cloud-free satellite images—and even rarer in situ reports—provide glimpses into a dynamic arc system characterised by persistent gas emissions and frequent eruptive activity. Our understanding of the state of volcanic activity along this arc is incomplete compared to arcs globally. To fill this gap, we present here detailed geological and volcanological observations made during an expedition to the South Sandwich Islands in January 2020. We report the first in situ measurements of gas chemistry, emission rate and carbon isotope composition from along the arc. We show that Mt. Michael on Saunders Island is a persistent source of gas emissions, releasing 145 ± 59 t day−1 SO2 in a plume characterised by a CO2/SO2 molar ratio of 1.8 ± 0.2. Combining this CO2/SO2 ratio with our independent SO2 emission rate measured near simultaneously, we derive a CO2 flux of 179 ± 76 t day−1. Outgassing from low temperature (90–100 °C) fumaroles is pervasive at the active centres of Candlemas and Bellingshausen, with measured gas compositions indicative of interaction between magmatic fluids and hydrothermal systems. Carbon isotope measurements of dilute plume and fumarole gases from along the arc indicate a magmatic δ13C of − 4.5 ± 2.0‰. Interpreted most simply, this result suggests a carbon source dominated by mantle-derived carbon. However, based on a carbon mass balance from sediment core ODP 701, we show that mixing between depleted upper mantle and a subduction component composed of sediment and altered crust is also permissible. We conclude that, although remote, the South Sandwich Volcanic Arc is an ideal tectonic setting in which to explore geochemical processes in a young, developing arc.

Download Full-text