Katsuya Kaneko

A new technique of radiation thermometry using a consumer digital camcorder: Observations of red glow at Aso volcano, Japan

We newly developed a technique of radiation thermometry using a Sony’s consumer digital camcorder. Our system is not only convenience and cost effective but with a better performance than previous infrared thermometers, particularly in the place like a crater of volcano where is abundant in gas. This is because our system uses the submicron wavelength band, in which radiation is less influenced by absorption of gas than in the thermal infrared wavelength (>3 μm). We carried out observations of red glow at Aso volcano and succeeded in measuring the temperature of about 800°C, which is much more acceptable than previously reported values of 200–400°C. When we measure the temperature of about 300–700°C and 600–900°C in the place where is abundant in gas, using the camcorder with the near-infrared and with the visible wavelength mode is better than the thermal infrared region, respectively.

Experimental study on the effects of crustal temperature and composition on assimilation with fractional crystallization at the floor of magma chambers

Abstract When a hot basaltic magma is emplaced into continental crust or a pre-existing silicic magma chamber, the processes of assimilation with fractional crystallization (AFC) are likely to control the liquid line of descent of the magma. These processes are particularly important at the floor of the magma chamber because evolved light liquids generated by floor melting readily mix with the overlying basaltic magma. In order to clarify the effects of temperature and composition of the floor on the AFC processes, we experimentally investigated simultaneous melting and crystallization of a NH 4 Cl–H 2 O binary eutectic system. In the experiments, evolution of temperature and compositional profiles of a hot solution overlying a cold solid mixture of variable initial temperatures and compositions were measured. The initial NH 4 Cl concentrations of solid and liquid are chosen to be higher than the eutectic composition, such that the density change of the experimental material by crystallization and melting is qualitatively the same as that of natural magmas and crusts. The results show that a mushy layer forms at the floor due to simultaneous crystallization and (partial) melting and that the liquid evolves due to mixing with liquids released by crystallization and melting. The ratio of melting mass to crystallization mass (M/C ratio) depends on the initial floor temperature and composition. As the initial floor temperature decreases, the rate of melting largely decreases, so that the M/C ratio becomes smaller. As the initial NH 4 Cl concentration of the solid floor decreases, the degree of partial melting of the floor increases; however, it does not necessarily result in an increase in the M/C ratio. The higher melt fraction of the mushy layer increases permeability within the mushy layer, so that vertical exchange between the liquid in the mushy layer and the more concentrated overlying liquid is enhanced. This effect promotes crystallization in the mushy layer, and decreases the M/C ratio. It is suggested that the M/C ratio during AFC processes depends on details of the mixing process in the liquid layer such as spacing and meandering of buoyant plumes.

Decreasing removal rate of the dissolved CO2 in Lake Nyos, Cameroon, after the installation of additional degassing pipes

Abstract The amount of dissolved CO2 (CO2aq) in Lake Nyos, Cameroon, has been measured annually since January 2011. First, concentration was estimated by a chemical analysis with the assumption of equilibria between CO2aq, and . The estimated was correlated with the observed electrical conductivity of lake water. The profile of [CO2aq] was generated from the electrical conductivity, pH and temperature profiles. The [CO2aq] profile was integrated over the water column to obtain the total amount of CO2aq. The amounts were 8.4, 6.8, 5.5, 4.4 and 3.9 Gmol (=109 mol) in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The fast reduction between 2011 and 2013 was attributed to the installation of two additional degassing pipes in April 2011. However, the rate of reduction decreased between 2014 and 2015 due to the reduced [CO2aq] at the inlet of the degassing pipes.

Vertical distribution of dissolved CO2 in lakes Nyos and Monoun (Cameroon) as estimated by sound speed in water

Abstract Vertical profiles of sound speed (SS) in lake water were measured at lakes Nyos and Monoun (Cameroon) in 2012 and 2014. A significant linear correlation with Pearsons r of 0.987 to 0.995 between total CO2 concentration ([CO2]=[CO2(aq)]+[HCO3−]) and SS excess (Δv) in water was found. Based on this correlation, we propose the SS method as a new simple tool to monitor CO2 concentration in lakes Nyos and Monoun. We applied this method to multipoint measurements of CO2 in lakes Nyos and Monoun, and found horizontal differences between CO2 distributions in the two lakes. The results indicated that Lake Nyos water was stably stratified, and the total CO2 decreased from 2012 to 2014. At Lake Monoun, which consists of three basins (the western basin, the central basin, and the main basin), waters in the western and central basins exhibited a higher dissolved CO2 content than those in the main basin at the same depth. An increase in CO2 was also detected in the main basin from 2012 to 2014.

A new method to determine dissolved CO2 concentration of lakes Nyos and Monoun using the sound speed and electrical conductivity of lake water

Abstract A new method to measure the CO2 concentration in lakes Nyos and Monoun using sound speed (SS) and electrical conductivity (EC) of the lake water was developed. Limnic eruptions at lakes Monoun and Nyos in Cameroon, characterized by a risk related to possible sudden release of magmatic CO2 gas dissolved in the lake water, occurred in 1984 and 1986 respectively, killing about 1800 residents. CO2 monitoring of the lake waters was initiated to prevent further disasters. Classical methods of CO2 measurement, which require chemical analysis of water samples, are not suitable for frequent and multi-point monitoring. Inspired by the method of measuring salt concentration using SS, we obtained data for dissolved CO2 (CO2(aq)) assuming the following formula , where Δv is additional SS due to dissolved ions and k1 and k2 are coefficients determined through experiments. The coefficient k1 was determined with temperature T (°C) dependence as 0.0323–0.000523T [l m s−1 mmol−1]. k2 was estimated to be 0.132 at Lake Nyos and 0.0930 at Lake Monoun. Once k1 and k2 values are obtained, [CO2(aq)] and are calculated using the SS, T and EC.