Nicole Bobrowski

Evolution of CO2, SO2, HCl, and HNO3 in the volcanic plumes from Etna

The volcanic plumes from degassing Etna (Italy) were extensively probed with instruments onboard the Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt research aircraft Falcon during the contrail, volcano, and cirrus experiment CONCERT on 29/30 September 2011. Up to 10.4 ppmv SO2 and 0.3 ppmv HCl were detected with the atmospheric chemical ionization mass spectrometer AIMS at 3.1 km altitude and 20 km distance to the summit. HNO3 is the dominant reactive nitrogen component in the plumes. Linking aircraft and ground-based observations by Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory dispersion modeling, we identify two crater plumes with different compositions primarily injected by the Bocca Nuova and North East craters. Uniquely, we follow their chemical evolution up to 5 h plume age. Our results show that CO2/SO2 and SO2/HCl molar ratios are stable in the ageing plumes. Hence, conversion of SO2 to H2SO4 and partitioning of HCl in acidic plume particles play a minor role at dry tropospheric conditions. Thus, these trace gases allow monitoring volcanic activity far from the crater.

Active alkaline traps to determine acidic‐gas ratios in volcanic plumes: Sampling techniques and analytical methods

In situ measurements have been the basis for monitoring volcanic gas emissions for many years and—being complemented by remote sensing techniques—still play an important role to date. Concerning in situ techniques for sampling a dilute plume, an increase in accuracy and a reduction of detection limits are still necessary for most gases (e.g., CO2, SO2, HCl, HF, HBr, HI). In this work, the Raschig-Tube technique (RT) is modified and utilized for application on volcanic plumes. The theoretical and experimental absorption properties of the RT and the Drechsel bottle (DB) setups are characterized and both are applied simultaneously to the well-established Filter packs technique (FP) in the field (on Stromboli Island and Mount Etna). The comparison points out that FPs are the most practical to apply but the results are error-prone compared to RT and DB, whereas the RT results in up to 13 times higher analyte concentrations than the DB in the same sampling time. An optimization of the analytical procedure, including sample pretreatment and analysis by titration, Ion Chromatography, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, led to a comprehensive data set covering a wide range of compounds. In particular, less abundant species were quantified more accurately and iodine was detected for the first time in Strombolis plume. Simultaneously applying Multiaxis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) the chemical transformation of emitted bromide into bromine monoxide (BrO) from Stromboli and Etna was determined to 3–6% and 7%, respectively, within less than 5 min after the gas release from the active vents.

Tomographic multiaxis-differential optical absorption spectroscopy observations of Sun-illuminated targets: a technique providing well-defined absorption paths in the boundary layer

A novel experimental procedure to measure the near-surface distribution of atmospheric trace gases by using passive multiaxis differential absorption optical spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) is proposed. The procedure consists of pointing the receiving telescope of the spectrometer to nonreflecting surfaces or to bright targets placed at known distances from the measuring device, which are illuminated by sunlight. We show that the partial trace gas absorptions between the top of the atmosphere and the target can be easily removed from the measured total absorption. Thus it is possible to derive the average concentration of trace gases such as NO(2), HCHO, SO(2), H(2)O, Glyoxal, BrO, and others along the line of sight between the instrument and the target similar to the well-known long-path DOAS observations (but with much less expense). If tomographic arrangements are used, even two- or three-dimensional trace gas distributions can be retrieved. The basic assumptions of the proposed method are confirmed by test measurements taken across the city of Heidelberg.

Gas emission strength and evolution of the molar ratio of BrO/SO2 in the plume of Nyiragongo in comparison to Etna

Airborne and ground-based differential optical absorption spectroscopy observations have been carried out at the volcano Nyiragongo (Democratic Republic of Congo) to measure SO2 and bromine monoxide (BrO) in the plume in March 2004 and June 2007, respectively. Additionally filter pack and multicomponent gas analyzer system (Multi-GAS) measurements were carried out in June 2007. Our measurements provide valuable information on the chemical composition of the volcanic plume emitted from the lava lake of Nyiragongo. The main interest of this study has been to investigate for the first time the bromine emission flux of Nyiragongo (a rift volcano) and the BrO formation in its volcanic plume. Measurement data and results from a numerical model of the evolution of BrO in Nyiragongo volcanic plume are compared with earlier studies of the volcanic plume of Etna (Italy). Even though the bromine flux from Nyiragongo (2.6t/d) is slightly greater than that from Etna (1.9t/d), the BrO/SO2 ratio (maximum 7x10(-5)) is smaller than in the plume of Etna (maximum 2.1x10(-4)). A one-dimensional photochemical model to investigate halogen chemistry in the volcanic plumes of Etna and Nyiragongo was initialized using data from Multi-GAS and filter pack measurements. Model runs showed that the differences in the composition of volcanic volatiles led to a smaller fraction of total bromine being present as BrO in the Nyiragongo plume and to a smaller BrO/SO2 ratio.

Reply to comment from Liotta and Rizzo on “Evolution of CO2 , SO2 , HCl and HNO3 in the volcanic plumes from Etna” by Voigt et al. [Geophys. Res. Lett.; 41, doi:10.1002/2013GL058974]

Editor’s Note: The following comment and reply arise from an article published in Geophysical Research Letters by Voigt et al. (2014). The article addresses a volcanology topic, and the commenters take issue with some conclusions and offer an analysis of their own. Voigt and co-authors have responded. Why is this comment-and-reply being published in the Bulletin? It is because Geophysical Research Letters is one of a number of journals that do not offer any published forum for discussion of the papers they publish. This is a matter of editorial policy and a decision for each journal. The Bulletin of Volcanology does provide a forum for discussion of articles published. When contacted by Marcello Liotta with the request that the Bulletin consider hosting a discussion of the Voigt et al. volcanology article in GRL, I agreed to do so if the GRL authors were willing to engage with the comment. Voigt and co-authors were willing to do so and have been allowed a small amount of additional space to summarize for Bulletin readers the key points of the GRL paper under discussion before responding directly to the comment from Liotta and Rizzo. I hope that Bulletin readers find the discussion and reply of interest.

New insights into the magmatic-hydrothermal system and volatile budget of Lastarria volcano, Chile: Integrated results from the 2014 IAVCEI CCVG 12th Volcanic Gas Workshop

Recent geophysical evidence for large-scale regional crustal inflation and localized crustal magma intrusion has made Lastarria volcano (northern Chile) the target of numerous geological, geophysical, and geochemical studies. The chemical composition of volcanic gases sampled during discrete campaigns from Lastarria volcano indicated a well-developed hydrothermal system from direct fumarole samples in A.D. 2006, 2008, and 2009, and shallow magma degassing using measurements from in situ plume sampling techniques in 2012. It is unclear if the differences in measured gas compositions and resulting interpretations were due to artifacts of the different sampling methods employed, short-term excursions from baseline due to localized changes in stress, or a systematic change in Lastarria’s magmatic-hydrothermal system between 2009 and 2012. Integrated results from a two-day volcanic gas sampling and measurement campaign during the 2014 International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI) Commission on the Chemistry of Volcanic Gases (CCVG) 12th Gas Workshop are used here to compare and evaluate current gas sampling and measurement techniques, refine the existing subsurface models for Lastarria volcano, and provide new constraints on its magmatic-hydrothermal system and total degassing budget. While compositional differences among sampling methods are present, distinct compositional changes are observed, which if representative of longterm trends, indicate a change in Lastarria’s overall magmatic-hydrothermal system. The composition of volcanic gases measured in 2014 contained high proportions of relatively magmaand water-soluble gases consistent with degassing of shallow magma, and in agreement with the 2012 gas composition. When compared with gas compositions measured in 2006–2009, higher relative H2O/CO2 ratios combined with lower relative CO2/St and H2O/St and stable HCl/St ratios (where St is total S [SO2 + H2S]) are observed in 2012 and 2014. These compositional changes suggest variations in the magmatichydrothermal system between 2009 and 2012, with possible scenarios to explain these trends including: (1) decompression-induced degassing due to magma ascent within the shallow crust; (2) crystallization-induced degassing of a stalled magma body; (3) depletion of the hydrothermal system GEOSPHERE GEOSPHERE; v. 14, no. 3 doi:10.1130/GES01495.1 12 figures; 6 tables; 2 supplemental files CORRESPONDENCE: tmlopez@ alaska .edu CITATION: Lopez, T., Aguilera, F., Tassi, F., de Moor, J.M., Bobrowski, N., Aiuppa, A., Tamburello, G., Rizzo, A.L., Liuzzo, M., Viveiros, F., Cardellini, C., Silva, C., Fischer, T., Jean-Baptiste, P., Kazayaha, R., Hidalgo, S., Malowany, K., Lucic, G., Bagnato, E., Bergsson, B., Reath, K., Liotta, M., Carn, S., and Chio dini, G., 2018, New insights into the magmatic-hydrothermal system and volatile budget of Lastarria volcano, Chile: Integrated results from the 2014 IAVCEI CCVG 12th Volcanic Gas Workshop: Geosphere, v. 14, no. 3, p. 983–1007, doi:10.1130/GES01495.1. Science Editor: Raymond M. Russo Guest Associate Editor: Shanaka de Silva Received 12 January 2017 Revision received 4 December 2017 Accepted 21 March 2018 Published online 7 May 2018

Den Himmel betrachten, die Hölle verstehen. Telegramm aus dem Inneren der Erde

Im Jahr 1864 beschrieb der franzosische Schriftsteller Jules Verne die Reise zum Mittelpunkt der Erde. In der Realitat ist es den Wissenschaftlern bis heute nicht gelungen, in das geheimnisvolle Innere unseres Planeten vorzustosen. Wir mussen uns mit indirekten Hinweisen begnugen, beispielsweise mit Gasen, die von Vulkanen – den Toren zum Innern der Erde – freigesetzt werden. Die in Vulkanfahnen nachweisbaren Gase erlauben Ruckschlusse auf Vorgange unter der Erdkruste und konnen genutzt werden, um drohende Vulkanausbruche vorherzusagen. Ein neuer Kandidat fur ein praziseres Fruhwarnsystem ist das Spurengas Brommonoxid.