Volcanic Degassing

Volcanoes release gases to the atmosphere both during and between eruptive phases. Primary and secondary processes occurring within the mantle and crust control the gases’ chemical and isotopic compositions as well as their emission rates. Therefore by measuring these gases a wealth of scientific information concerning the source and fate of these fluids is provided. Fluid geochemistry has been highly useful in advancing both our fundamental scientific understanding and procedures for operational volcano monitoring and eruption forecasting. Gases from low-to-high temperature fumaroles and those diffusively released through the soils of volcanic flanks are investigated using various sampling and measurement techniques. Furthermore, a variety of remote sensing methods are applied at relatively great distances from the source to gather major gas composition and flux data for volcanic plumes using ground based, airborne (including UAV) and space borne platforms. The acquired data have advanced science in a number of key ways: • firstly, with parallel thermodynamical modelling to advance our capacity to interpret acquired degassing data; • secondly, through improved constraints on budgets for volcanically mediated geochemical cycling, particularly via regional subduction processes; • thirdly, through improved constraints on the effects of volcanic gases on atmospheric composition, chemistry and radiative transfer, particularly in terms of halogen chemistry, volcanogenic climate change and impacts on human health; • fourthly, there has been a growing body of work focused on combining degassing data with contemporaneous geophysical data and studies on conduit fluid dynamics to advance our understanding of how subterranean gas flow mediates activity at the surface; • and fifthly, there have been considerable advances in the methods themselves, used to make the gas measurements, in particular in terms of extractive sampling (e.g., using MultiGAS units, mass spectrometry, spectroscopic isotope measurement approaches and diffusive denuder sampling) and remote sensing approaches (e.g., DOAS, UV cameras and other imaging techniques, LIDAR and FT)

This open access book summarizes the findings of the VUELCO project, a multi-disciplinary and cross-boundary research funded by the European Commission's 7th framework program. It comprises four broad topics: 1. The global significance of volcanic unrest 2. Geophysical and geochemical fingerprints of unrest and precursory activity 3. Magma dynamics leading to unrest phenomena 4. Bridging the gap between science and decision-making Volcanic unrest is a complex multi-hazard phenomenon. The fact that unrest may, or may not lead to an imminent eruption contributes significant uncertainty to short-term volcanic hazard and risk assessment. Although it is reasonable to assume that all eruptions are associated with precursory activity of some sort, the understanding of the causative links between subsurface processes, resulting unrest signals and imminent eruption is incomplete. When a volcano evolves from dormancy into a phase of unrest, important scientific, political and social questions need to be addressed. This book is aimed at graduate students, researchers of volcanic phenomena, professionals in volcanic hazard and risk assessment, observatory personnel, as well as emergency managers who wish to learn about the complex nature of volcanic unrest and how to utilize new findings to deal with unrest phenomena at scientific and emergency managing levels. This book is open access under a CC BY license.

Volcanic Hazards, Risks, and Disasters provides you with the latest scientific developments in volcano and volcanic research, including causality, impacts, preparedness, risk analysis, planning, response, recovery, and the economics of loss and remediation. It takes a geoscientific approach to the topic while integrating the social and economic issues related to volcanoes and volcanic hazards and disasters. Throughout the book case studies are presented of historically relevant volcanic and seismic hazards and disasters as well as recent catastrophes, such as Chile’s Puyehue volcano eruption in June 2011. Puts the expertise of top volcanologists, seismologists, geologists, and geophysicists selected by a world-renowned editorial board at your fingertips Presents you with the latest research—including case studies of prominent volcanoes and volcanic hazards and disasters—on causality, economic impacts, fatality rates, and earthquake preparedness and mitigation Numerous tables, maps, diagrams, illustrations, photographs, and video captures of hazardous processes support you in grasping key concepts

The impact of natural disasters has become an important and ever-growing preoccupation for modern societies. Volcanic eruptions are particularly feared due to their devastating local, regional or global effects. Relevant scientific expertise that aims to evaluate the hazards of volcanic activity and monitor and predict eruptions has progressively developed since the start of the 20th century. The further development of fundamental knowledge and technological advances over this period have allowed scientific capabilities in this field to evolve. Hazards and Monitoring of Volcanic Activity groups a number of available techniques and approaches to render them easily accessible to teachers, researchers and students. This volume sets out different surveillance methods, starting with those most frequently used: seismic surveillance and deformation. It then examines surveillance by remote sensing from ground, air and space, methods that exemplify one of the most spectacular advances in this field in recent times.

Forecasting and Planning for Volcanic Hazards, Risks, and Disasters expands and complements the subject and themes in Volcanic Hazards, Risks and Disasters. Together, the two volumes represent an exhaustive compendium on volcanic hazards, risks, and disasters. Volume two presents a comprehensive picture of the volcano dynamics relevant for volcanic hazard forecasts. It also includes case studies of the associated risks and aspects like operational volcano observatory responses, communication before and across volcanic crises, emergency planning, social science aspects, and resilience from volcanic disasters. Forecasting and Planning for Volcanic Hazards, Risks, and Disasters takes a geoscientific approach to the topic while integrating the social and economic issues related to volcanoes and volcanic hazards and disasters. Features the expertise of top volcanologists, seismologists, geologists, and geophysicists Presents the latest research - including case studies of prominent volcanoes and volcanic hazards and disasters - on causality, economic and social impacts, and preparedness and mitigation Includes numerous tables, maps, diagrams, illustrations, and photographs to aid in grasping key concept

Remote sensing data and methods are increasingly being implemented in assessments of volcanic processes and risk. This happens thanks to their capability to provide a spectrum of observation and measurement opportunities to accurately sense the dynamics, magnitude, frequency, and impacts of volcanic activity. This book includes research papers on the use of satellite, aerial, and ground-based remote sensing to detect thermal features and anomalies, investigate lava and pyroclastic flows, predict the flow path of lahars, measure gas emissions and plumes, and estimate ground deformation. The multi-disciplinary character of the approaches employed for volcano monitoring and the combination of a variety of sensor types, platforms, and methods that come out from the papers testify to the current scientific and technology trends toward multi-data and multi-sensor monitoring solutions. The added value of the papers lies in the demonstration of how remote sensing can improve our knowledge of volcanoes that pose a threat to local communities; back-analysis and critical revision of recent volcanic eruptions and unrest periods; and improvement of modeling and prediction methods. Therefore, the selected case studies also demonstrate the societal impact that this scientific discipline can potentially have on volcanic hazard and risk management.