Magma, degassing… Under the high pressures and temperatures down in a magma chamber or de
Magma, degassing…Under the high pressures and temperatures down in a magma chamber or deeper, molten rock carries within a number of gases in solution. Common ones include carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and water vapour. When it reaches the surface through a fissure or vent the gases dissipate into the atmosphere, but the drop in temperature forces some sulphur to precipitate out around the edges of the fumarole (aka solfatara). This photo was taken on the big island of Hawaii at the at Puʻu ʻŌʻō Crater.Fumaroles may persist above cooling lavas for decades or centuries, and are a common feature of active and dromant volcanoes. Analysis of the changes in emitted gases can warn of eruptions, or reveal the arrival of new batches of magma deep below that may herald a later event. If the rate of sulphur emissions rise steeply, volcano monitors ears prick up, and even during an eruption the changing mix of gases can help predict how it is going to continue (bearing in mind that some events such as Monserrat can go on for years and raise major headaches, like what do you do when half your capital city is covered by lava and pyroclastic flows over a couple of eyars).LozImage credit: USGS -- source link
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