Real‐time measurements of the concentration and isotope composition of atmospheric and volcanic CO2 at Mount Etna (Italy). Issue 7 (11th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rizzo, Andrea Luca; Jost, Hans‐Jürg; Caracausi, Antonio; Paonita, Antonio; Liotta, Marcello; Martelli, Mauro
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 41:Issue 7(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 2382
• Page End: 2389
• Publication Date: 2014-04-11
• Subjects: real‐time measurements -- CO2 -- carbon isotope composition -- atmosphere -- volcanic -- Mount Etna; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2014GL059722
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: We present unprecedented data of real‐time measurements of the concentration and isotope composition of CO2 in air and in fumarole‐plume gases collected in 2013 during two campaigns at Mount Etna volcano, which were made using a laser‐based isotope ratio infrared spectrometer. We performed approximately 360 measurements/h, which allowed calculation of the δ 13 C values of volcanic CO2 . The fumarole gases of Torre del Filosofo (2900 m above sea level) range from −3.24 ± 0.06‰ to −3.71 ± 0.09‰, comparable to isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) measurements of discrete samples collected on the same dates. Plume gases sampled more than 1 km from the craters show a δ 13 C = −2.2 ± 0.4‰, in agreement with the crater fumarole gases analyzed by IRMS. Measurements performed along ~17 km driving track from Catania to Mount Etna show more negative δ 13 C values when passing through populated centers due to anthropogenic‐derived CO2 inputs (e.g., car exhaust). The reported results demonstrate that this technique may represent an important advancement for volcanic and environmental monitoring. Key Points: Real‐time data of CO2 content and δ 13 C in atmospheric/volcanic gases This study opens new perspective for the community for volcanic surveillance