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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 29, NO. 11, 1559, doi:10.1029/2002GL015032, 2002

S, Cl and F degassing as an indicator of volcanic dynamics: The 2001 eruption of Mount Etna

Alessandro Aiuppa

Dipartimento CFTA, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy


Cinzia Federico

INGV—Sezione di Palermo, Palermo, Italy


Antonio Paonita

INGV—Sezione di Palermo, Palermo, Italy


Giovannella Pecoraino

INGV—Sezione di Palermo, Palermo, Italy


Mariano Valenza

Dipartimento CFTA, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy


Abstract

The recent eruption of Mount Etna (July 2001) offered the opportunity to analyze magma-derived volatiles emitted during pre- and syn-eruptive phases, and to verify whether their composition is affected by changes in volcanic dynamics. This paper presents the results of analyses of F, Cl and S in the volcanic plume collected by filter-packs, and interprets variations in the composition based on contrasting solubility in magmas. A Rayleigh-type degassing mechanism was used to fit the acquired data and to estimate Henry's solubility constant ratios in Etnean basalt. This model provided insights into the dynamics of the volcano. Abundances of sulfur and halogens in eruptive plumes may help predict the temporal evolution of an ongoing effusive eruption.

Published 15 June 2002.

Index Terms: 0370 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Volcanic effects (8409); 1045 Geochemistry: Low-temperature geochemistry; 8414 Volcanology: Eruption mechanisms; 8409 Volcanology: Atmospheric effects (0370).

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Citation: Aiuppa, A., C. Federico, A. Paonita, G. Pecoraino, and M. Valenza (2002), S, Cl and F degassing as an indicator of volcanic dynamics: The 2001 eruption of Mount Etna, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29(11), 1559, doi:10.1029/2002GL015032.