WHY STUDY VOLCANIC GAS?
A famous Japanese geochemist, Sadao Matsuo, once said that “Volcanic gas is a telegram from the earth’s interior.” By studying volcanic gases, volcanologists hope to recognize changes in abundance or composition that might signal reawakening of a dormant volcano or portend an imminent eruption at an already restless volcano. Another significant component of volcanic gas research involves measuring the quantities of gas that volcanoes release to the atmosphere. Huge amounts of volcanic gas, aerosol droplets, and ash are injected into the stratosphere during major explosive eruptions. Some gases, such as carbon dioxide, contribute to global warming, while others, like sulfur dioxide, can cause global cooling and ozone destruction. Studies of volcanic emissions will allow scientists to compare volcanic gas output to emissions from man-made sources and to assess the effects of both past and future eruptions on Earth’s climate.
