Spatial Distribution of Halogen Oxides in the Plume of Mount Pagan Volcano, Mariana Islands

Abstract

Halogens are emitted from volcanoes primarily as hydrogen halides (HCl, HF, HBr, and HI). Upon mixing with the atmosphere, chlorine and bromine species are partially converted to the halogen oxides OClO and BrO. Here we report on the spatial distribution of BrO and OClO in the gas plume emitted from Mount Pagan volcano, Northern Mariana Islands. We found enhanced BrO/SO2 ratios near the plume edges and a lack of OClO in the plume's core. Our results highlight the importance of in‐mixing of atmospheric oxidants for halogen oxide formation. They indicate that OClO can only be formed after most bromide dissolved in plume aerosols has been released to the gas phase. We conclude that Mount Pagan's gas emissions originated from a shallow magma body and were transported to the surface along dry degassing pathways and that the volcano's halogen emissions likely had significant impact on the oxidation capacity of the downwind atmosphere.

Document Details

• Document Type: Pub Defense Publication
• Publication Date: Sep 27, 2018
• Source ID: 10.1029/2018gl079245

Entities

People

• Christoph Kern
• John Lyons

Organizations

• Alaska Volcano Observatory
• Cascades Volcano Observatory
• United States Army Corps of Engineers

Tags

Fields of Study

• Environmental science

Readers

• Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
• Combustion science or combustion engineering.
• Geotechnical Engineering.