Erebus Volcano Magma Degassing and Solubility Experiments (2013-2016)

2013-2016 experimental data and a thermodynamic model for mixed-volatile (H2O-CO2) solubility in phonotephrite from Antarctica's Erebus volcano. The study presents new equilibrium solubility data from piston cylinder experiments conducted at 400-700 MPa and 1,190 °C, produced by researchers from SCIOPS. It provides a framework for interpreting surface gas measurements in terms of subsurface degassing processes within the volcanic plumbing system.

Use Cases

• Modeling subsurface degassing processes by comparing calculated C-O-H-S fluid compositions from the thermodynamic model with surface gas chemistry measurements.
• Calibrating volatile solubility models for mafic alkaline melts using experimental data on H2O and CO2 concentrations in glassy run products at specific pressures and temperatures.
• Interpreting melt inclusion volatile contents by differencing groups saturated at discrete depths to constrain magma storage and evolution.
• Analyzing the departure from Henrian behavior of volatiles in melt at pressures above 400 MPa using the presented solubility data.
• Applying the fluid mixing model to find subsurface fluid mixtures that match Erebus surface gas chemistry within ±2.0 mol%.

Strengths

• Experimental data generated from controlled piston cylinder experiments at specific conditions (400-700 MPa, 1,190 °C).
• Model framework validated against well-quantified gas emission data from Mount Erebus collected over several decades.
• Provides quantitative constraints for melt inclusion and gas emission modeling with a defined matching tolerance (±2.0 mol%).

Limitations

• Sample size and specific row/column counts for the experimental data are not provided.
• Geographic focus is limited to a single volcano (Mount Erebus, Antarctica).
• The model requires a minimum of five specific thermodynamic parameters (T, P, fO2, etc.) which may not be available for all systems.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPS, via NASA Earthdata.

Collection Method

Laboratory experiments using piston cylinders, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron microprobe, and low-temperature vacuum manometry, combined with thermodynamic modeling.

Time Range

2013-2016

Geography

Mount Erebus, Antarctica