Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy characterization of tree rings from the Popocatépetl volcano area, Mexico

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part B: Atomic spectroscopy Vol. 161; p. 105713
• Main Authors: Teran-Hinojosa, E., Sobral, H., Hernández-Mendoza, I., Márquez-Herrera, C., González-Hernández, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01.11.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Alkali metals; Analytical methods; Calcium; Change detection; Chemical composition; Dendrochemistry; Earth; Inductively coupled plasma; Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy; Lasers; Magnesium; Nutrients; Optical emission spectroscopy; Organic chemistry; Pine trees; Popocatépetl volcano; Potassium; Sodium; Spatial discrimination; Spatial resolution; Spectrometry; Spectroscopy; Strontium; Tree rings; Trees; Volcanic activity; Volcanoes; Mexico; Tree rings; Popocatépetl volcano; Dendrochemistry; Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0584-8547; 1873-3565
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sab.2019.105713

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was used to monitor macro- and micro-nutrients in pine trees exposed to two mayor activity periods of the Popocatépetl volcano in Mexico. Due to the high spatial resolution achieved with LIBS, a separate analysis of earlywood and latewood was performed. An increased concentration of potassium was found in earlywood, while calcium and sodium decreased. Besides, it was observed a similar temporal behavior for elements belonging to the same chemical group. The alkali earth metals Ca, Mg and Sr showed decreasing trends through the investigated years while alkali metals Na and K remain nearly constant. LIBS was able to detect significant changes in Ca, Mg, Na and Sr intensities coincident with the 1919 Popocatépetl's eruptive period and after the volcanic activity starting at the end of 1999. Temporal evolution of the emission intensities is in agreement with the elemental composition obtained with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. [Display omitted] •Pine tree rings of the Popocatépetl volcano area were analyzed by LIBS.•Increased availability of K in earlywood while Ca and Mg in latewood was measured.•Elements belonging to the same chemical group presented similar temporal trends.•Increment of Na, Mg, Si, K, Ca, Cu and Sr due to eruptions was detected.•The obtained behavior was in agreement with the measured values with ICP-OES.