Large Isotopic Shift in Volcanic Plume CO2 Prior to a Basaltic Paroxysmal Explosion

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 51; no. 15
• Main Authors: D’Arcy, Fiona, Aiuppa, Alessandro, Grassa, Fausto, Rizzo, Andrea Luca, Stix, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington John Wiley & Sons, Inc 16.08.2024; Wiley
• Subjects: Carbon 13; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide concentration; Carbon isotopes; Degassing; Eruptions; Explosives detection; Fractionation; gas plumes; Gases; Isotope fractionation; Isotopes; Lava; Magma; paroxysm; stromboli; UAS; Unmanned aerial vehicles; Volcanic activity; Volcanic eruptions; volcanic gas; Volcanic plumes; Volcanoes; Italy
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2023GL107474

Carbon dioxide is a key gas to monitor at volcanoes because its concentration and isotopic signature can indicate changes to magma supply and degassing behavior prior to eruptions, yet carbon isotopic fluctuations at volcanic summits are not well constrained. Here we present δ13C results measured from plume samples collected at Stromboli volcano, Italy, by Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS). We found contrasting volcanic δ13C signatures in 2018 during quiescence (−0.36 ± 0.59‰) versus 10 days before the 3 July 2019 paroxysm (−5.01 ± 0.56‰). Prior to the eruption, an influx of CO2‐rich magma began degassing at deep levels (∼100 MPa) in an open‐system fashion, causing strong isotopic fractionation and maintaining high CO2/St ratios in the gas. This influx occurred between 10 days and several months prior to the event, meaning that isotopic changes in the gas could be detected weeks to months before unrest. Plain Language Summary Volcanoes produce gases which change composition depending on how active the volcano is. One of these gases, carbon dioxide, is known to change in proportion to other gases before an eruption occurs, but little is known about how the isotopes of carbon change leading up to an eruption. Using drones to reach the gaseous plume of Stromboli volcano, Italy, we have captured carbon dioxide both during an inactive phase in 2018 and during the lead‐up to a highly explosive eruption called a paroxysm in 2019. There is a stark difference in the carbon isotopes measured 10 days before the 3 July 2019 paroxysm as opposed to those measured in 2018. This is caused by the arrival of CO2‐rich magma which progressively degassed, leading to lighter carbon isotopes in the residual magma over time. This process could have started anywhere from 10 days to several months before the paroxysm. This provides a warning signal which can be detected weeks to months before an active period begins. Key Points Rapid collection of volcanic plume CO2 enabled by Uncrewed Aerial Systems A carbon isotopic anomaly was present two weeks prior to the Stromboli 2019 paroxysm High CO2 concentrations, elevated CO2/St, and light δ13C‐CO2 may precede paroxysms on timescales of months to weeks