Magmatic volatiles control the sub-plinian basaltic eruptions at Ambae volcano, Vanuatu
Abstract The 2017–2018 eruption of Ambae volcano provided a rare opportunity to investigate gas emissions during a sub-Plinian basaltic eruption. Here we document the gas emissions during this eruption using satellite observation, alongside gas measurements and geochemical analyses. Our results indi...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02018-5 |
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| author | Philipson Bani Alessandro Aiuppa Diego Coppola Simon Carn Dominique Cluzel Estelle Rose-Koga Etienne Medard François Nauret Yves Moussallam Dan Tari Iuma Bani |
| author_facet | Philipson Bani Alessandro Aiuppa Diego Coppola Simon Carn Dominique Cluzel Estelle Rose-Koga Etienne Medard François Nauret Yves Moussallam Dan Tari Iuma Bani |
| author_sort | Philipson Bani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The 2017–2018 eruption of Ambae volcano provided a rare opportunity to investigate gas emissions during a sub-Plinian basaltic eruption. Here we document the gas emissions during this eruption using satellite observation, alongside gas measurements and geochemical analyses. Our results indicate that the volcano released 3.3 teragrams of sulfur dioxide, 7.7 of carbon dioxide, 134 of water vapour, 0.2 of hydrogen sulfide, and 0,001 of dihydrogen, ranking Ambae among the world’s top volcanic gas emitters. Despite these substantial emissions, the relatively modest volume of 0.47 cubic kilometer of magma that fueled the eruption indicates a volatile-rich magma source. This enrichment is likely linked to the geodynamic setting, where subduction of the faulted, carbonate-rich D’Entrecasteaux Ridge, coupled with an influx of fertile mantle, fostered the formation of volatile-rich magma. High concentrations of volatiles, can drive substantial gas exsolution, increasing magma buoyancy, resulting in greater magma supply and faster ascent rates. Rapid ascent prevents volatile separation from the melt, resulting in powerful gas surges that drive the transition from effusive to basaltic sub-Plinian eruption phases. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a066cb9b228141cb9c3e390a3edef2df |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-a066cb9b228141cb9c3e390a3edef2df2025-02-09T12:55:55ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-02-016111610.1038/s43247-025-02018-5Magmatic volatiles control the sub-plinian basaltic eruptions at Ambae volcano, VanuatuPhilipson Bani0Alessandro Aiuppa1Diego Coppola2Simon Carn3Dominique Cluzel4Estelle Rose-Koga5Etienne Medard6François Nauret7Yves Moussallam8Dan Tari9Iuma Bani10Centre IRD de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, 101, Promenade Roger Laroque, BP A5Università degli Studi di Palermo, Dipartmento di Scienze della Terra e del mareDipartimento Di Scienze Della Terra, Università Di TorinoDepartment of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological 7 UniversityInstitut de Sciences Exactes et Appliquées, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, BP R4Institut Des Sciences de La Terre d’Orleans (ISTO), UO/CNRS/BRGMLaboratoire Magmas et Volcans, Université Blaise Pascal-CNRS-IRD, OPGCLaboratoire Magmas et Volcans, Université Blaise Pascal-CNRS-IRD, OPGCLamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia UniversityVanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards DepartmentVanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards DepartmentAbstract The 2017–2018 eruption of Ambae volcano provided a rare opportunity to investigate gas emissions during a sub-Plinian basaltic eruption. Here we document the gas emissions during this eruption using satellite observation, alongside gas measurements and geochemical analyses. Our results indicate that the volcano released 3.3 teragrams of sulfur dioxide, 7.7 of carbon dioxide, 134 of water vapour, 0.2 of hydrogen sulfide, and 0,001 of dihydrogen, ranking Ambae among the world’s top volcanic gas emitters. Despite these substantial emissions, the relatively modest volume of 0.47 cubic kilometer of magma that fueled the eruption indicates a volatile-rich magma source. This enrichment is likely linked to the geodynamic setting, where subduction of the faulted, carbonate-rich D’Entrecasteaux Ridge, coupled with an influx of fertile mantle, fostered the formation of volatile-rich magma. High concentrations of volatiles, can drive substantial gas exsolution, increasing magma buoyancy, resulting in greater magma supply and faster ascent rates. Rapid ascent prevents volatile separation from the melt, resulting in powerful gas surges that drive the transition from effusive to basaltic sub-Plinian eruption phases.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02018-5 |
| spellingShingle | Philipson Bani Alessandro Aiuppa Diego Coppola Simon Carn Dominique Cluzel Estelle Rose-Koga Etienne Medard François Nauret Yves Moussallam Dan Tari Iuma Bani Magmatic volatiles control the sub-plinian basaltic eruptions at Ambae volcano, Vanuatu Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Magmatic volatiles control the sub-plinian basaltic eruptions at Ambae volcano, Vanuatu |
| title_full | Magmatic volatiles control the sub-plinian basaltic eruptions at Ambae volcano, Vanuatu |
| title_fullStr | Magmatic volatiles control the sub-plinian basaltic eruptions at Ambae volcano, Vanuatu |
| title_full_unstemmed | Magmatic volatiles control the sub-plinian basaltic eruptions at Ambae volcano, Vanuatu |
| title_short | Magmatic volatiles control the sub-plinian basaltic eruptions at Ambae volcano, Vanuatu |
| title_sort | magmatic volatiles control the sub plinian basaltic eruptions at ambae volcano vanuatu |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02018-5 |
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