A New Zealand scientist took a rare but successful recording of gases venting from a volcano in Antarctica, officials reported.
Antarctica New Zealand, a base of scientific expeditions to the southernmost continent, said that one of its scientists took advantage of clear skies and a clear line of sight on Mount Erebus to test whether spectral imaging could be a reliable means of monitoring the volcano’s gases long-term.
The opportunity only comes twice a year, Antarctic New Zealand said, as “the sun grazes the summit of Mt. Erebus.” Coupled with clear weather conditions, it then becomes possible to get an unimpeded view of the gas plume emanating from Erebus’ summit.
Antarctica New Zealand said conditions only made it possible to attempt spectral analysis of the plume from a distance 26 times in the last 52 years. And over those five decades, only eight attempts were considered successful.
The research center says this month, one of their team members made a rare ninth successful observation. The feat was accomplished by Jamie McGaw, a scientific technician with Scott Base on Antarctica.
“A spectrometer at Arrival Heights, typically used to observe the stratosphere, captures some of the world’s highest-resolution volcanic plume spectra,” the center said.
Using this technology in the right way and at the precise right moment, McGaw was able to determine the composition of the plume and gas ratios. Sulpher dioxide, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen fluoride were detected.
“Data collected over the past two decades reveal that the gas ratios have remained remarkably stable, consistent with previous in situ sampling experiments.” Antarctica New Zealand said in a release. “This stability suggests that spectral measurements are a reliable tool for long-term monitoring of Erebus’s volcanic plume composition.”
©2024 Public Parks
