Gas emissions and the eruptions of Mount St. Helens through 1982

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Abstract

The monitoring of gas emissions from Mount St. Helens includes daily airborne measurements of sulfur dioxide in the volcanic plume and monthly sampling of gases from crater fumaroles. The composition of the fumarolic gases has changed slightly since 1980: the water content increased from 90 to 98 percent, and the carbon dioxide concentrations decreased from about 10 to 1 percent. The emission rates of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide were at their peak during July and August 1980, decreased rapidly in late 1980, and have remained low and decreased slightly through 1981 and 1982. These patterns suggest steady outgassing of a single batch of magma (with a volume of not less than 0.3 cubic kilometer) to which no significant new magma has been added since mid-1980. The gas data were useful in predicting eruptions in August 1980 and June 1981.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Gas emissions and the eruptions of Mount St. Helens through 1982
Series title Science
DOI 10.1126/science.221.4618.1383
Volume 221
Issue 4618
Year Published 1983
Language English
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science
Description 3 p.
First page 1383
Last page 1385
Country United States
State Washington
Other Geospatial Mount St. Helens
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