Research methods

This research aims to use the following methods to understand the impact of persistent volcanic degassing

1. Geophysics

2. Geochemistry

Geophysical surveys that are conducted include bouguer and microgravity campaigns to determine the subsurface structure of the volcanoes and magma movement.

Geochemical data that are collected are SO₂ flux measurements and SO₂ dry deposition rates. These data help to quantify the amount of sulphur present in the volcanic plume, while deposition rates hint at the potential uptake of sulphur into the environment.

Image: ^©S van Manen, 2008 

Does gravity change?

Gravitational acceleration depends on latitude, distance from the centre of the Earth and varying densities of rocks in the subsurface. As magma is less dense than the surrounding rocks, magma intrusion will result in a change in the gravitational acceleration.