Airborne detection of diffuse carbon dioxide emissions at Mammoth Mountain, California

Gerlach, Terrence M.; Doukas, Michael P.; McGee, K. A.; Kessler, Richard K.

doi:10.1029/1999gl008388

Cited by 43 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Elevated 3 He/ 4 He ratios in fumarolic fluids were measured in 1989 during an unusually long‐duration upper crustal seismic swarm [ Sorey et al , ], and an increase in diffuse CO 2 emissions around the flank of Mammoth Mountain (Figure ) began as early as 1990, leading to several regions of tree kill [ Farrar et al , ; Sorey et al , ; Cook et al , ; Lewicki et al , ]. Initial estimates of total CO 2 flux ranged from 1200 tons day −1 [ Farrar et al , ] to 250 tons day −1 [ Gerlach et al , ]. Topical studies of CO 2 emissions at the Horseshoe Lake tree kill area (HL, Figure ) suggest a decade‐long decrease in emissions from 250 tons day −1 in 1995 [ Gerlach et al , ] to 38 tons day −1 in 2006 [ Lewicki et al , ].…”

Section: A Restless Volcanomentioning

confidence: 99%

Tomographic image of a seismically active volcano: Mammoth Mountain, California

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

High‐resolution tomographic P wave, S wave, and VP/VS velocity structure models are derived for Mammoth Mountain, California, using phase data from the Northern California Seismic Network and a temporary deployment of broadband seismometers. An anomalous volume (5.1 × 109 to 5.9 × 1010m3) of low P and low S wave velocities is imaged beneath Mammoth Mountain, extending from near the surface to a depth of ∼2 km below sea level. We infer that the reduction in seismic wave velocities is due to the presence of CO2 distributed in oblate spheroid pores with mean aspect ratio α = 1.6 × 10−3 to 7.9 × 10−3 (crack‐like pores) and mean gas volume fraction ϕ = 8.1 × 10−4 to 3.4 × 10−3. The pore density parameter κ = 3ϕ/(4πα) = na3=0.11, where n is the number of pores per cubic meter and a is the mean pore equatorial radius. The total mass of CO2 is estimated to be 4.6 × 109 to 1.9 × 1011 kg. The local geological structure indicates that the CO2 contained in the pores is delivered to the surface through fractures controlled by faults and remnant foliation of the bedrock beneath Mammoth Mountain. The total volume of CO2 contained in the reservoir suggests that given an emission rate of 500 tons day−1, the reservoir could supply the emission of CO2 for ∼25–1040 years before depletion. Continued supply of CO2 from an underlying magmatic system would significantly prolong the existence of the reservoir.

show abstract

Section: A Restless Volcanomentioning

confidence: 99%

Tomographic image of a seismically active volcano: Mammoth Mountain, California

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Sustained and widespread diffuse venting of CO 2 through the soil occurred subsequently killing large areas of trees around Mammoth Mountain. The total flux has been variously estimated at 200–300 t d −1 [ Gerlach et al , 1999] and 500 t d −1 [ Farrar et al , 1995]. This venting is now reduced by perhaps 20% in volumetric flow rate (M. Sorey, personal communication, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three‐dimensional crustal structure of Long Valley caldera, California, and evidence for the migration of CO₂under Mammoth Mountain

et al. 2003

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

[1] A temporary network of 69 three-component seismic stations captured a major seismic sequence in Long Valley caldera in 1997. We performed a tomographic inversion for crustal structure beneath a 28 km Â 16 km area encompassing part of the resurgent dome, the south moat, and Mammoth Mountain. Resolution of crustal structure beneath the center of the study volume was good down to $3 km below sea level ($5 km below the surface). Relatively high wave speeds are associated with the Bishop Tuff and lower wave speeds characterize debris in the surrounding moat. A low-V p /V s anomaly extending from near the surface to $1 km below sea level beneath Mammoth Mountain may represent a CO 2 reservoir that is supplying CO 2 -rich springs, venting at the surface, and killing trees. We investigated temporal variations in structure beneath Mammoth Mountain by differencing our results with tomographic images obtained using data from 1989/1990. Significant changes in both V p and V s were consistent with the migration of CO 2 into the upper 2 km or so beneath Mammoth Mountain and its depletion in peripheral volumes that correlate with surface venting areas. Repeat tomography is capable of detecting the migration of gas beneath active silicic volcanoes and may thus provide a useful volcano monitoring tool.

show abstract

“…Monitoring studies recorded numerous episodes of increased unrest in Long Valley caldera and under Mammoth Mountain, including one in 2014 potentially involving a magmatic intrusion at shallow depth (Prejean et al, 2003;Shelly et al, 2015;Shelly & Hill, 2011). Diffuse CO 2 emissions at Mammoth Mountain claimed four lives in recent decades and killed~40 km 2 of forest (Farrar et al, 1995;Gerlach et al, 1999;McGee & Gerlach, 1998;Werner et al, 2014). In contrast, only a relatively small degassing is currently measured in the Mono region (Bergfeld et al, 2015).…”

Section: Forecasting Models Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Quaternary Eruption Record and Probability of Future Volcanic Eruptions in the Long Valley Volcanic Region (CA, USA)

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Long Valley volcanic region, eastern California, has been characterized by recurrent and generally explosive eruptions in the past 180,000 years, originating from a N/S elongated area ~50 km in extent, including the Mammoth Mountain lava dome complex, the Mono‐Inyo volcanic chain, and their peripheries. Several temporal clusters of activity have been observed in a relatively well‐preserved time‐stratigraphic record, which is nevertheless affected by uncertainties. This study has two main objectives: (1) to fully describe the past eruption record by using a stochastic model capable of combining radiometric ages and stratigraphic constraints and, (2) based on the uncertainty assessment, to develop a doubly stochastic, long‐term temporal model based on the current situation. Multiple approaches are described and compared, and multimodel forecasts are also presented. Our findings provide fundamental information for hazard assessment and forecasting of the next eruption in the Long Valley volcanic region, of which the mean probability of occurrence is estimated to be ~2.5% in the next 10 years and ~22.5% in the next 100 years.

show abstract

Airborne detection of diffuse carbon dioxide emissions at Mammoth Mountain, California

Cited by 43 publications

References 7 publications

Tomographic image of a seismically active volcano: Mammoth Mountain, California

Tomographic image of a seismically active volcano: Mammoth Mountain, California

Three‐dimensional crustal structure of Long Valley caldera, California, and evidence for the migration of CO₂under Mammoth Mountain

Late Quaternary Eruption Record and Probability of Future Volcanic Eruptions in the Long Valley Volcanic Region (CA, USA)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Airborne detection of diffuse carbon dioxide emissions at Mammoth Mountain, California

Cited by 43 publications

References 7 publications

Tomographic image of a seismically active volcano: Mammoth Mountain, California

Tomographic image of a seismically active volcano: Mammoth Mountain, California

Three‐dimensional crustal structure of Long Valley caldera, California, and evidence for the migration of CO2under Mammoth Mountain

Late Quaternary Eruption Record and Probability of Future Volcanic Eruptions in the Long Valley Volcanic Region (CA, USA)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Three‐dimensional crustal structure of Long Valley caldera, California, and evidence for the migration of CO₂under Mammoth Mountain