Comparison of particles in the fume from eruptions of Kilauea, Mayon, and Arenal volcanoes

Abstract

The physical and chemical properties of particles collected from the eruption fume of Kilauea, Mayon, and Arenal volcanoes were determined by colorimetric chemical techniques, neutron activation, atomic absorption, X‐ray diffraction, an electron microprobe, and electron microscopy. As in previous studies, more than 95% of the Kilauea particles were largely dilute sulfuric acid droplets plus some mainly needle‐like crystals, which previously had been tentatively identified as sulfur and calcium and ammonium sulfates. The wet chemical analysis demonstrated the presence of soluble calcium, ammonium, and magnesium sulfates. Each type of particle observed at Kilauea was also observed at Mayon, but most of the droplets from Mayon were much less acidic. Some Mayon particles were ‘ash’ or minute spheres; this type of particle was not observed at Kilauea. Particles in the fume from Arenal were more like the particles from Mayon than like those from Kilauea.

In situ measurements of tropospheric volcanic plumes in Ecuador and Colombia during TC4

“…With the exception of the studies cited above, direct volcanic plume sampling from aircraft has been rare since the 1990s. One of the earliest airborne volcanic plume sampling efforts targeted quiescent plumes from Kilauea (Hawaii), Arenal (Costa Rica) and Mayon (Philippines), finding mostly dilute sulfuric acid droplets 0.1–1 μ m in size [ Cadle et al , 1969]. Beginning in the 1970s, the University of Washington Cloud and Aerosol Research Group (http://carg.atmos.washington.edu/) instigated many pioneering airborne volcanic plume sampling campaigns.…”

Volcanic emissions of halides and sulfur compounds to the troposphere and stratosphere

“…During the last few years, scientists here at the National Center for Atmospheric Research have been determining the physical and chemical nature of the particles in volcanic eruption clouds [Cadle and Frank, 1968;Cadle et al, 1967Cadle et al, , 1969Cadle et al, , 1973Cadle and Blifford, 1971 ] and also the nature and concentrations of particles and trace gases in the stratosphere [Cadle, 1972;Lazrus et al, 1971Lazrus et al, , 1972Lazrus and Gandrud, 1974]. Furthermore, an estimate was made of the annual quantities of sulfur compounds emitted to the atmosphere by volcanoes [Kellogg et al, 1972].…”

Spherules with pure iron cores from Myanmar jadeitite: Type-I deep-sea spherules?

“…Volcanic explosive eruption can produce microspheres. The microspheres have been identified as glass, with bulk chemical compositions ranging from that of the magma to nearly pure SiO 2 (Cadle et al, 1969;Wohletz and McQueen, 1984;Lefevre et al, 1986), as well as microspheres with crystalline spinel (Meeker and Hinkley, 1993). However, no iron core spherules have been reported so far in such occurrences.…”