Citation

Wallace PJ, Gerlach TM. Science 1994; 265(5171): 497-499.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, American Association for the Advancement of Science)

DOI

10.1126/science.265.5171.497

PMID

17781307

Abstract

Sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) released by the explosive eruption of Mount Pinatubo on 15 June 1991 had an impact on climate and stratospheric ozone. The total mass of SO(2) released was much greater than the amount dissolved in the magma before the eruption, and thus an additional source for the excess SO(2) is required. Infrared spectroscopic analyses of dissolved water and carbon dioxide in glass inclusions from quartz phenocrysts demonstrate that before eruption the magma contained a separate, SO(2)-bearing vapor phase. Data for gas emissions from other volcanoes in subduction-related arcs suggest that preeruptive magmatic vapor is a major source of the SO(2) that is released during many volcanic eruptions.

Language: en