Definition
The term “volcanic gas” identifies the fluid gas phase released by active volcanoes, both during eruption and quiescence. Compositionally, volcanic gases are molecular combinations of four major elements (H, C, O, and S) but also include a variety of minor (Cl, F, N, He, Ne, and Ar) to trace components. Being generally water-dominated, volcanic gases show a spread of compositions, reflecting a combination of source processes (magma and its geodynamic context) and interactions with local hydrothermal or hydrologic systems. Volcanic gases can be schematically distinguished among (i) “magmatic gases”, being sourced by a relatively shallow magmatic source, are hot (>500 °C), and rich in SO2 and halogens (HCl and HF), whereas (ii) “hydrothermal gases”, being mostly contributed by magmatic gas-heated boiling aquifer(s), are cool, and richer in steam, CH4, and H2S (and virtually HCl- and HF-free). Finally, soil gases, dominated by CO2, make the diffuse, low-temperature emissions...
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Aiuppa, A., Gaillard, F. (2018). Volcanic Gases. In: White, W.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geochemistry. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39312-4_239
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