Continuous monitoring of hydrogen and carbon dioxide at Stromboli volcano (Aeolian Islands, Italy)

Hydrogen (H₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from Stromboli volcano's crater fumaroles serve as effective tracers of volcanic activity, correlating with changes in the magma plumbing system. A continuous monitoring study conducted between 2009 and 2010 revealed that H₂ could function as an auxiliary parameter alongside CO₂ flux in surveillance programs for active volcanoes. The research employed a tailor-made device to measure H₂ molar fraction and CO₂ flux, while multiple linear regression (MLR) and fast Fourier transform (FFT) analyses filtered environmental effects such as wind speed, air temperature, and atmospheric pressure. Daily cycles were identified in both gases, with changes in atmospheric pressure affecting H₂ levels through a pumping effect on fumarole gas. The study confirmed that the chemical and isotopic composition of emitted gases closely resembles magmatic gas, advancing the understanding of open conduit volcano monitoring.

Di Martino, R. M. R., Camarda, M., & Gurrieri, S. (2021). Continuous monitoring of hydrogen and carbon dioxide at Stromboli volcano (Aeolian Islands, Italy). Italian Journal of Geosciences, 140(1), 79–94. https://doi.org/10.3301/ijg.2020.26