Satellite-based evidence for a large hydrothermal system at Piton de la Fournaise volcano (Reunion Island)

A large hydrothermal system beneath Piton de la Fournaise volcano, Reunion Island, has been identified through satellite-based evidence. During the April 2007 eruption, sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from the Dolomieu crater's collapse phase were significantly higher than those explained by lava effusion alone, suggesting the sudden release of SO₂ from a previously hidden hydrothermal system. This discovery provides new insights into the magmatic source evolution and its potential role in eruptive behavior at this active volcano.

Gouhier, M., & Coppola, D. (2011). Satellite-based evidence for a large hydrothermal system at Piton de la Fournaise volcano (Reunion Island). Geophysical Research Letters, 38(2), n. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010gl046183