Gas monitoring of a hydrothermal-magmatic volcano in a tropical environment: the example of La Soufriere de Guadeloupe (FWI)

Fumarolic gas survey of dormant volcanoes is fundamental because the compositional and flux changes in gas emissions are recognised signals of unrest and may even be precursors of eruptions on several dormant volcanoes in hydrothermal unrest [1-5].

Here we report on the chemical compositions (CO₂, H₂S, SO₂, H₂) and mass fluxes of fumarolic gas emissions from the low-temperature (from 97° to 104°C) volcanic-hydrothermal system of La Soufrière de Guadeloupe (Lesser Antilles). This present study covers the period 2016 to present, encompassing the peak activity of April 2018. Long-term trends are acquired from both portable MultiGAS measurements (performed monthly) and two permanent MultiGAS stations (4 automated 20’ measurements per day). These MultiGAS data are discussed along with other geochemical and geophysical parameters monitored at OVSG, such as complete fumarole chemistry via Giggenbach bottles, fumarole temperatures, volcanic seismicity and deformation in order to track the deep-sourced magmatic signal contribution compared to the one of the hydrothermal system and detect potential signs of unrest [6].

Dealing with MultiGAS data from a low-T fumarolic system in a tropical environment is not straightforward due to external forcing effect of meteoric water on gas composition. Hence, interpretation of the observed chemical changes must consider (i) the role of water-gas-rock interactions and gas scrubbing processes by the hydrothermal system and the perched volcanic pond [7], which particularly affect sulphur precipitation and remobilization and (ii) how these processes vary with rainfall and groundwater circulation (i.e. rainy vs non-rainy seasons, extreme events).

[1] Giggenbach and Sheppard, 1989; [2] Symonds et al., 1994; [3] Hammouya et al., 1998; [4] De Moor et al., 2016; [5] Allard et al., 2014; [6] Moretti et al., submitted; [7] Symonds et al., 2001