Uncovering the Secrets of Volcanic Eruptions

INFICON is Researching Volcanic Activity on the Italian Islands of Vulcano and Stromboli

Volcanism is one of the most powerful and formative driving forces on the earth's surface. The spectacular and destructive eruptions of a volcano can change landscapes in a short period of time and destroy the livelihoods of humans and animals. To improve the prediction of volcanic eruptions, INFICON, a specialist in measurement and sensor technologies, is working with scientists and international research institutions on the Italian islands of Vulcano and Stromboli. An important goal of the cooperation is to be able to make better predictions of volcanic activity in the future through complementary geochemical measurements that provide a more holistic picture. The instruments from INFICON are used for these measurements, with which, for example, escaping gases from the ground can be detected on a substance-specific basis. In addition to conventional gases such as CO₂, H₂S, SO₂ and water vapor, INFICON also makes it possible to carry out permanent monitoring of noble gases such as helium directly at the site of the event.

Vulcano: The Scene of Extraordinary Volcano Research

The island of Vulcano is one of seven inhabited Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Located off the northern coast of Sicily and named after the Roman god Vulcan, the island is known for its volcanic activity and characteristic smell of sulfur. Since June 2022, Vulcano has also been the site of a research project in which science and volcanism merge into an extraordinary project. “And the knowledge gained is of great importance for future generations and their environment, beyond the field of volcano research,” explain Professor Andres Diaz and Josef Grenz.

Valuable Progress in Volcano Monitoring

For this operation, the researchers have joined forces with an INFICON team from the Syracuse and Cologne sites, as well as with representatives of international institutions: These include the INGV (Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology), which initiated the invitation to this field research campaign, as well as NASA, ESA and ASI for comparison with satellite remote sensing data. The group's goal is clearly formulated: to make progress in volcano monitoring and to contribute to the development of civil protection protocols for people living near active craters.

Liquid Magma Can Indicate an Eruption

This results in new, valuable insights into the parameters necessary for continuously monitoring dangerous volcanic eruptions on the one hand, and for understanding the phases of volcanic activity on the other. “Geochemical monitoring of the released gases is a tool for quantifying the amount of outgassing magma. This means that it is possible to indirectly determine the amount of magma present," report the Italian researchers Fabio Vita, Salvatore Inguaggiato and Lorenzo Calderone from the INGV Geological Institute in Palermo. Based on the state and location of the molten rock alone, the potential danger of an eruption can be categorized more precisely, because magma always seeks its way up towards the earth's surface when pressure increases.

Robust Instruments are Necessary

For this challenging project, the scientists rely on the equipment and know-how of the INFICON specialists – not least to have reliable tools at hand. The instruments are used either directly at the crater “in situ” or in the vicinity of the craters, or they are used from the air or from space. If we go to a volcanic crater to detect leaks and measure escaping gases, we need solutions that can withstand the volcanic conditions,” says Emre Germen, Market Manager at INFICON, emphasizing the requirements.

Leak Detection Technology and Portable Gas Analyzers in Use

"You have to think of the underground part of a volcano as a gigantic chamber filled with lava. The pressure of the degassing magma causes cracks and leaks, from which toxic gases and water vapor escape into the atmosphere,” explains Emre Germen. ‘This is where INFICON comes in, using new leak detection technology and state-of-the-art portable gas analyzers to measure the composition of the escaping gases and track any changes over time,’ continues Emre Germen. The measurements are non-hazardous, using CO₂ and helium. Changes in gas composition and flow can be correlated with changes inside the volcano and ultimately indicate increasing activity – right up to an impending eruption. The measuring device is at a safe distance and measures the outgassing from the earth's interior from a safe distance. Only in the event of an eruption, when magma flows down the mountain or an pyroclastic eruption will the measuring device be destroyed.

Challenging Conditions on the Crater Rim

“The conditions directly at the crater are extremely challenging (also and especially in terms of heat resistance),” continues Emre Germen. The surface and rock formations for exploration are completely fissured and scarred. “Cracks and escaping gases permeate the barren landscape and make it a challenge to inspect the measuring points and to stay there.” Without a direct connection to a power grid, the devices have to be supplied by solar modules and batteries. According to Germen, it is also helpful that the devices have become significantly more user-friendly in recent years: for example, the mass spectrometers for gas analysis and the leak detectors for tracking down leaks have been transformed from large, bulky laboratory apparatus into small, mobile devices that can be easily transported in volcanic environments.

Weak Points are Important for Further Development

“For use in Vulcano and Stromboli, we are specifically using a mobile helium concentration sensor called ‘He-Man’ – equipped with a Wise sensor to detect outgassing helium,” Emre Germen reveals. The Wise sensor makes it possible to detect the tiniest amounts of helium through a helium-permeable membrane using Penning ionization. This is used for research and also provides valuable information for the further development of the next generation of instruments. So not only is research success important, but also identifying weak points along the way, because the need for optimization drives product development.

Measurements in-situ and in Real Time

Overall, current technology is limited to monitoring only a few gases, such as SO2, H₂S and CO₂. However, INFICON instruments also allow the monitoring of helium, hydrogen and other trace gases and isotopes. “We have integrated the necessary technology and sensors into our products for this purpose,” reveals Emre Germen. These measurements are then carried out in real time and can be transmitted wirelessly for data collection. They provide a more holistic picture of the degassing process and volcanic activity. This complements other monitoring techniques typically used in volcano monitoring, such as inclinometers, magnetic measurements, seismometers and remote sensing. Mass Spectrometry and Gas Chromatography, other core INFICON technologies can provide the online monitoring of these other gases. By taking the holistic approach we can work close to the vulcanologist to have follow the degassing events of the volcanoes. Professor Diaz and the Syracuse INFICON team have been collaborating in NASA-JPL and INGV on these measurements for more than 12 years.

Emergency Preparedness When Volcanoes Become Active

On Vulcano, the gases emitted are measured to understand the state of the volcano. Finally, Italian volcanoes are among the best monitored in the world and provide reference systems that can be used to describe other volcanoes on Earth. At the same time, the data will help monitor other volcanoes worldwide, as the gas measurements can be compared with data from remote sensing instruments on aircraft and satellites that, if desired, can permanently monitor all volcanoes on Earth. These then become calibration and validation points for Earth observation platforms that help the respective civil protection authorities prepare for emergencies when the volcanoes become active. The data collected in this volcano field campaign will be used to calibrate JPL's HyTES (Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer) and will later help in the development of the HyspIRI satellite remote sensing instrument, which will make a major contribution to monitoring the world's volcanoes.