Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Open Access Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Geology (MS)

Administrative Home Department

Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

Advisor 1

Simon Carn

Committee Member 1

Xin Xi

Committee Member 2

Andrew Harris

Abstract

This study investigates five eruptions with different temporal trends of erupted mass and sulfur dioxide (SO2) at Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion). We acquired the daily SO2 emissions from three ultraviolet (UV) satellite instruments (the Ozone Monitoring Instrument [OMI], the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite [OMPS] and the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument [TROPOMI]). The Time-Averaged-Lava-Discharge Rate (TADR) has been obtained from two automatic systems: MIROVA and MODVOLC. Assuming that the lava volumes measured in the field are the most accurate, MIROVA gives the best estimation among all the methods investigated. It has also been demonstrated that a petrological approach might be a viable alternative, especially during cloudy weather that compromises the hot spot detection. Finally, in several eruptions we observe a terminal increase in TADR and SO2 emissions. We suggest that a deeper input may be at the origin of this eruptive process causing a pressurization of the magmatic system.

Included in

Volcanology Commons

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