Abstract
As halogen gases catalyse the destruction of ozone in the stratosphere1–3, it is important to quantify the natural emissions of halogens from active volcanoes. Here we use equilibrium thermodynamics to predict the speciation of Cl and F in volcanic gases and provide new estimates of the global emission rates to the atmosphere. Our calculations show that HCl and HF are the dominant species of Cl and F in volcanic gases, at least several orders of magnitude more abundant than all other species. We estimate the annual global volcanic fluxes of HCl and HF to be 0.4–11 Tg (1012 g) and 0.06–6 Tg, respectively. On average, <10% of these emissions come in large explosive eruptions that transmit them efficiently to the stratosphere. Although they are infrequent, large volcanic eruptions may inject significant amounts of HCl and HF into the stratosphere. Passively degassing volcanoes are also a major source of tropospheric HF, although sea salt is the main source of tropospheric HC1.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Molina, M. J. & Rowland, F. S. Nature 249, 810–812 (1974).
Dickinson, R. E. & Cicerone, R. J. Nature 319, 109–115 (1986).
WMO/NASA Atmospheric Ozone 1985; Assessment of Our Understanding of the Proceesses Controlling its Present Distribution and Change, World Meteorological Organization Global Ozone Research and Monitoring Project Report No. 16 1986 (1986).
Singh, H. B., Salas, L. J. & Stiles, R. E. J. geophys. Res. 88, 3684–3690 (1983).
Crutzen, P. J., Heidt, L. E., Kiasnec, J. P., Pollock, W. H. & Seiler, W. Nature 282, 253–256 (1979).
Rubey, W. W. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 62, 1111–1148 (1951).
Anderson, A. T. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 85, 1485–1492 (1974).
Stolarski, R. S. & Cicerone, R. J. Can. J. Chem. 52, 1610–1615 (1974).
Johnston, D. A. Science 209, 491–493 (1980).
Mankin, W. G. & Cofley, M. T. Science 226, 170–172 (1983).
Woods, D. C., Chuan, R. L. & Rose, W. I. Science 230, 170–172 (1985).
Giggenbach, W. F. Bull. volcan. 39, 132–145 (1975).
Symonds, R. B., Rose, W. I., Reed, M. H., Lichte, F. E. & Finnegan, D. L. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 51, 2083–2101 (1987).
Stoiber, R. E., Leggett, D. C., Jenkins, T. F., Murrmann, R. P. & Rose, W. I. Jr Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 82, 2299–2302 (1971).
Gerlach, T. M. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res. 7, 295–317 (1980).
Inn, E. C. Y., Vedder, J. F. & Condon, E. P. Science 211, 821–823 (1981).
Reed, M. H. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 46, 513–528 (1982).
Gerlach, T. M. & Casadevall, T. J. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res. 28, 141–160 (1986).
Rutherford, M. J., Sigurdsson, H., Carey, S. & Davis, A. J. geophys. Res. 90, 2929–2947 (1985).
Stoiber, R. E., Williams, S. N. & Huebert, B. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res. 33, 1–8 (1987).
Le Guern, F. thesis, Univ. Paris.
Naughton, J. J., Lewis, V. A., Hammond, D. & Nishimoto, D. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 38, 1679–1690 (1974).
Rose, W. I., Chuan, R. L., Giggenbach, W. F., Kyle, P. R. & Symonds, R. B. Bull. volcan. 48, 181–188 (1986).
Rose, W. I. et al. J. geophys Res. 93, 4485–4499 (1988).
Devine, J. D., Sigurdsson, H. & Davis, A. N. J. geophys. Res. 89, 6309–6325 (1984).
Sigurdsson, H., Devine, J. D. & Davis, A. N. Jökull 35, 1–8 (1985).
Hammer, C. U., Clausen, H. B. & Dansgaard, W. Nature 288, 230–235 (1980).
Anderson, A. T. Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 13, 37–55 (1975).
Cadle, R. D. J. geophys. Res. 80, 1650–1652 (1975).
Cadle, R. D. Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 18, 746–752 (1980).
Newhall, C. G. & Self, S. J. geophys. Res. 87, 1231–1238 (1982).
Millán, M. M., Gallant, A. J., Yong, C. S. & Fauaki, F. Atmos. Envir. 19, 255–263 (1985).
Greenland, L. P., Rose, W. I. & Stokes, J. B. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 49, 125–129 (1985).
Buat-Ménard, P. & Arnold, M. Geophys. Res. Lett. 5, 245–248 (1978).
Casadevall, T. J. et al. J. geophys. Res. 89, 9633–9641 (1984).
Phelan, J. M. et al. Geophys. Res. Lett. 9, 1093–1096 (1982).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Symonds, R., Rose, W. & Reed, M. Contribution of C1- and F-bearing gases to the atmosphere by volcanoes. Nature 334, 415–418 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/334415a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/334415a0
This article is cited by
-
A review on volcanic gas compositions related to volcanic activities and non-volcanological effects
Geosciences Journal (2018)
-
Safety Evaluation of Fluoride Content in Tea Infusions Consumed in the Azores—a Volcanic Region with Water Springs naturally Enriched in Fluoride
Biological Trace Element Research (2017)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.