A weekly feature provided by scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory. July 12, 2012 Eyes to the sky measure volcanic gas
passing byThe use of fingerprints, first considered as a means
of identification in the 1880s, is now ubiquitous in murder
mysteries, TV crime shows, and standard police investigations. A
more recent development is the concept of "fingerprinting" magma
within a volcano to characterize its depth and composition.
These characteristics tell us whether magma is rising to shallow
levels within the volcano and provide clues on how volcanoes
work. The magmatic fingerprints are provided by the volcanic gas
"signature." As magma rises from deep within the volcano, the
pressure on the magma decreases. Dissolved volcanic gases bubble
out of magma, much like dissolved gases bubble out of a
carbonated beverage as you open the container. Because different
gases have varying abilities to stay dissolved in magma, they
are released at different pressures and depths below the surface
of the volcano. T