Drone CO₂ measurements during the Tajogaite volcanic eruption

Abstract

We report in-plume carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and carbon isotope ratios during the 2021 eruption of Tajogaite volcano, island of La Palma, Spain. CO2 measurements inform our understanding of volcanic contributions to the global climate carbon cycle and the role of CO2 in eruptions. Traditional ground-based methods of CO2 collection are difficult and dangerous, and as a result only about 5 % of volcanoes have been directly surveyed. We demonstrate that unpiloted aerial system (UAS) surveys allow for fast and relatively safe measurements. Using CO2 concentration profiles we estimate the total flux during several measurements in November 2021 to be 1.76±0.20×103 to 2.23±0.26×104 t d−1. Carbon isotope ratios of plume CO2 indicate a deep magmatic source, consistent with the intensity of the eruption. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of UASs for CO2 surveys during active volcanic eruptions, particularly for deriving rapid emission estimates.