Feasibility of measuring volcanic gas composition using sky-scattered sunlight and FTIR spectroscopy
Feasibility of measuring volcanic gas composition using sky-scattered sunlight and FTIR spectroscopy
Tobias D. Schmitt, Moritz Sindram, Benedikt A. Löw, Lukas Weis, Ralph Kleinschek, Nicole Bobrowski, and André Butz
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 19, 6145–6157, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-6145-2026, 2026
Monitoring systems for volcanic gases use ultraviolet and visible light, since the sky is brightest there.
We analyzed whether the concept extends to the near-infrared, where CO2 and halogen gases such as hydrogen chloride also absorb.
We find this realistic for the halogen gases at strongly emitting volcanoes, but very difficult for CO2.
We propose pairing it with the ultraviolet instruments already in use.
This could improve our understanding of volcanic processes and eruption risks.