Abstract
Both chemical and isotopic compositions of volcanic plumes are highly useful in evaluating the present status of active volcanoes. Monitoring their temporal changes can facilitate the forecasts of volcanic activity as well. In the present study, we developed a drone-borne automatic sampler for volcanic plumes in which an output signal from a sulfur dioxide (SO2) sensor triggered a pump to collect samples when its SO2 concentration exceeded a predefined threshold. First, we tested the automatic sampler while holding the device by hand at Iwo-yama volcano, Kirishima volcanic complex, Japan, where the fumaroles were accessible. Second, we fitted the sampler on a drone at Nakadake central cone, Aso volcano, Japan, where only the crater rim was accessible. In both sampling campaigns, good consistency in isotope ratios (2H/1H) of molecular hydrogen (H2) between samples collected by the automatic sampler and those collected directly into pre-evacuated flasks was obtained. Furthermore, by using the drone-borne sampler at Aso volcano, we obtained plume samples with higher concentrations of H2 and carbon dioxide than those taken directly into flasks at the crater rim. Our sampler can be utilized to collect volcanic plume samples for the determination of stable isotopic compositions in general by subsequent laboratory analysis and the remote establishment of fumarole outlet temperature based on the 2H/1H ratios of hydrogen, including their temporal changes.
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