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At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

An extensive and short-lived episode of mid-Holocene fayalite- bearing high-silica rhyolite eruptions at Mono Craters, California

Having last erupted ~ 700 years ago, the Mono Craters volcanic chain is an active system with a history of explosive and effusive high-silica rhyolite eruptions. Approximately ~ 30 lava domes and flows range from ~ 42 to ~ 0.7 ka, form a ~ 15 km curvilinear trend, and change mineralogy (biotite-, orthopyroxene-, or fayalite-bearing) and crystallinity through time. However, the eruptive chronology of this system is incompletely understood. We report new 238 U- 230 Th isochron ages for nine fayalite-bearing domes from paired zircon and allanite crystal surfaces that reveal a major shift in eruptive frequency and volume over the history of the chain, with extrusion of > 0.45 km 3 of high-silica rhyolite lava between 7.1 and 5.2 ka. This contrasts with older biotite- (~ 42–20 ka) and orthopyroxene-bearing (~ 12–9 ka) domes, each of which erupted smaller volumes over a more protracted period. Whole-rock compositions suggest these older domes tapped separate domains within a shared magmatic system because the former are higher in Sr and Ba whereas the latter are lower in SiO 2 , higher in Zr, and more enriched in light rare-earth elements. Titanomagnetite chemistry and zircon saturation temperatures also reflect changing magma compositions and conditions associated with these domes. Fayalite-bearing domes, in contrast, have uniform whole-rock and titanomagnetite compositions which support rapid extrusion of magma over an interval short enough to prevent Fe-Ti oxides from recording any changes in magmatic conditions. The youngest lavas were also produced in a short-lived episode ~ 700 years ago, showing that multivent, geologically brief eruptive episodes occur repeatedly at Mono Craters.

California↗

Water depth fluctuations and water chemistry in five ephemeral rock pools (tinajas), Clark County, Nevada, 2021–23

Southern Nevada is characterized by an arid climate with limited perennial water resources. In this environment, rock pools (tinajas) are both a habitat and drinking water source for wildlife. In this reconnaissance-level project, the U.S. Geological Survey studied the water depth and water chemistry at five tinajas in Clark County, Nevada. The tinaja sites in this study are representative of the dominant plunge pool morphology and the sandstone or carbonate bedrock substrates that characterize tinajas in the region. Continuous water depth measurements at four tinajas between December 2021 and December 2023 indicated that tinajas may contain water for weeks to months after being recharged but are not a permanent drinking water source for wildlife. Tinajas were driest between April and August 2022, before the beginning of the monsoon season. Chemical analysis of select nutrients, major ions, metals, and trace elements from five tinajas detected concentrations below limits established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for aquatic life and drinking water.

Nevada↗

Springs of the Catskill Mountains: A conduit flow system in predominantly siliciclastic strata

The Catskill Mountains of New York state are composed of thick sequences of interbedded mudstone, sandstone, and siltstone that are intercalated with thin beds of paludal limestone and calcareous mudstone. Sandstones often contain rip-up clasts of calcareous material at their bases and contain minor amounts of carbonate cement throughout their mass. This minor amount of calcareous material weathers out to produce thin zones of solutional porosity and permeability integrated within perched aquifers that feed perennial hillslope springs. Solutional features are evident within thin carbonate lenses and along fractures in sandstones, occasionally resulting in explorable cave-sized conduits. This study focuses on the behavior of bedrock springs and seeps in the headwaters of the Neversink River basin above the Neversink Reservoir. Bedrock springs are numerous throughout the Catskill Mountains and serve to provide baseflow to the headwater streams that tends to be more persistent during dry times than other baseflow sources. We observed dissolution-influenced conduits within the bedrock, and suffosional conduits within unconsolidated materials. Continuous water temperature at six springs was monitored at hourly intervals from May to October 2022 to investigate the thermal response of groundwater to daily and seasonal changes in air temperature along with event-based meteorological events. Temperature monitoring was augmented at some springs with time-lapse photography to evaluate persistence of flow. The thermal responses of springs to precipitation events were highly variable across sites, with some springs exhibiting flashy responses indicating a strong connection to the surface, while other springs showed muted or no thermal response to events. The seasonal thermal response also varied across sites having lag times of 23-48 days between peak air temperature and peak spring water temperature. The water temperatures and geochemical compositions of these bedrock springs support a conceptual model of multiple residence times, showing both event and seasonal groundwater storage within the conduit flow system that feeds the springs of the Catskill Mountains.

New York↗

A framework for investigating fish population density responses to habitat fragmentation

Globally, fish populations that rely on rivers are being fragmented by in-stream barriers, but it is unclear how pervasive any negative population responses to fragmentation are. We developed a modeling framework for estimating density responses of fishes upstream and downstream of in-stream barriers and applied it to learn how low-head dams have influenced fish assemblages in 24 Great Lakes tributaries. Of the 29 species modeled, we found strong evidence for increased (n = 6 species) and decreased population densities (n = 6 species) in habitat upstream of low-head dams, while we only found strong evidence for population increases downstream of dams (n = 16 species). The time required for 50% of the dam-induced change to fish population density to occur, t 50 , was on the order of decades; mean t 50 was 41 years in habitat downstream of low-head dams and 21 years in upstream habitat. Estimates of t 50 suggest that negative effects occurred faster than positive effects. However, the power of this comparison remains limited because evidence for the logistic population growth model used to derive t 50 was strong for only 1 of 29 fish species. We propose that different mechanisms account for the responses observed, with positive responses driven by changes in assemblage structure and negative responses driven by decreased immigration. Our research demonstrates how frameworks considering metapopulation dynamics and the potential for time lags between barrier construction and fish population responses can advance understanding of how in-stream barriers structure the distribution and abundance of fish populations in rivers.

Great Lakes↗

How tough a passage? Nonnative fish entrainment survivability at a major dam in the western USA

The Colorado River downstream of Glen Canyon Dam (GCD) in the southwest USA demonstrates anthropogenic modification including altered flow and temperature regimes and established nonnative species in upstream reservoirs. Water overallocation and megadrought are contributing to new potential invasion pathways for nonnative fishes through dam releases. In this study, we quantified factors that influence survival of fish entrained at GCD, a pathway for nonnative fishes to leave Lake Powell and enter the Grand Canyon as reservoir levels remain near historic lows since the reservoir initially filled. We measured conditions of entrainment through GCD using a mechanical Sensor Fish device and evaluated potential barotrauma by comparing our results to previous studies. Under measured conditions, a fish's gas bladder would expand by a factor of 2.7 due to entrainment, potentially resulting in injury from barotrauma. We estimated members of Centrarchidae may survive entrainment at problematically high rates across all water levels where entrainment is expected. Minimizing nonnative fish entrainment through GCD is best achieved through maintenance of water levels higher than those in recent years, potentially decreasing both entrainment likelihood and survival.

Arizona↗

Decision-centered systems for the future of wildlife conservation

The future of wildlife conservation will be determined by how well we decide, not simply by how much we know. Advances in quantitative ecology, sensor networks, and artificial intelligence have enhanced the field's ability to estimate population states and predict ecological dynamics. Yet, these technological and analytical advancements have not translated into proportional improvements in wildlife conservation decision making. The prevailing science-centered paradigm, which prioritizes research production as the primary route to better management, was appropriate when limited ecological understanding was the primary constraint on decision making. Today, wildlife conservation challenges are more often restricted by inadequate decision-making processes rather than by insufficient information. This paper defines a decision-centered system as an institutional and organizational arrangement in which the generation, integration, and application of scientific knowledge are explicitly structured around the decisions required for wildlife conservation. Decision systems evaluate success not only through scientific rigor, but through the quality of decision-making processes and outcomes they support. Artificial intelligence (AI) is likely to deepen this mismatch by rapidly expanding analytical capacity while leaving the underlying challenges of decision making unresolved. As AI data synthesis, modeling, and estimation become increasingly automated, the comparative advantage of conservation professionals is likely to shift toward tasks requiring human judgment (e.g., eliciting stakeholder values, weighting competing management objectives). The conceptual basis for this shift already exists in structured decision making, adaptive management, and similar frameworks. The remaining barriers to implementation are both institutional and organizational. The rules, norms, and incentive structures governing what counts as good conservation work, including what gets funded, published, and rewarded, will benefit from shifting alongside the agencies, universities, and professional societies that train and employ wildlife professionals. Conditions for this transition include redesigning incentives, training, and governance so that organizations are prepared not only to generate knowledge, but to consistently translate it into effective action.

The Wildlife Society Bulletin↗

Production of secondary microbial methane from a gas hydrate-bearing reservoir at the HYDRATE P1 Production Test Well (PTW-1) on the Alaskan North Slope

Gas hydrate in the Alaskan North Slope (ANS) is believed to contain as much methane as the known conventional gas accumulations in the Prudhoe Bay field. The JOGMEC-DOE-USGS Collaborative Gas Hydrate R&D Project conducted an extended-duration production test from the sub-permafrost, gas-hydrate saturated B1 sand reservoir (unit B) at the Kuparuk State 7-11-12 Site in the Prudhoe Bay Unit of the ANS. Using compositional and stable isotopic data measured on gas produced from well cuttings and pressure cores collected from the HYDRATE 02 Geo Data Well (GDW), we differentiate primary microbial, secondary microbial, and trace thermogenic gas sources. The upper part of the well contained predominantly primary microbial methane from near the surface to the SV6 stratigraphic horizon at 1133 ft (345.3 m) measured depth (MD). Below that, the gas composition transitioned to a mixture of mostly primary and secondary microbial methane to near the base of ice-bearing permafrost at 1968 ft (599.8 m) MD. With greater depth to 3558 ft (1084.5 m) MD, which includes the D1 sand (unit D), the B1 sand (unit B), and the base of gas hydrate stability at 3113 ft (948.8 m) MD, the gas composition was greater than 98% secondary microbial methane with the remainder being oil-associated thermogenic gas migrated from the deep Sadlerochit Formation. The unit B vertical gas profile derived from degassed pressure cores demonstrated that gas dissolved in the clay-rich sediment intervals bounding the B1 sand reservoir was distinct from dissolved and hydrate-caged gases in the sand-rich hydrate-bearing reservoir. The HYDRATE P1 Production Test Well (PTW-1) targeted and successfully extracted gas dissociated from hydrate gas in the B1 sand for 151 days when using an electrical submersible pump to depressurize the reservoir with subsequent depressurization achieved through the use of a jet pump. Gas produced from PTW-1 was mostly indistinguishable from the gas compositional profile measured through the B1 sand and generally distinct from dissolved gas in the bounding clay-rich sediments, confirming that the upper and lower bounding units limited infiltration into the reservoir during production. Isolation of the bounding units from the reservoir contributed to the unexpectedly high ratio of production gas to water observed during the extended-duration gas hydrate production test at PTW-1.

Alaska↗

Multiple lines of evidence reveal rapid, seasonal watershed responses to enhanced weathering

Enhanced weathering accelerates carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere through the rapid dissolution of land amendments of crushed, cation-rich rocks. The export of enhanced weathering dissolution products to drainage networks has important implications for carbon dioxide removal durability and measurement yet has received little attention. Here we observe rapid and pronounced streamwater chemistry responses within weeks of a crushed basalt application to a temperate headwater catchment: alkalinity exceeded counterfactual estimates by as much as 557 μeq l −1 , accompanied by changes in silica, lithium and major-ion chemistry consistent with basalt weathering. Difference-in-differences analysis identified repeated treatment effects with enhanced weathering accounting for 7–17% of streamwater alkalinity in successive summers and autumns, but less in winter and spring. This seasonal response reflects a combination of temperature controls on basalt dissolution kinetics and hydrologic controls on weathering-product export. Over 2 years, 9.5–11% of theoretical carbon dioxide removal potential was exported as alkalinity (34.7 t CO 2 km −2 yr −1 ).

Vermont↗

Fish locomotor dynamics quantified using multiple inertial measurement units

Animals exhibit a diversity of locomotor behaviours that vary with body shape, ontogeny, motivation and environment. Documenting these behaviours often relies on recording videos of animals in controlled conditions displaying stereotyped behaviours. By contrast, animal-borne motion sensing data loggers can document diverse behaviours of animals in their natural environment. Traditionally, one data logger is used to infer body dynamics; however, a single location presents an incomplete picture of body movement. Here, we deploy multiple independent inertial measurement units on individual fish to study within-body dynamics and assess the accuracy of this approach compared to traditional video methods. Using a combination of robotic and animal experiments, we accurately measure the timing, direction and magnitude of movement of multiple locations along the body and can recreate accurate three-dimensional midline kinematics without video data. Furthermore, we show that with as few as two data loggers, parameters such as propulsive wavelength can be calculated, even during high-intensity behaviours. Using multiple data loggers has the potential to provide unbiased spatio-temporal estimates of fish kinematics, allowing kinematic studies to be extended to new species, new habitats and a diversity of natural fish locomotor behaviours beyond those traditionally studied in laboratory settings.

Royal Society Open Science↗

Tapwater contaminant mixtures and cumulative risk screening on the Crow (Apsáalooke) Reservation

Introduction: Water insecurity is a challenge for the Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribal Nation in south-central Montana, United States. Both private-well and public-supply tapwater (TW) are vulnerable to a range of contaminants, posing potential risks to community health and well-being. Ongoing community concerns about unrecognized inorganic, organic, and microbial contaminants underscore the need for continued comprehensive monitoring and improved water management strategies. Materials and methods: TW samples were collected from 26 private-well and 12 public-supply participant locations, selected and recruited by the Crow Water Quality Project. A total of 35 inorganic, 450 organic, and three microbial analytes were assessed in these samples. Public-Supply Maximum Contaminant Levels and Health benchmark-based screening levels were used to evaluate contaminant concentrations. Results: Sixty-one organic and 34 inorganic contaminants were detected. Screening levels were frequently exceeded, particularly due to multiple inorganic contaminants in private TW and both chlorine-based disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and inorganics in public TW. These findings highlight gaps in current source-water protection and water treatment practices. Conclusions: After reporting results to participants, anonymized data were shared at community events to inform risk management decisions. The study underscores the importance of broad monitoring and analysis throughout the upper Missouri River basin and across the United States to address Tribal concerns over water insecurity and mitigate potential unrecognized TW contaminant risks, particularly to vulnerable subpopulations.

Montana↗

Floods of June 20–July 6, 2024, in the Big Sioux River, Rock River, Little Sioux River, Ocheyedan River, and Floyd River Basins, northwestern Iowa

Major flooding occurred on June 20–July 6, 2024, in northwestern Iowa affecting the Big Sioux, Rock, Little Sioux, Ocheyedan, and Floyd River Basins. Heavy rain fell in northwestern Iowa, southwestern Minnesota, and southeastern South Dakota on June 20–22, 2024. Parts of northwestern Iowa recorded 2–6 inches of rainfall and localized amounts exceeding 12 inches. A maximum peak-of-record streamflow of 175,000 cubic feet per second at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgage Big Sioux River at Akron, Iowa (06485500), was recorded on June 22, 2024, and had an annual exceedance probability range of 0.2–0.49 percent. High-water marks were measured at four locations along the Big Sioux River between U.S. Interstate 29 at Sioux City, Iowa, upstream to Iowa Highway 10 north of Hawarden, Iowa, a distance of 75.7 river miles. A maximum peak-of-record streamflow of 157,000 cubic feet per second at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgage Rock River near Rock Valley, Iowa (06483500), was recorded on June 22, 2024, and had an annual exceedance probability of less than 0.2 percent. High-water marks were measured at eight locations along the Rock River between County Road B30 east of Hudson, South Dakota, upstream to Iowa Highway 9 at Rock Rapids, Iowa, a distance of 39.3 river miles. A maximum peak-of-record streamflow of 63,000 cubic feet per second at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgage Little Sioux River at Correctionville, Iowa (06606600), was recorded on June 24, 2024, and had an annual exceedance probability range of 0.2–0.49 percent. High-water marks were measured at 11 locations along the Little Sioux River between Iowa Highway 31 west of Correctionville, Iowa, upstream to U.S. Highway 18 north of Spencer, Iowa, a distance of 134.8 river miles. A maximum streamflow of 24,500 cubic feet per second at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgage Ocheyedan River near Spencer, Iowa (06605000), was recorded on June 22, 2024, and had an annual exceedance probability range of 0.2–0.49 percent. High-water marks were measured at three locations along the Ocheyedan River between County Road M38 west of Spencer, Iowa, upstream to U.S. Highway 18 west of Everly, Iowa, a distance of 12.8 river miles. A maximum streamflow of 41,000 cubic feet per second at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgage Floyd River at Alton, Iowa (06600100), was recorded on June 22, 2024, and had an annual exceedance probability range of 1–1.99 percent. High-water marks were measured at six locations along the Floyd River between Iowa Highway 3 at Le Mars, Iowa, upstream to Iowa Highway 10 at Alton, Iowa, a distance of 27.5 river miles. The high-water marks were used to develop flood profiles for the Big Sioux, Rock, Little Sioux, Ocheyedan, and Floyd Rivers.

Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota↗

A range-wide summary of western grebe and Clark’s grebe breeding lakes across North America

Western grebes ( Aechmophorus occidentalis ) and Clark’s grebes ( Aechmophorus clarkii ) are iconic waterbirds of North America that breed in colonies on inland lakes. Both species are patchily distributed and not surveyed well by the North American Breeding Bird Survey and, hence, we know relatively little about their population trends or the lakes that support the largest colonies. Knowing the distribution of western and Clark’s grebe breeding populations across their range is a critical first step to better monitor and manage these two waterbirds. We compiled published and unpublished data summarizing the status of current and historical western and Clark’s grebe breeding colonies on lakes across North America. We summarized count numbers for adults, nests, and chicks during the breeding season, including date of the most recent count from local survey efforts. We also summarized the most common threats to these birds at their breeding colonies. Sixty-seven percent of the Aechmophorus grebes during the breeding season were in 5% of the 770 breeding lakes identified range-wide, and 73% of the 770 breeding lakes supported < 100 breeding adults. The most common threats at breeding lakes were egg predation, wind and wave impact on nests, changes in populations of forage fish, anthropogenic disturbances, rapid fluctuation of water levels at breeding colonies, and decrease in nesting habitat availability. Our range-wide summary of the locations and sizes of breeding colonies and the presumed threats at these colonies provide a foundation for thorough range-wide survey efforts and conservation prioritizations for western and Clark’s grebes in North America.

North America↗

Anthropogenic and geogenic factors affecting groundwater arsenic and potential drinking water exposure in the San Luis Valley, Colorado

Groundwater arsenic is a serious health threat in many regions with limited surface water drinking supplies. In the San Luis Valley, Colorado, USA, where most residents rely on groundwater for drinking water, elevated groundwater arsenic concentrations (≥5 μg/L) were observed in 19.8% of private wells. Many recent studies have leveraged data science methods to estimate the spatial variability of arsenic at local, regional, and global scales. These studies typically predict depth-independent arsenic concentrations due to limited well depth information. However, arsenic concentrations may vary greatly with depth due to heterogeneous aquifer geochemistry, including redox potential, pH, and biogeochemical conditions. In this study, we apply random forest modeling to predict elevated groundwater arsenic concentrations (≥5 μg/L) over space and depth continuously across the San Luis Valley using a community-driven data set of 435 groundwater measurements of major ions and trace metals. Our model reveals the influence of several known or hypothesized drivers or proxy drivers of arsenic in groundwater, including surface elevation, fraction of fine-grained aquifer sediments, well depth, soil pH, long-term subsidence, and geothermal influences. Elevation, percentage of fine-grained sediments, and elemental indicators of geothermal fluid influence are some of the most important predictors of arsenic, while long-term subsidence is found to have a weak but positive relationship with arsenic. The model has a specificity of 0.82 and a sensitivity of 0.81 on held-out test data sets. In addition to improving understanding of drivers of arsenic in the region, this model produces pseudo-3D estimates of groundwater arsenic. The model can also be used to assess the time-dependent exposure to arsenic as the depth of domestic wells changes over time.

Colorado↗

Describing Yellow Perch population characteristics in Wisconsin to better understand observed declines in size structure

Objective Recent studies suggest that Yellow Perch Perca flavescens size structure has declined in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Little is known about most of the Yellow Perch populations that exist across the upper Midwestern USA because Yellow Perch are not a focus of standardized sampling and age estimation rarely occurs. To better understand Yellow Perch population dynamics and demographics, we described age- and length-based characteristics of 31 Yellow Perch populations in Wisconsin and assessed potential correlations with abiotic and biotic variables. Methods During 2018–2019, Yellow Perch were collected from 31 populations during spring fyke-net surveys to calculate mean total length (TL) at age 4 (ML4), maximum age, proportional size distribution (PSD), and mean TL of the five largest fish (MXL5). Pearson correlations were used to identify associations among these metrics and with a suite of abiotic and biotic variables. Results Mean TL at age 4 was <175 mm for 54% of our study populations, median maximum age was 8 years, median PSD was 15, and median MXL5 was 229 mm TL. There were positive correlations among ML4, PSD, and MXL5 and between maximum age and MXL5. Yellow Perch metrics were not correlated with catch per effort of Walleye Sander vitreus , Largemouth Bass Micropterus nigricans , or Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus . Yellow Perch population metrics were generally not correlated to environmental variables except for ML4, which was positively correlated to shoreline development index and maximum age, which was negatively correlated to growing degree-days and lake surface area. Conclusions Many Wisconsin Yellow Perch populations we evaluated were slow growing with low size structure and limited capacity to produce fish ≥200 mm TL. Populations where PSD is ≥32 and MXL5 ≥245 mm TL may represent exceptional opportunities for anglers to catch relatively large fish and could warrant additional investigation to identify factors contributing to high size structure.

Wisconsin↗

Effects of turbulence-inducing baffles on passage performance of brook trout, white sucker, and sea lamprey: Implications for conservation and control

Invasive sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ) control in the Great Lakes is ongoing. Installing passive selective passage structures could reduce costs, yet there is a need to evaluate such methods under realistic hydraulic conditions to inform designs. In this study, we evaluated the swimming performance of brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis ), white sucker ( Catostomus commersonii ), and sea lamprey under manipulated flows and baffle configurations in a 35 m flume lined with substrate preventing attachment. Using accelerated failure time models, we examined ascent distance (Dmax) under two slopes (1% and 3%) and velocities from 0.25–3.0 m s⁻¹. Responses varied by species: white sucker had the greatest Dmax, especially at 1% slope, whereas sea lamprey, despite lacking paired fins/rays, occasionally exceeded white sucker at 3% with small spoiler baffles and bare substrate. Contrary to common perception, brook trout, the only salmonid in this study, performed less well than the other two species. Across species, higher velocities impaired performance, with declines linked to energy dissipation (EDF). Findings show how hydraulic structures shape species-specific passage.

Great Lakes↗

Volcanoes are mighty mountains

Volcanoes are evidence of the remarkable journey of molten rock, which begins miles (kilometers) beneath our feet. What happens on magma’s ascent determines whether it erupts explosively (like Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980), oozes lava (like Mount St. Helens during its 2004–2008 dome-building event), or cools and crystallizes underground, never to erupt at all. This two-page educational activity uses a conceptual model of a stratovolcano to connect volcanic processes with personal growth. On page 1, students explore how magma is generated and moves through the crust to form a volcano, using core concepts we can relate to: strengths, support, challenges, motivations, and goals. On page 2, students reflect on their own journeys to draw parallels between what happens at volcanoes and how personal motivations and challenges shape them, just as magma shapes volcanoes, and volcanoes transform landscapes.

General Information Product↗

Pre-eruptive volatiles and magma storage depth for the 2018 eruption at Mount Veniaminof, Alaska

Mount Veniaminof is a frequently active, open-system arc volcano on the Alaska Peninsula, part of the Alaska-Aleutian arc. Mount Veniaminof's September–December 2018 eruption began with small lava flows and culminated in a larger explosive event in November that produced a 450 km long continuous ash plume—one of the volcano's most significant ash-producing events in recently observed eruptions. A temporally constrained tephra record was sampled after the eruption. We present volatile element concentrations (H, C, S, Cl, F) from a total of 65 olivine-hosted melt inclusions (MIs) across six tephra layers to assess potential variations in magma chemistry throughout the course of the eruption. No variation is observed in volatile concentrations across the tephra layers, and there is no correlation between volatile concentrations and the explosivity of eruptive pulses leading to the November explosive event. H 2 O concentrations within MI suggest moderately hydrous magmas up to 2.4 wt% H 2 O and a large range in CO 2 concentrations in the MI (14–2,180 ppm) from Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and vapor bubble reconstructions. H 2 O and CO 2 measurements correspond to entrapment pressures up to 400 MPa (entrapment depths ∼15 km), but with modal storage around 100–200 MPa. H 2 O contents can be reconciled with previous microlite number density estimates using a polybaric storage history.

Alaska↗