Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD
Volcano Expedition to the Marianas

the expedition
the science
tools & techniques
marianas history
daily journal
the team
questions & answers

Cal

the islands
Saipan
Anatahan
Sarigan
Guguan
Alamagan
Pagan
Agrigan
Asuncion
Maug
Uracas
April 2004
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Link to Map

Funded by:

Approach

Ti-Tube in vent

The main objective of our expedition to the volcanoes of the Marianas is to determine the composition of volatiles emitted from the magmas that lie below to the Earth's surface and quantify the emission rates of these volatiles to the atmosphere. To achieve this goal we have assembled a team of scientists and students. Each member of the team has a different 'area of expertise' and all members have worked on active volcanoes before. It is critical for the success of the project to collect the samples of gases and rocks that will yield the information we are after. Therefore, our work begins on the volcanoes where we collect the samples, make the field measurements and record our observations. This step is then followed by analyses of these samples in our laboratories back home. Once we have analyzed the samples and compiled all the data we will interpret our results and hopefully we can answer some of the questions that we were asking in the beginning. Of course, we do not know what kind of gas samples we will be able to collect because nobody has collected samples from these volcanoes before. Based on the team's experience at other volcanoes world-wide, we will target high temperature (> 100 degrees Centigrade) gas vents (fumaroles), and lower temperature bubbling hot springs and mud pots. We will also sample lavas and tephra deposits.