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Science 27 March 1987:
Vol. 235. no. 4796, pp. 1633 - 1635
DOI: 10.1126/science.235.4796.1633
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Articles

Correlation of Volcanic Activity with Sulfur Oxyanion Speciation in a Crater Lake

BOKUICHIRO TAKANO 1

1 Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153, Japan.

The Yugama crater lake at Kusatsu-Shirane volcano, Japan, contains nearly 2200 tons (2800 parts per million) of polythionate ions (Sn O62-, where n = 4 to 9). Analytical data on lake water sampled before and during eruptions in 1982 showed that the concentrations of polythionates decreased and sulfate increased in response to the preeruption activities of the subaqueous fumaroles. These changes were observed 2 months before the first phreatic explosion on 26 October 1982. The monitoring of polythionates and sulfate in crater lake water is a promising means of anticipating potential volcanic eruption hazards.

Submitted on August 8, 1986
Accepted on December 2, 1986

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)