Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Volcanic and Hydrothermal Systems
Summary
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) released from volcanic and hydrothermal systems constitutes a significant component of the global carbon cycle, linking deep Earth processes with surface environments and climate dynamics. Emissions occur through discrete vents such as fumaroles and hot springs, as diffuse soil degassing across broad areas, and via episodic eruptive events. Advances in measurement techniques—including continuous flux monitoring, remote sensing of gas plumes, and geochemical analysis of fluid inclusions—have refined estimates of CO₂ budgets for active volcanoes and geothermal fields. Environmental factors such as atmospheric pressure, temperature and hydrological cycles modulate gas release, while tectonic structures control pathways for ascent of magmatic and hydrothermal fluids. Understanding the balance between magmatic and hydrothermal contributions to surface CO₂ output is vital for eruption forecasting, volcanic risk assessment and evaluation of geothermal energy resources. Furthermore, quantifying natural CO₂ fluxes provides a baseline against which anthropogenic emissions can be compared and helps to constrain models of atmospheric carbon feedbacks.
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Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Volcanic and Hydrothermal Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in carbon dioxide emissions in volcanic and hydrothermal systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Diffuse soil degassing: Widespread, low‐rate release of volcanic or hydrothermal CO₂ through permeable ground.
Fumarole: A vent in volcanic terrain emitting steam and magmatic gases, including CO₂.
Hydrothermal system: Subsurface circulation of hot water and steam driven by a magmatic heat source.
Magmatic CO₂: Carbon dioxide originating directly from magma or its degassing region at depth.
References
- The effect of lunar declination on CO2 degassing from central Italian Apennines. The Innovation Geoscience (2024).
- Continuous monitoring of soil CO2 flux at Aso volcano, Japan: the influence of environmental parameters on diffuse degassing. Earth, Planets and Space (2019).
- Linking gas fluxes at Earth’s surface with fracture zones in an active geothermal field. Geology (2016).
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