Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1092
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1092
04 Apr 2025
 | 04 Apr 2025

New insights into the 2021 La Palma eruption degassing processes from direct-sun spectroscopic measurements

Noémie Taquet, Thomas Boulesteix, Omaira García, Robin Campion, Wolfgang Stremme, Sergio Rodríguez, Jessica López-Darias, Carlos Marrero, Diego González-García, Andreas Klügel, Frank Hase, M. Isabel García, Ramón Ramos, Pedro Rivas-Soriano, Sergio Léon-Luis, Virgilio Carreño, Antonio Alcántara, Eliezer Sépulveda, Celia Milford, Pablo González-Sicilia, and Carlos Torres

Abstract. During the 2021 La Palma eruption, both existing and newly deployed air quality and atmospheric monitoring networks in the Canary Islands (Spain) played a crucial role in supporting decision-making for public safety and enhancing the understanding of the crisis. In this study, we report direct-sun measurements using low (EM27/SUN) and high (IFS-125HR) spectral resolution Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectrometers located up to ~140 km away from the volcano and contributing to key atmospheric global networks. In La Palma, the EM27/SUN was combined with a Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) instrument. We present new FTIR retrieval methods to derive the SO2, CO2, CO, HF, HCl relative abundance in the volcanic plume from both low- and high- resolution solar absorption spectra. We derived SO2 volcanic emission fluxes from the Sentinel-5P TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and estimated the emission fluxes of the other volcanic species over the whole eruption. We estimate the volcanic emission to the atmosphere for SO2, CO2, HCl, HF and CO to be 1.8±0.2 Mt, 19.4±1.8 Mt, 0.05±0.01 Mt, 0.013±0.002 Mt and 0.123±0.005 Mt, respectively. We show a good agreement between these estimates and the degassing balance derived from a petrologic approach. This eruption produced emissions that compare directly with annual anthropogenic emissions at different spatial scales. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using existing atmospheric FTIR and DOAS global networks to monitor volcanic plumes composition more than 100 km away, and is of relevance for volcanological monitoring and research during volcanic crises.

Competing interests: At least one of the (co-)authors is a member of the editorial board of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. The peer-review process was guided by an independent editor, and the authors also have no other competing interests to declare.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

04 Nov 2025
Volatile emissions during the 2021 Cumbre Vieja (La Palma) eruption integrating multiplatform atmospheric observations
Noémie Taquet, Thomas Boulesteix, Omaira García, Robin Campion, Wolfgang Stremme, Sergio Rodríguez, Jessica López-Darias, Carlos Marrero, Diego González-García, Andreas Klügel, Frank Hase, M. Isabel García, Ramón Ramos, Pedro Rivas-Soriano, Sergio Léon-Luis, Virgilio Carreño, Antonio Alcántara, Eliezer Sépulveda, Celia Milford, Pablo González-Sicilia, and Carlos Torres
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 14591–14628, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-14591-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-14591-2025, 2025
Short summary
Noémie Taquet, Thomas Boulesteix, Omaira García, Robin Campion, Wolfgang Stremme, Sergio Rodríguez, Jessica López-Darias, Carlos Marrero, Diego González-García, Andreas Klügel, Frank Hase, M. Isabel García, Ramón Ramos, Pedro Rivas-Soriano, Sergio Léon-Luis, Virgilio Carreño, Antonio Alcántara, Eliezer Sépulveda, Celia Milford, Pablo González-Sicilia, and Carlos Torres

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1092', Yves Moussallam, 09 Jun 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Noémie Taquet, 05 Aug 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1092', Nicole Bobrowski, 23 Jun 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC2', Noémie Taquet, 05 Aug 2025
  • AC3: 'Revision on egusphere-2025-1092', Noémie Taquet, 05 Aug 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1092', Yves Moussallam, 09 Jun 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Noémie Taquet, 05 Aug 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1092', Nicole Bobrowski, 23 Jun 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC2', Noémie Taquet, 05 Aug 2025
  • AC3: 'Revision on egusphere-2025-1092', Noémie Taquet, 05 Aug 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Noémie Taquet on behalf of the Authors (05 Aug 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (12 Aug 2025) by Carl Percival
AR by Noémie Taquet on behalf of the Authors (20 Aug 2025)  Author's response   Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

04 Nov 2025
Volatile emissions during the 2021 Cumbre Vieja (La Palma) eruption integrating multiplatform atmospheric observations
Noémie Taquet, Thomas Boulesteix, Omaira García, Robin Campion, Wolfgang Stremme, Sergio Rodríguez, Jessica López-Darias, Carlos Marrero, Diego González-García, Andreas Klügel, Frank Hase, M. Isabel García, Ramón Ramos, Pedro Rivas-Soriano, Sergio Léon-Luis, Virgilio Carreño, Antonio Alcántara, Eliezer Sépulveda, Celia Milford, Pablo González-Sicilia, and Carlos Torres
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 14591–14628, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-14591-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-14591-2025, 2025
Short summary
Noémie Taquet, Thomas Boulesteix, Omaira García, Robin Campion, Wolfgang Stremme, Sergio Rodríguez, Jessica López-Darias, Carlos Marrero, Diego González-García, Andreas Klügel, Frank Hase, M. Isabel García, Ramón Ramos, Pedro Rivas-Soriano, Sergio Léon-Luis, Virgilio Carreño, Antonio Alcántara, Eliezer Sépulveda, Celia Milford, Pablo González-Sicilia, and Carlos Torres
Noémie Taquet, Thomas Boulesteix, Omaira García, Robin Campion, Wolfgang Stremme, Sergio Rodríguez, Jessica López-Darias, Carlos Marrero, Diego González-García, Andreas Klügel, Frank Hase, M. Isabel García, Ramón Ramos, Pedro Rivas-Soriano, Sergio Léon-Luis, Virgilio Carreño, Antonio Alcántara, Eliezer Sépulveda, Celia Milford, Pablo González-Sicilia, and Carlos Torres

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Short summary
Direct-sun solar absorption FTIR and DOAS measurements were performed during the 2021 La Palma eruption from distance up to 140 km. Using FTIR-DOAS gas-to-sulfur ratios and SO2 fluxes derived from TROPOMI, CO2, CO, HCl, HF volcanic emissions were estimated. Estimates of emission budget were found in good agreement with petrologic data. This study demonstrates the feasability of using existing atmospheric monitoring network to monitor volcanic eruptions.
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