Can Carbon-Catching Drones Predict Volcano Eruptions?
October 20, 2022 By Jozeph P
(Image Credit Google)
In the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, graduate student Fiona D'Arcy of McGill University, who studies volcanic geochemistry, and her colleagues affirm that drones can carry out their tasks.
They demonstrated in their study that it is possible to estimate carbon dioxide emissions using data gathered by drones in the atmosphere.
In April 2019, D'Arcy tested his theory by launching sample drones into the scalding gas plumes coming from the Poás volcano in Costa Rica, which had erupted just two years earlier, according to the Wired piece.
Furthermore, the team descended inside the crater as well to take hand-held CO2 readings. They apparently spent close to four hours hiking the trek, but the drone took only a few minutes to take off. The two sets of data did, however, have a startling commonality.
The quantities in the drone data were 23% higher than average atmospheric levels, indicating there was enough volcanic CO2 in the samples to be detected. After accounting for dilution, they verified that the quantity matched their ground samples, demonstrating that drones might take the role of people collecting samples manually.
According to D'Arcy, it will be considerably simpler to gather samples without endangering anyone if this technique is followed consistently. Drones do, however, have their own set of issues. At Poás, D'Arcy's squad misplaced three gadgets. The second one crashed to the ground as its rotor became entangled in the equipment used to detect gas concentrations, while the first one lost contact and stopped responding to radio signals.
In an attempt to locate the second drone, the third drone was deployed, but it unintentionally crashed to the ground. The potential for more frequent sampling is made possible by the technology, which may contribute to the creation of a more thorough understanding of the variations in gas concentrations that take place throughout the various periods of volcanic activity.
Volcanic eruptions may become more predictable as a result. Since explosive eruptions are notoriously challenging to predict,
By Jozeph P
Journalism explorer, tech Enthusiast. Love to read and write.