Three-dimensional concentration mapping of gases using a portable mass spectrometer system.

The visualization of hazardous gaseous emissions at volcanoes using in-situ mass spectrometry (MS) is a key step towards a better comprehension of the geophysical phenomena surrounding eruptive activity. In-situ data consisting of helium, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and other gas species, were acquired with a quadrupole based MS system. Global position systems (GPS) and MS data were plotted on ground imagery, topography, and remote sensing data collected by a host of instruments during the second Costa Rica Airborne Research and Technology Applications (CARTA) mission. This combination of gas and imaging data allowed three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the volcanic plume and the mapping of gas concentration at several volcanic structures and urban areas. This combined set of data has demonstrated a better tool to assess hazardous conditions by visualizing and modeling of possible scenarios of volcanic activity. The MS system is used for in-situ measurement of 3D gas concentrations at different volcanic locations with three different transportation platforms: aircraft, auto, and hand-carried. The demonstration for urban contamination mapping is also presented as another possible use for the MS system.