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Persistent CO 2 emissions and hydrothermal unrest following the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.
- Source :
-
Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2018 Jul 27; Vol. 9 (1), pp. 2956. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Jul 27. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Fluid-earthquake interplay, as evidenced by aftershock distributions or earthquake-induced effects on near-surface aquifers, has suggested that earthquakes dynamically affect permeability of the Earth's crust. The connection between the mid-crust and the surface was further supported by instances of carbon dioxide (CO <subscript>2</subscript> ) emissions associated with seismic activity, so far only observed in magmatic context. Here we report spectacular non-volcanic CO <subscript>2</subscript> emissions and hydrothermal disturbances at the front of the Nepal Himalayas following the deadly 25 April 2015 Gorkha earthquake (moment magnitude M <subscript>w</subscript>  = 7.8). The data show unambiguously the appearance, after the earthquake, sometimes with a delay of several months, of CO <subscript>2</subscript> emissions at several sites separated by > 10 kilometres, associated with persistent changes in hydrothermal discharges, including a complete cessation. These observations reveal that Himalayan hydrothermal systems are sensitive to co- and post- seismic deformation, leading to non-stationary release of metamorphic CO <subscript>2</subscript> from active orogens. Possible pre-seismic effects need further confirmation.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2041-1723
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Nature communications
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30054459
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05138-z