Abstract
A Barnes PRT-5 radiation thermometer was used to obtain apparent surface temperatures of two Guatemalan volcanoes from land-based stations from 500 to 4000 meters distant. Isotherms of apparent surface temperatures, drawn on photographs of the volcanic terrain under study, delineate areas of fumarolic activity and active domal upgrowth.
The excess radiant heat emitted from Pacaya Volcano is calculated from apparent surface temperatures corrected for atmospheric absorption of infrared radiation and for the adiabatic cooling of the atmosphere with altitude. The excess radiant heat data indicate that the lava flow extruded in June 1969 had completely solidified by December 1969. This calculation is consistent with theoretical estimates of the cooling of an extrusive lava sheet by conduction. Similar calculation of excess radiant heat emission shows the depth of the magma chamber underlying the Santiaguito Volcanic Dome to be 11 meters. This depth is consistent with field observations.
Corrections are made for surface emissivity on Pacaya Volcano and the isotherms of real surface temperature plotted. Consideration is given to the times required for the equilibration of a geothermal gradient following the upward movement of a magma.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Barnes Engineering Co., 1968,Instruction Manual for Precision Radiation Thermometer Model PRT-5; Barnes Engineering Co., 30 Commerce Rd., Stamford, Conn.
Birch, F., 1942,Thermal conductivity and diffusivity. InHandbook of Physical Constants, ed. byBirch, F.,Schairer, J. F., andSpicer, H. C., Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Paper No. 36, p. 243–266.
Carlslaw, H. S. andJaeger, J. C., 1959,Conduction of Heat in Solids, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, Great Britain, 510 pp.
Daniels, D. L., 1966,Infrared spectral emittance of rocks from the Pisgah Crater and Mono Craters Areas, California. N.A.S.A., Tech. Letter NASA-13.
-----, 1967,Additional Infrared Spectral Emittance Measurements of Rocks from the Mono Craters Region, California. Prepared by U.S.G.S. for N.A.S.A., Interagency Rept. NASA-90.
Dawson, G. B. andFisher, R. G., 1964,Diurnal and seasonal ground temperature variations at Wairakei. New Zealand Journ. Geol. and Geophys.,7, p. 144–154.
Decker, R. W. andPeck, D. L., 1967,Infrared radiation from Alae Lava Lake, Hawaii. U.S.G.S. Prof. Paper 575-D, p. D169–D175.
Eggers, A. A., 1972,The geology and petrology of the Amatitlán quadrangle, Guatemala. Ph. D. Thesis, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H.
Fischer, W. A., Moxham, R. M., Polcyn, F., andLandis, G. H., 1964,Infrared studies of Hawaiian volcanoes. Science,146, no. 3645, p. 733–742.
Friedman, J. D. andWilliams, R. S., Jr., 1968,Infrared sensing of active geologic processes. Proc. Fifth Symp. on Remote Sensing of Environment, Univ. of Michigan Inst. of Sci. and Tech., Ann Arbor, Mich., p. 787–820.
Gebbie, H. A., Harding, W. R., Hilsum, C., Pryce, A. W., andRoberts, V., 1951, Atmospheric transmission in the 1-14|ℓ region Proc. Roy. Soc. of London, Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences,206, p. 87–107.
Herschel, J. F. W., 1840,Account of a process of rendering visible the calorific spectrum by its effect on paper properly prepared and some further results obtained respecting the distribution of heat therein. Trans. Roy. Soc. London, Part 1, p. 51–59.
Jaeger, J. C., 1961,The cooling of irregularly shaped igneous bodies. Am. Journ. Sci.,259, p. 721–734.
Lee, W. H. K. (ed.), 1965,Terrestrial Heat Flow. Am. Geophys. Union Mono.8, 276 pp.
----- andClark, S. P., Jr., 1966,Heat flow and volcanic temperature. InHandbook of Physical Constants,S. P. Clark, Jr. (ed.), G.S.A. Mem.97, p. 483–511.
Lovering, T. S., 1935,Theory of heat conduction applied to geological problems. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull.,46, p. 69–94.
McLerran, J. H., 1967,Infrared thermal sensing. Photogram. Eng.,33, no. 5, p. 507–512.
Meyer-Arndt, J. R., 1968,Radiometry and photometry: units and conversion factors. Applied Optics,7, no. 10, p. 2081–2084.
Meyer-Abich, H., 1958,Active volcanoes of Guatemala and El Salvador. InCatalogue of the Active Volcanoes of the World Including Solfatara Fields, Part VI Central America, by F. Mooser, H. Meyer-Abich, and A. R. McBirney, Int. Volcanological Assoc., Naples, p. 39–105.
Miller, L. D., 1966,Location of anomalously hot earth with infrared imagery in Yellowstone National Park. Proc. Fourth Symp. on Remote Sensing of Environment, Univ. of Mich. Inst. of Sci. and Tech., Ann Arbor, Mich., p. 751–769.
Mooser, F., Meyer-Abich, H., andMcBirney, A. R., 1958,Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes of the World Including Solfatara Fields, Part VI Central America. Int. Volcanological Assoc., Naples.
Moxham, R. M., 1969,Aerial infrared surveys at the Geysers geothermal steam field, California. U.S.G.S. Prof. Paper 650-C, p. C106–C122.
——, 1971,Thermal features at volcanoes in the Cascade Range, as observed by aerial infrared surveys. Bull. Volcanologique,34, no. 1, p. 77–106.
—— andAlcaraz, A., 1966,Infrared surveys at Taal Volcano, Philippines. Proc. Fourth Symp. on Remote Sensing of Environment, Univ. of Mich. Inst. of Sci. and Tech., Ann Arbor, Mich. p. 827–843.
-----,Crandell, D. R., andMarlatt, W., 1965,Thermal features at Mount Rainier, Washington, as revealed by infrared surveys. U.S.G.S. Prof. Paper 525D, p. D93–D100.
Robertson, E. L. andDawson, G. B., 1964,Geothermal heat flow through the soil at Wairakei. New Zealand Journ. Geol. and Geophys.,7, p. 134–143.
Rose, W. I., Jr., 1967,Notes on fumaroles and recent activity of Volcan Pacaya. InExcursion Guidebook for Guatemala;S. Bonis (ed.), Inst. Geografico Nacional, Guatemala, Geol. Bull. no. 4, p. 31–33.
——, 1970,The Geology of the Santiaguito Volcanic Dome, Guatemala. Ph. D. Thesis, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H.
——, 1972,Santiaguito Volcanic Dome, Guatemala. G.S.A. Bull.,83, p. 1413–1434.
——, andBonis, S. B., 1970,Volcanic activity at Santiaguito Volcano, Guatemala. Bull. Volc.,34, no. 1, p. 295–307.
Saunders, P. M., 1967,Aerial measurements of sea surface temperature in the infrared. Journ. Geophys. Res.,72, no. 16, p. 4109–4117.
Shilin, B. V. andGusev, N. A., 1969,Thermal aerial survey of Kamchatka volcanoes. Sovetskaya Geologiya (Soviet Geology),12, no. 5, p. 139–147, trans. by L. Thompson, Foreign Technology Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
——, andKarizhenski, Ye. Ya., 1969,Infrared aerial survey of the volcanoes of Kamchatka. Proc. Sixth Int. Symp. on Remote Sensing of Environment, Inst. of Sci. and Tech., Univ. of Mich., Ann Arbor, Mich., p. 175–187.
----- andKomaron, V. B., 1968,Application of infrared aerial recording techniques to studies of volcanoes and thermal activities of Kamchatka Peninsula. The Ministry of Geology of the U.S.S.R. The Laboratory for Aerial Techniques, Leningrad; trans. by A. Birko, Willow Run Laboratories, Institute of Sci. and Tech., Univ. of Mich., Ann Arbor, Mich. (8 pages).
Simon, I., 1966,Infrared Radiation. Van Nostrand Momentum Book #12, 119 pp.
Stoiber, R. E. andRose, W. I., Jr., 1969,Recent volcanic and fumarolic activity at Santiaguito Volcano, Guatemala. Bull. Volcanologique,33, no. 2, p. 475–502.
Van Bemmelen, R. W., 1949,The Geology of Indonesia, and Adjacent Archipelagos. Government Printing Office, The Hague.
Vasseau, J. P., 1967,Principle climatological elements of the region south of Quezaltenango, Guatemala. Unpublished data, Observatorio Nacional del Servicio Meterologico de Guatemala, Guatemala, C. A.
Willett, H. C. andSanders, F., 1959,Deseriptive Meteorology. Academic Press, N. Y., 355 pp.
Williams, H., 1960,Volcanic History of the Guatemalan Highlands. Univ. of Cal. Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles.
Wolfe, E. W., 1968,Geologic evaluation of thermal infrared imagery, Caliente and Temblar Ranges, Southern California. Prepared by U.S.G.S. for N.A.S.A., Interagency Rept. NASA-113.
Yates, H. W., 1958,The Influence of Atmospheric Absorption on Radiation Measurements. Barnes Engineering Co., 30 Commerce Rd., Stamford, Conn.
Yoder, H. S., Jr. andTilley, C. G., 1962,Origin of basaltic magmas; an experimental study of natural and synthetic rock systems. Journ. of Pet.,3, no. 3, p. 342–532.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Birnie, R.W. Infrared radiation thermometry of guatemalan volcanoes. Bull Volcanol 37, 1–36 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02596879
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02596879