Stromboli Island is one of the most monitored volcanoes in the world, equipped with a comprehensive multi-parametric system designed for 24/7 surveillance, early warning of eruptions, and detection of tsunami-generating slope failures. Within this framework, continuous, high-frequency gas measurements enable detection of subtle shifts in CO₂ flux and gas ratios that may reflect magma ascent, pressurisation, and changes in conduit permeability. When integrated with geophysical datasets such as seismicity and ground deformation, these real-time geochemical signals form a critical component of multi-parameter early warning systems for forecasting eruptive activity and identifying instability linked to potential flank collapse events. The real-time volcano gas monitoring system is managed by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), specifically the Etneo and Vesuvius observatories, in coordination with the Civil Protection Department (DPC).
In May 2023, Jim Melling and Aldo Conti of AC Scientific, our representative in Italy, conducted an installation on Stromboli Island, of a HPR-20 R&D. The system is being used to monitor soil CO₂ levels on the slopes of the volcano. Sampling is made via a custom made, 1-metre-long stainless-steel tube with ‘breathing holes’ at the bottom, the tube was forced into the ground at the sampling point, with the sample line inserted and sealed. This data will add to data collected from the volcano to give an early warning of an explosion.
Figure 1 (left). Soil gas sampling interface installed in-situ with sealed inlet connection.
The HPR-20 R&D is engineered for continuous, real-time analysis of volcanic gas, water and sediment with ppb-level sensitivity and sub-second temporal resolution, allowing researchers to capture transient geochemical signals with high fidelity, supporting volcanological studies and real-time monitoring in challenging field environments. In volcanic settings such as Stromboli, analytical systems must operate reliably under highly variable temperature, humidity, and corrosive gas loading, while maintaining temporal stability during extended unattended measurements. Robust inlet design and continuous sampling capability are therefore critical for resolving short-lived degassing transients and low-level diffuse CO₂ anomalies against a geochemical background.
Figure 2 (right). Soil probe with perforated intake used for subsurface gas extraction.
Alongside our HPR-20 R&D, the portable pQA system is also tailored to the diverse demands of volcanic gas monitoring. It provides field-deployable, battery-capable mass spectrometric analysis for rapid, on-site characterisation of volcanic emissions, enabling high-sensitivity detection of key species directly at fumaroles or diffuse degassing zones. Another of our complementary quadrupole mass spectrometers used in geochemical research, the QGA 2.0, is optimised for high-precision quantitative gas analysis with enhanced stability and control, supporting long-term monitoring and laboratory-based studies of volcanic gas compositions and reaction processes. Meanwhile, the HPR-40 MIMS (Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometer) enables direct, real-time analysis of dissolved gases in aqueous environments, making it particularly valuable for investigating volcanic lakes, hydrothermal systems, and gas fluxes in groundwater and sediments.
When deployed in combination, these instruments enable cross-validation of gas compositions across multiple sampling interfaces, linking diffuse soil degassing, fumarolic emissions, and dissolved volatile phases within a unified analytical framework. This integrated approach supports high-resolution spatiotemporal correlation of geochemical signals, improving interpretation of subsurface magmatic processes and enhancing the reliability of early-warning indicators.
Contact us to learn more about how our instruments support research in the volcanic and geochemical field.
