The effect of the 2014-15 Bárðarbunga volcanic eruption on chemical denudation rates and the CO2 budget

Abstract

Chemical denudation rates during the 2014–15 Bárðarbunga eruption, calculated using river chemical fluxes, increased substantially confirming that volcanic activity and its products such as fresh lava, and acidic volatiles accelerates these rates. Although the long-term net effect of the combined input of volcanic gases and basalt from the eruption appears to be the overall net drawdown of CO2, it is found that the rapid release of acid gases to surface waters once the basaltic lava comes in contact with surface waters will lead to a short-term release of CO2 from these waters.