Transition from spot to long-lived eruptive activity in continental rifting tracked by monitoring soil degassing
Abstract
Mechanisms responsible for either spot or long-lived eruptive activity at frequently erupting volcanoes remain poorly deciphered in continental rifting. It is the case in the Virunga Volcanic Province (VVP), belonging to the East African Rift System (EARS), where the dynamics of the eruptive activity at the neighboring Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira volcanoes are complex and highly variable. Following the latest lava-lake drainage event at Nyiragongo on May 22, 2021, the eruptive activity in the VVP alternated between the two volcanoes and punctuated by periods of quiescence. Unprecedented monitoring of soil CO 2 and Rn degassing was carried out during this peculiar period to evaluate the ability of this technique to decipher the complex magmatic and tectonic processes inherent to magmatic activity in continental rifting. A main soil degassing anomaly was identified during the first semester of 2024, preceding the renewal of continuous and intense eruptive activity at both volcanoes, as evidenced by massive SO 2 emissions and thermal anomalies in the crater areas. Comparison with local seismic activity reveals a close relationship between soil degassing and volcanic seismic signals able to be used to track deep magma replenishment and pressurization followed by magma transfer toward shallower levels. Our results provide insights into potential triggers of the eruptive activity in continental rifts.
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BibTeX
@article{munyamahoro2026transition,
title = {{Transition from spot to long-lived eruptive activity in continental rifting tracked by monitoring soil degassing}},
author = {O. Munguiko Munyamahoro and G. Boudoire and E. Regis and S. Valade and D. Ciza and D. Coppola and R. Campion and P.-J. Gauthier and S. Maska and P. Mataba and G. Mavonga Tuluka and A. Tumaini Sadiki and D. Tedesco},
journal = {Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2025.108518},
url = {https://uca.hal.science/hal-05764574v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Transition from spot to long-lived eruptive activity in continental rifting tracked by monitoring soil degassing
AU - O. Munguiko Munyamahoro
AU - G. Boudoire
AU - E. Regis
AU - S. Valade
AU - D. Ciza
AU - D. Coppola
AU - R. Campion
AU - P.-J. Gauthier
AU - S. Maska
AU - P. Mataba
AU - G. Mavonga Tuluka
AU - A. Tumaini Sadiki
AU - D. Tedesco
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/25
JO - Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
DO - 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2025.108518
UR - https://uca.hal.science/hal-05764574v1
AB - Mechanisms responsible for either spot or long-lived eruptive activity at frequently erupting volcanoes remain poorly deciphered in continental rifting. It is the case in the Virunga Volcanic Province (VVP), belonging to the East African Rift System (EARS), where the dynamics of the eruptive activity at the neighboring Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira volcanoes are complex and highly variable. Following the latest lava-lake drainage event at Nyiragongo on May 22, 2021, the eruptive activity in the VVP alternated between the two volcanoes and punctuated by periods of quiescence. Unprecedented monitoring of soil CO 2 and Rn degassing was carried out during this peculiar period to evaluate the ability of this technique to decipher the complex magmatic and tectonic processes inherent to magmatic activity in continental rifting. A main soil degassing anomaly was identified during the first semester of 2024, preceding the renewal of continuous and intense eruptive activity at both volcanoes, as evidenced by massive SO 2 emissions and thermal anomalies in the crater areas. Comparison with local seismic activity reveals a close relationship between soil degassing and volcanic seismic signals able to be used to track deep magma replenishment and pressurization followed by magma transfer toward shallower levels. Our results provide insights into potential triggers of the eruptive activity in continental rifts.
SN - 0377-0273
ER -