The meeting consisted of a main conference session held in Arequipa (5-7 November) with up to 32 oral and 30 poster presentations. Besides, field expeditions for remote sensing, direct sampling and diffuse degassing, took place at three Peruvian volcanoes: Sabancaya, Ubinas and Ticsani. An optional field trip to Misti volcano (16-17 November; 18 participants) was also carried out, as well as half-day seminars on relevant gas measurement and sampling techniques. The program also included social activities such as a welcome reception, cultural performances that took place in the local communities and a farewell-dinner.
Scientific topics addressed in the oral and poster presentations represented a wide variety of volcanic gas studies, including regional studies, in-depth investigations of individual volcanic systems, new methodologies for gas studies, multidisciplinary studies, and other topics related to volcanic gas emissions. The conference was opened by a presentation on the volcanoes and gas monitoring activities in Perú, followed by oral presentations classified under four scientific sessions: (1) Direct Sampling, (2) Remote Sensing, (3) Multidisciplinary Studies and (4) Diffuse Degassing.
The community also celebrated 40 years of “testing and comparing the different sampling and analysing techniques in the same place at the same moment”. This aspect of has remained a primary focus of the CCVG field workshops since their initiation in 1982. The continuity of the CCVG community since 1982 was apparent at this latest meeting. Ten of the 21 individuals that have served on the CCVG board at some point in time since 1982, were present at the meeting.
Abstract contributions were balanced between the topics of direct sampling plus diffuse degassing and remote sensing (14 direct sampling, 6 diffuse degassing, 31 remote sensing) but also included 11 multidisciplinary abstracts that combined various techniques in volcanic gas research with topics related to petrology and thermodynamic modelling. This workshop also showed an increase in female participation compared to previous years with 55 male and 31 female participants.
On the final day of the workshop topical round table discussions were divided into three sessions, covering various aspects of direct sampling, diffuse degassing / multi-gas techniques and remote sensing. These discussions were led by experts on the different methodologies and were directed to both expert colleagues as well as new-comers to the techniques.
Remote sensing activities were conducted at Sabancaya and Ubinas volcanoes. Successful remote sensing measurements were conducted at Sabancaya given the transparent and almost continuous volcanic plume. The low activity of Ubinas and the absence of a plume precluded any measurement. Remote sensing activities were performed from: (1) a stationary point, 4 km from the vent using UV, thermal and Fabry-Perot cameras and scanning DOAS. Similar setting was displayed at Ubinas, (2) from stationary point at Sallalli, 9 km from the vent using FTIR instruments and Scanning DOAS; and (3) mobile-DOAS traverses including an instrument with solar tracker.
Diffuse degassing was carried out at Pinchollo Geyser and at the geothermal springs of Logen (Ubinas), while comparative tests were performed at Sallalli (Sabancaya), with the collaboration of five groups. In the Logen thermal spring area besides the flux measurements the IVAR and INVOLCAN groups sampled also soil gases for the determination of carbon-13 values of CO2.
Direct sampling activities were programmed at La Calera spring, Colca Valley – Pinchollo Geyser, and Ticsani volcano fumaroles. At the Pinchollo geyser area two sites where sampled Pinchollo dry and wet. A total of 14 teams sampled for 18 different parameters/analyses, reaching a total of 128 samples collected. The fieldwork for direct sampling was challenging, with many participants suffering from altitude sickness and exhaustion (altitudes above 4700 m asl at Pinchollo, and at Ticsani ~5400 m asl).
Social activities included an ice-breaker ceremony, the CCVG traditional football match, a traditional dance at Chivay performed by members of the municipality, a visit to the condor nests at Colca Canyon, as well as a closing dinner and celebration.
The optional post-field workshop activity was carried out at Misti volcano where 20 participants participated to the hike to the summit, with an overnight at a camp on the slope of the volcano. Also, here as some participants suffered of altitude sickness. A small group ventured down to the crater (5 members of the direct sampling group), were they managed to collect some samples for analyses, in a short time. Besides this, a team managed to do a mobile-DOAS traverse at the crater rim of Misti.
During the final session of the workshop a new proposal of the board was discussed and voted on by the community. A new board was elected, with Silvana Hidalgo (Ecuador) and Tobias Fischer (USA) as co-leaders, Artur Ionescu (Romania/Hungary) as secretary.
We would also like to thank the outgoing board members, Santiago Arellano (Sweden, co-leader), Franco Tassi (Italy, co-leader), Maria Clara Lamberti (Argentina, editor of the Facebook page) and Lizzette Rodriguez (Puerto Rico, facebook CCVG), for their excellent service to the CCVG community.
The site of the next workshop was also decided, with Japan, presented by Takeshi Obha and Italy presented by Franco Tassi as possible candidates. The CCVG participants enthusiastically accepted the invitation of Dr. Ohba to visit Japan for the 15th CCVG workshop in 2025.
During the talks of the final meeting, it became clear that the CCVG should have a decadal action plan, to define key goals and guide the efforts of the commission as a group until 2032 (50 years of CCVG). For this purpose, a “task force” was elected to coordinate the development of these goals with the board, and to report on the progress on reaching these goals during subsequent field workshops. The four members of the “task force” are: Nicole Bobrowski (Germany/Italy), Jennifer Lewicki (USA), Christoph Kern (USA) and Maarten de Moor (Costa Rica). These task force members will solicit input from the CCVG member community as they develop the decadal plan.
We would also like to thank three key members of the community who officially retired, Hirioshi Shinohara, Giovanni Chiodini, Ulrich Platt, Bo Galle and Yuri Taran, who had a great influence on the community and on volcanic gas geochemistry. These individuals were influential, not just as members of the community but also as leaders who with their knowledge and expertise, guided the continuation and success of CCVG, the longest-lived IAVCEI commission.
For further informations on venue, logistics and volcanoes see the 1st and 2nd circular of the workshop and the report.