Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

26 May, 11 AM - 30 May, 02 AM

Increases in geothermal fluid production at the Casa Diablo power plant in the mid-1990s produced steaming ground and associated vegetation kills at Basalt Canyon, about 1.2 km west of the plant, and several other locations closer to the power plant. Changes in production strategies at geothermal well fields can influence water levels at hot springs, may cause shallowing of boiling geothermal fluids and may locally influence the hydrothermal fluid flow paths. In July 2006 two new production wells went on line at the Casa Diablo power plant. The new wells are located near the Shady Rest fumarole, a weak gas vent that is the westernmost surface expression of the Long Valley hydrothermal system. Soil CO2 emissions have been monitored at the Basalt Canyon thermal area since 2003. Data collected prior to July 2006 provide information used to evaluate if the change in well field is influencing the rate of CO2 output in the thermal area. In June 2006 we initiated a new study of CO2 emissions near the Shady Rest fumarole over an area about 27,000 m2 that was focused over patches of bare ground around the fumarole. In September 2006 we expanded the study area to roughly 72,000 m2 and the coverage now includes two gas vents and extends into the edges of the healthy forest. The study in 2008 will revisit the area to measure soil temperatures and CO2 emissions.

Visit #15167 @Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

Approved

Under Project # 9975 | Research

CO2 emissions around Long Valley caldera, CA

research_scientist - US Geological Survey

Reservation Members(s)

Deborah Bergfeld May 26 - 30, 2008 (5 days)

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Dorm 1 May 26 - 30, 2008
Q1 1 May 26 - 30, 2008
Q2 1 May 26 - 30, 2008
Q3 1 May 26 - 30, 2008