Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

04 Jun, 01 PM - 20 Jun, 05 AM

Global climate change is a leading concern; technologies that mitigate CO2 emissions are in high demand. Carbon sequestration?the practice of injecting CO2 into geologic reservoirs?is a potentially effective but inadequately understood mitigation method. Little is known about impacts of CO2 on surrounding environments should reservoir leakage occur. Magma chambers beneath Mammoth Mountain, Ca, release large volumes of CO2 into the mountain?s soil and water, simulating a leaking CO2 reservoir. This study examines the impact of elevated dissolved CO2 levels on the chemistry of water samples at Mammoth Mountain. We hypothesize that waters will be moderately acidified by the CO2 + H2 OH2 CO3 reaction, and will weather the native geology more effectively than non-acidified waters. Samples collected from carbonated springs and wells are analyzed for major ions and isotopic signatures. Springs emerging from Mammoth?s andesitic west flank feature pH ranging from 5.5 to 6.64 and conductivities from 206 to 218.5 (μS/cm), those from the southwest alluvium have pH ranging from 6.68 to 8.25 and conductivities from 35.2 to 405 (μS/cm). Evans (2002) confirmed the presence of dissolved CO2 at concentrations ranging from 13.8 to 27.8 mmol/L, levels likely to impact pH and major ion chemistry.

Visit #28830 @Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

Approved

Under Project # 25438 | Research

Geochemistry of Springs at Mammoth Mountain, Ca

graduate_student - California State University (CSU), Los Angeles

Reservation Members(s)

Group of 2 Graduate Student Jun 4 - 20, 2012 (17 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice