The Trail by Fire expedition A continent-scale transect of volcanic degassing Author Yves Moussallam 1,2 1 French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), Clermont-Ferrand, France 2 Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, New York, USA 20 Volcanoes. 6 Scientists. 1 Mission. This is the Trail by Fire. The atmosphere that allowed our planet to spark and sustain life formed as a result of gases emitted by volcanoes early in the Earth’s history. These volatile elements, mainly water and carbon dioxide, are constantly recycled back into the deep earth at subduction zones – points where tectonic plates sink into the mantle. During this process, the sinking plate is subjected to increasing heat and pressure, releasing volatiles. When added to t

Join for free to read