Exploring the edge of a natural disaster

Natural geological, chronic and acute release of volcanic gases can have a dramatic impact on vegetative ecosystems and potential impact on regional agriculture and human health. This research incorporates a series of observations using leaf level gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and remotely sensed reflectance measurements of vegetation experiencing chronic exposure to volcanic gas emissions; to develop techniques for monitoring the relative health of vegetation along the edge of an acute vegetative kill zone of a natural disaster and potential preeruption vegetation physiology. Experiments were conducted along an elevation gradient that corresponds to the SO2 gradient on vegetation along the south flank of Volcan Turrialba, Costa Rica. This study site is a natural environment with high volcanic degassing activity with significant SO2 emissions (n/d-0.281 ppm). Corresponding to an SO2 gradient, a substantial increase in CO2 concentration of (430-517 ppm) was identified. We further show the physiological interactions of SO2 and CO2 have on vegetation along the kill zone of this natural disaster can be assessed by examining the SO2/CO2 ratios. The physiological indices tested and relationships among measurements emphasized in this research will add to the assessment of the impact atmospheric volcanic gas emissions have on the physiology of surrounding vegetation as well as advance the capability of remotely sensed environmental stress in natural settings.