Gas and water geochemistry of geothermal systems in Dominica, Lesser Antilles island arc.

Four of the nine potentially active volcanoes on the island of Dominica in the Lesser Antilles volcanic island arc have associated active volcanic-hydrothermal systems. Between 2000 and 2006 the gas and thermal waters from these systems were investigated to geochemically characterise the fluids, gain insight into the temperature and equilibrium state of the underlying reservoirs, and evaluate the feasibility of monitoring geothermal features as a volcano surveillance tool in Dominica... ...Generally, no significant variations in fluid gas chemistry of the hydrothermal systems were observed during the study period, and we propose that there were no changes in the state of volcanic activity in this period. One exception to this occurred in a feature known as the Boiling Lake, which underwent a month-long period of significant compositional, temperature and water level fluctuations ascribed to a drastic decrease of hydrothermal input related to a perturbation in the lake (probably seismically induced). This geochemical study is part of an ongoing monitoring programme of Dominica geothermal systems, aimed at establishing long-term geochemical observations for the purpose of volcano monitoring.