Mount Erebus is the most active volcano in Antarctica having been in a continuous eruptive state throughout this century. The volcano is unique in containing a persistent convecting lava lake composed of highly alkalic anorthoclase phonolite magma. Eruptive activity from the lava lake and adjacent vents has consisted of minor strombolian eruptions which occasionally eject volcanic bombs to heights of over 500 meters. Recent work has also shown Mount Erebus to be an important source of aerosols to the pristine Antarctic atmosphere. It is likely that Erebus contributes significant quantities of Chlorine, Fluorine and other trace components to the snow falling on the East Antarctic ice sheet. This has important consequences to chemists who are trying to decipher paleoenvironments from snow and ice core analyses. This award supports the establishment of the Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory at McMurdo Station to allow continued surveillance of Mount Erebus. This will contribute greatly of an understanding of the degassing behavior of an "open vent" volcano. Measurements of Sulfur Dioxide emissions made at Mount Erebus between 1983 and 1991 are amongst the most extensive and detailed made at any volcano in long periods if a complete understanding of the degassing and eruptive behavior of this unique volcano and its magnetic system is going to be obtained.
