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Large‐scale organization of carbon dioxide discharge in the Nepal Himalayas
Author(s) -
Girault Frédéric,
Bollinger Laurent,
Bhattarai Mukunda,
Koirala Bharat Prasad,
FranceLanord Christian,
Rajaure Sudhir,
Gaillardet Jérôme,
Fort Monique,
Sapkota Soma Nath,
Perrier Frédéric
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl060873
Subject(s) - radon , carbon dioxide , geology , carbon fibers , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , chemistry , materials science , physics , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , composite number , composite material
Gaseous carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and radon‐222 release from the ground was investigated along the Main Central Thrust zone in the Nepal Himalayas. From 2200 CO 2 and 900 radon‐222 flux measurements near 13 hot springs from western to central Nepal, we obtained total CO 2 and radon discharges varying from 10 −3 to 1.6 mol s −1 and 20 to 1600 Bq s −1 , respectively. We observed a coherent organization at spatial scales of ≈ 10 km in a given region: low CO 2 and radon discharges around Pokhara (midwestern Nepal) and in the Bhote Kosi Valley (east Nepal); low CO 2 but large radon discharges in Lower Dolpo (west Nepal); and large CO 2 and radon discharges in the upper Trisuli Valley (central Nepal). A 110 km long CO 2 ‐producing segment, with high carbon isotopic ratios, suggesting metamorphic decarbonation, is thus evidenced from 84.5°E to 85.5°E. This spatial organization could be controlled by geological heterogeneity or large Himalayan earthquakes.