FLUX CHAMBER MEASUREMENTS OF ANOMALOUS CO2 EMISSION FROM THE FLANKS OF MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CALIFORNIA

The CO2 fluxes involved in the mass mortality of large stands of timbe r on the flanks of Mammoth Mountain in California's Sierra Nevada were measured and spatial and temporal inhomogeneities observed. Our estim ate of the integrated nux over the total area of tree-kill is on the o rder of 400 t day(-1). Small scale spatial variability most likely ref lects varying degrees of shallow bedrock fracture and soil compaction. Temporal variability suggests a fast response to subsurface condition s such as seismically induced crack propagation, degassing of intruded magma, or changing groundwater/soil moisture conditions.