Invisible CO2 gas killing trees at Mammoth Mountain, California

Michael L. Sorey; Christopher D. Farrar; Terrance M. Gerlach; Kenneth A. McGee; William C. Evans; Elizabeth M. Colvard; David P. Hill; Roy A. Bailey; John D. Rogie; James W. Hendley; Peter H. Stauffer

doi:10.3133/fs17296

USGS · fs17296

Invisible CO2 gas killing trees at Mammoth Mountain, California

Michael L. Sorey·Christopher D. Farrar·Terrance M. Gerlach·Kenneth A. McGee·William C. Evans·Elizabeth M. Colvard·David P. Hill·Roy A. Bailey·John D. Rogie·James W. Hendley·Peter H. Stauffer

View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Since 1980, scientists have monitored geologic unrest in Long Valley Caldera and at adjacent Mammoth Mountain, California. After a persistent swarm of earthquakes beneath Mammoth Mountain in 1989, geologists discovered that large volumes of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) gas were seeping from beneath this volcano. This gas is killing trees on the mountain and also can be a danger to people. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) continues to study the CO2 emissions to help protect the public from this invisible potential hazard.

Explore related subjects

Fact Sheet Report

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

Michael L. Sorey, Christopher D. Farrar, Terrance M. Gerlach, Kenneth A. McGee, William C. Evans, Elizabeth M. Colvard, David P. Hill, Roy A. Bailey, John D. Rogie, James W. Hendley, Peter H. Stauffer. 2000. Invisible CO2 gas killing trees at Mammoth Mountain, California. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs17296

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related USGS reports

USGS2026

U.S. Geological Survey science supports a thriving Chesapeake Bay watershed economy

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science supports the Chesapeake Bay watershed economy by linking natural resources to key economic sectors. The roles of USGS monitoring, data, and analysis inform land-use and resource-management decisions for Department of Interior leadership and other stakeholders.

Chesapeake Bay watershed↗

USGS2026

Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the Niger Delta Province of Nigeria and Cameroon, 2026

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 11.4 billion barrels of oil and 88.2 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Niger Delta Province of Nigeria and Cameroon.

Niger Delta Province↗

USGS2026

Divisions of geologic time—Major chronostratigraphic and geochronologic units

Introduction The reports and maps of our Nation’s geological surveys inform and benefit the public, private industry, government officials, and scientists. The use of clear and consistent nomenclature and classifications can improve communication of data and interpretations. Since 1899, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Geologic Names Committee (GNC) has been responsible for defining standards that promote uniform geologic nomenclature and classifications among geoscientists. The GNC periodically publishes a geologic time scale, the “Divisions of Geologic Time,” that serves as the national standard for USGS publications (for example, refer to Orndorff and others, 2023). Authors may use other published geologic time scales, such as those of the Geological Society of America (GSA) or the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), provided that they are clearly specified and referenced. Access to the USGS, GSA, and ICS geologic time scales is also available from the U.S. Geologic Names Lexicon (Geolex) website https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Geolex/stratres/timescales. The geologic time scale serves a dual purpose by enabling authors to distinguish earth material units by position (chronostratigraphic) and time (geochronologic), as outlined in order of decreasing rank.

Fact Sheet↗