Persistent CO2 emissions and hydrothermal unrest following the 2015 earthquake in Nepal

Frédéric Girault (), Lok Bijaya Adhikari, Christian France-Lanord, Pierre Agrinier, Bharat P. Koirala, Mukunda Bhattarai, Sudhan S. Mahat, Chiara Groppo, Franco Rolfo, Laurent Bollinger and Frédéric Perrier
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Frédéric Girault: Université Paris Diderot
Lok Bijaya Adhikari: National Seismological Centre
Christian France-Lanord: Université de Nancy
Pierre Agrinier: Université Paris Diderot
Bharat P. Koirala: National Seismological Centre
Mukunda Bhattarai: National Seismological Centre
Sudhan S. Mahat: Sanjen Jalavidhyut Company Limited
Chiara Groppo: University of Turin
Franco Rolfo: University of Turin
Laurent Bollinger: CEA, DAM, DIF
Frédéric Perrier: Université Paris Diderot

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Fluid–earthquake interplay, as evidenced by aftershock distributions or earthquake-induced effects on near-surface aquifers, has suggested that earthquakes dynamically affect permeability of the Earth’s crust. The connection between the mid-crust and the surface was further supported by instances of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with seismic activity, so far only observed in magmatic context. Here we report spectacular non-volcanic CO2 emissions and hydrothermal disturbances at the front of the Nepal Himalayas following the deadly 25 April 2015 Gorkha earthquake (moment magnitude Mw = 7.8). The data show unambiguously the appearance, after the earthquake, sometimes with a delay of several months, of CO2 emissions at several sites separated by > 10 kilometres, associated with persistent changes in hydrothermal discharges, including a complete cessation. These observations reveal that Himalayan hydrothermal systems are sensitive to co- and post- seismic deformation, leading to non-stationary release of metamorphic CO2 from active orogens. Possible pre-seismic effects need further confirmation.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05138-z

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