ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the volatile systematics of the Central American volcanic front (CAVF) highlighting the current state of knowledge regarding the chemical and isotopic characteristics of volcanic and hydrothermal gas emissions. The region has an illustrious history of pioneering volcanic gas studies, starting with Stoiber’s work on gas condensates in the 1960s [1]. In the 1970s, SO2 flux measurements at seven Central America volcanoes resulted in the first estimates of global volcanic SO2 emissions [2]. Since that time, the high level of activity of Central America volcanoes [3] has continued to provide opportunities to develop and test new ideas about volcanic processes and volcanic gas emissions.
