Linking subsurface to surface using gas emission and melt inclusion data at Mount Cleveland volcano, Alaska

Mount Cleveland is one of Alaska's most active volcanoes, yet little is known about the magmatic system driving persistent and dynamic volcanic activity. Volcanic gas and melt inclusion (MI) data from 2016 were combined to investigate shallow magmatic processes. SO₂ emission rates were between 166 and 324 t/day and the H₂O/SO₂ was 600 ± 53, whereas CO₂ and H₂S were below detection. Olivine‐, clinopyroxene‐, and plagioclase‐hosted MIs have up to 3.8 wt.% H₂O, 514 ppm CO₂, and 2,320 ppm S. Equilibration depths, based on MI H₂O contents, suggest that a magmatic column extended from 0.5 to 3.0 km (~10–60 MPa). We used MI data to empirically model open‐system H‐C‐S degassing from 0 to 12 km and found that a column of magma between 0.5 and 3 km could produce the measured gas H₂O/SO₂ ratio. However, additional magma deeper than 3 km is required to sustain emissions over periods greater than days to weeks, if the observed vent dimension is a valid proxy for the conduit. Assuming an initial S content of 2,320 ppm, the total magma supply needed to sustain the annual SO₂ flux was 5 to 9.8 Mm³/yr, suggesting a maximum intrusive‐to‐extrusive ratio of 13:1. The model predicts degassing of <50 t/day CO₂ for July 2016, which corresponds to a maximum predicted CO₂/SO₂ of 0.2. Ultimately, frequent recharge from deeper, less degassed magma is required to drive the continuous activity observed over multiple years. During periods of recharge we would expect lower H₂O/SO₂ and measurable volcanic CO₂.