Volcanoes have been identified as an important natural source of sulfur compounds such as H
2S, CS
2, SO
2 and COS. The emission of volcanic sulfur compounds lead to the formation of sulfate aerosol and contribute to the acidity
of precipitation.
Two weekly measuring campaigns have been performed in the non-erupting volcanic area of Sousaki, Korinthou, to determine the
concentration levels of the above-mentioned compounds in the region, while meteorological parameters were also recorded.
The samplings have been performed during in a 24 h basis, covering two seasons of the year, a week in August 1998 and a week
in January 1999. Reduced sulfur compounds were determined by a simple method of gas chromatography. Quality assurance procedure
showed a very good precision and accuracy of the method utilized for the sulfur compounds determination.
In accordance with literature, H2S was the dominant sulfur compound at the volcano area, while COS, and CS2 didn't present significantly high values. Nevertheless, the concentration levels of the above pollutants are varying depending
on the volcano magnitude and status (active, extinct).
Keywords gas chromatography - meteorological data - sulfur compounds - volcano