Gastec Gas Detection System Used in Inspiring TV Programme

a1-cbiss were delighted when a call came from the BBC research team. They had chosen Gastec gas detector tubes to use as part of a volcanic investigation that would be broadcast on BBC2 on Sunday 11^th Jan, hosted by Kate Humble called ‘Into the Volcano’.

It was fascinating to see how important a role that the Gastec tube system was used to provide essential gas monitoring and analysis as part of the programme’s investigation into the behaviour of the volcano and to discover if another eruption might be imminent at one of the most active and beautiful lava lakes in the world.

The programme shows Kate join a team of scientists on an inspiring adventure to one of the most dynamic and active volcanoes in the world – Maram. Maram is situated on an island called Ambrym, which is one of the islands in the Vanuatu chain that sits on the edge of the Pacific Ocean’s ring of fire.

Volcano Maram is just one of five active volcanoes on the planet and pumps out more Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) than anywhere else in the world engulfing the island and its people.

The risky investigation included the frightful thought of abseiling into the volcano to collect rock and gas samples whilst also conducting gas analysis at various points on the island to provide an indication into how the volcano is changing.

Kate and her team of scientists who have been monitoring the volcano for over 10 years since its last major eruption need to understand how the volcano works. Whilst material from the lava lake may not always be thrown in the air, Maram is always erupting, alive and pulsing. The team are looking for indicators for a mood shift.

To identify a more violent, eruptive stage than simply being a lava lake – the best example of that was in 2005 during the last major eruption. Maram was the biggest point source of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) on the planet. The level of gas coming out shows how active the volcano has become.

For the lives of the islanders, there is a constant risk of eruption. Kate wants to know more about island stories and their link to the volcano. Ambrym is the most notorious for black magic. Complex systems of belief are deeply connected to the volcano.

Kate and scientist Shane visit Chief Harry where he tells them a story about a mysterious cave on the coast and its power to kill. Since the early 19^th century, anything that went inside, it died. If you were to take someone’s leftover food, that person who owned the food would die! Chief Harry talks of shortness of breath which Shane links to carbon dioxide (CO2). Shane asks Chief Harry for permission to take his measuring instruments down to the cave, whilst Kate instructs Shane not to take part of her breakfast!

Visit our website to watch how the Gastec gas detection sampling system was used on the programme.