Furier
Transform Infared Spectrometry
(FTIR)
FTIR is a Furier Transform
Infared Spectrometer that is used in volcanic hazards to measure and
monitor gas emissions in fumeroles and clouds of active
volcanoes.
These measurements can help volcanologists determine what processes
might be going on in the magma chamber under an active volcano, and
what the volcano might do next.
The University of Cambridge is actively
using the FTIR insturment in many studies, including this paper,
Fourier transform spectroscopy of the gas plume of Masaya volcano,
Nicaragua that gives an excellent description of the insturment and
some uses for it. Dr
Clive Oppenheimer runs many of the projects out of Cambridge on the
insturment, and his web page offers FTIR information, along with other
hazard assesment tools.
Another place to find useful information is the USGS
website on FTIR. This description also includes some photos
of the insturment itself.