The Deception Volcano Observatory (figure 9) was created in 1993, but the volcano has been monitored every summer since 1986. Seismicity remained stable during the austral summer of 1993-94. The decrease in seismic activity seen during 1992-93 from 1991-92 levels continued. Only a few small local seismic events (M 1.5-2) and some larger events (M 2.5, >100 km depth) were detected. Fumaroles emitted mainly CO₂ (94.7%) and H₂S (3.5%); no SO₂ was detected. Fumarole temperatures were similar to previous years near the Argentine Station (60.5°C), in Fumarole Bay (101.2°C), and at Steaming Hill (98.5°C).

Figure 9. Map of Deception Island during 1993-94 showing craters, ice cover, the volcano observatory, and locations of monitoring equipment. Equipment near the observatory includes an electronic clinometer, a gravimeter, a magnetometer, and a 3-component seismic station. Courtesy of the Instituto Antártico Argentino.

Geological Summary. Ring-shaped Deception Island, at the SW end of the South Shetland Islands, NE of Graham Land Peninsula, was constructed along the axis of the Bransfield Rift spreading center. A narrow passageway named Neptunes Bellows provides an entrance to a natural harbor within the 8.5 x 10 km caldera that was utilized as an Antarctic whaling station. Numerous vents along ring fractures circling the low 14-km-wide island have been reported active for more than 200 years. Maars line the shores of 190-m-deep Port Foster caldera bay. Among the largest of these maars is 1-km-wide Whalers Bay, at the entrance to the harbor. Eruptions during the past 8,700 years have been dated from ash layers in lake sediments on the Antarctic Peninsula and neighboring islands.

Information Contacts: C. Risso, Instituto Antártico Argentino; R. Ortiz, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Spain.