Science File / An exploration of issues and trends affecting science, medicine and the environment : New Areas of Dying Trees Found Outside of Mammoth

New areas of dying trees have been found outside Mammoth Lakes, a probable result of more carbon dioxide gas emissions near Mammoth Mountain, according to Chris Farrar, the U.S. Geological Survey scientist in charge of volcanic monitoring in the area.

The emissions, first verified last year, are being watched as a possible precursor of volcanic activity.

At the same time, Farrar said, the total volume of the emissions, which had been estimated at 1,200 metric tons a day in recent months, seems to have declined. Precise measurements on these, and a delineation of new tree-kill areas, will be made next month.

The scientist identified the newly affected areas as on the southeast and north sides of Mammoth Mountain, and near some steam vents east of Mammoth Lakes, near the intersection of U.S. 395 and California 203.