Volatiles in the mantle below the East African Rift

The 3000 km long East African Rift is a spectacular expression of tectonics and volcanism.  Emissions of Sulfur and Carbon Dioxide from some of the Earth's most active volcanoes contribute significantly to the global sulfur and carbon budget.  High magma production rates produce large shield volcanoes and flood basalts throughout the Rift.  Geophysical evidence suggests the existence of a 'Super Plume' below the African continent, a thermal anomaly extending into the lower mantle.  This talk will explore how volatiles discharging from volcanoes and trapped in erupted melts provide insights into the magmatic processes occurring in the East African Rift.