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Carapezza, Maria Luisa
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Carapezza, Maria Luisa
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marialuisa.carapezza@ingv.it
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staff
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6602186653
88 results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 88
- PublicationRestrictedMicroseismicity analysis in the geothermal area of Torre Alfina, Central Italy(2019-10)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; The geothermal field of Torre Alfina is located in central Italy at the northern edge of the Vulsini Volcanic District, the northernmost area of the so-called Quaternary Roman Co-Magmatic Province. In the framework of a medium-enthalpy geothermal exploitation project, INGV installed a local seismic network close to the future geothermal production site for monitoring natural local seismicity. In this paper, we show the results of a study of the microseismicity recorded from June 2014 to May 2016 in a small area of about 10 km2 around Torre Alfina. Analyzing seismic signals recorded by a local temporary network of ten short-period stations and by four permanent stations of the INGV national seismic network, we detected 846 local earthquakes. Then, we accurately relocated 799 events using HypoDD code. Our results show that the region of Torre Alfina is characterized by intense microseismicity, with hypocentral depths between 3 and 7 km and with moderate magnitudes between Md = 0.1 and ML = 2.8. Moreover, more than half of the earthquakes are grouped into six main swarm-like clusters each lasting few days. Furthermore, we computed 36 well-constrained fault plane solutions, which show a clear transtensional deformation regime in the whole study area. Three main tectonic directions have been evidenced from the focal mechanisms analysis: E-W, WSW-ENE, and NW-SE. The understanding of the seismogenic structural setting of the Torre Alfina geothermal field, and the study of its background natural seismicity can be of great importance in recognizing any possible future seismicity induced by the exploitation of the field.721 15 - PublicationRestrictedPreliminary investigation on soil CO2 and soil CH4 effluxes from a geothermal area near Palagonia (Sicily, Italy)(2012-09)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;Giammanco, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Bonfanti, P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Carapezza, M. L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Pagliuca, N.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Quattrocchi, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Ricci, T.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Sciarra, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Spampinato, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia; ; ; ; ; ; ; The central part of eastern Sicily is characterized by several areas of strong crustal degassing. These gases are mostly carbon dioxide and methane and are particularly concentrated in some focused emissions (gas vents, mud volcanoes) or as diffuse degassing along major faults. In this study, the extent and orientation of soil CO2 and soil CH4 effluxes were investigated on a wide area (about 40 km2) located about 50 km southwest of Mt. Etna (Fig. 1). From a structural point of view, this area lays on a typical foredeep - foreland system that marks the boundary between the southern part of the Eurasian plate and the northern part of the African plate in the central Mediterranean. The situation was further complicated by the tectonic subsidence of the foredeep to the north of the northern Hyblean margin (YELLIN-DROR et alii, 1997; CARBONE et al., 1982) and the formation of a series of ENE-WSW oriented grabens and horsts, the Lentini Graben being the most important of these structures. This area was characterized by both submarine and subaerial volcanism until 1.7-2 Ma (BARBERI et alii, 1974; GRASSO et alii, 1983; GURENKO AND SCHMINCKE, 2002; SCHMINCKE et alii, 1997; TRUA et alii, 1997), and it was affected by strong seismicity in historical times. The surface geology consists of recent alluvial deposits and Plio-Pleistocene clays and sands interbedded with coeval basaltic lavas and pyroclastics of alkaline affinity (CARBONE et alii, 1987). Strong gas emissions in this area have been known since pre-Greek times, as reported by FERRARA (1805). PONTE (1919, 1934) showed that the gas that erupted through Naftìa Lake (located just southwest of the village of Palagonia, see Fig. 1) was pure carbon dioxide and calculated total emissions at about 80,000 t d-1. Today, the main gas emission is exploited for commercial use (Mofeta dei Palici plant, CO2 output estimated as about 250 t d-1, R. Romano pers. comm., 1998). The area is also characterized by several water well with warm (20-50 °C) water. Recent geochemical studies on this area (DE GREGORIO et alii, 2002; CARACAUSI et alii, 2003a, 2003b; GIAMMANCO et alii, 2007) showed that anomalous CO2 degassing has a hydrothermal or magmatic origin and it is linked to the dynamics of Mt. Etna’s plumbing system.1151 76 - PublicationOpen AccessExplosive volcanoes in the Mediterranean area: hazards from future eruptions at Vesuvius (Italy) and Santorini (Greece)Santorini is the site of the famous Minoan eruption of the late Bronze Age and Vesuvius is the type locality for Plinian eruptions. Hazards from the eruption most likely to occur in the near future at these volcanoes are discussed. Downwind zones of Santorini can be affected by minor ash fallout and gas emission from a Vulcanian eruption of Nea Kameni, the most active post-caldera vent. More dangerous would be a sub-Plinian eruption from Columbus, a submarine volcano located 8 km NE of Santorini, whose eruption in 1649-1650 A.D. caused several casualties in Santorini, mostly by wind transported poisoning gas. Vesuvius last erupted in 1944 and its eruptive history includes periods of long quiescence, lasting centuries or tens of centuries, interrupted by violent Plinian or sub-Plinian eruptions. A sub-Plinian eruption is the reference event in the Civil Protection emergency plan. The scenario includes a Red Zone exposed to the risk of being invaded by pyroclastic flows and that should be entirely evacuated before the eruption onset, together with some nearby areas where there is a high risk of roofs collapse by overloading of fallout tephra (nearly 700,000 persons in total). The Red Zone is encircled by the Yellow Zone exposed to pyroclastic fallout and related risk maps are here commented. Another serious risk is associated with earthquakes of the pre-eruptive unrest phase. Because of the high seismic vulnerability of the buildings within the Red Zone, many of them might collapse before the evacuation order of the Red Zone be issued. Finally, the scientific difficulty of forecasting the time evolution of the eruption precursory phenomena is discussed together with the related civil protection implications.
408 267 - PublicationOpen AccessGas blowout from shallow boreholes near Fiumicino International Airport (Rome): Gas origin and hazard assessment(2015)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;Carapezza, M. L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Tarchini, L.; Dipartimento di Scienze, Università di Roma Tre, Rome, Italy ;Granieri, D.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia ;Martelli, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia ;Gattuso, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Pagliuca, N.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Ranaldi, M.; Dipartimento di Scienze, Università di Roma Tre, Rome, Italy ;Ricci, T.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Grassa, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia ;Rizzo, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia ;Pizzino, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Sciarra, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; In summer 2013 a toxic and polluting gas blowout (19 tonnes day−1 CO2, 95 kg day−1 CH4) occurred from two shallow boreholes drilled at only 50 m from the International Airport of Rome (Italy), in the town of Fiumicino. Another gas blowout occurred in the same period from a borehole located offshore, 2 km away, also generating sea-water acidification; it lasted only a couple of days. Onshore, CO2was also diffusing fromholes within the soil, particularly toward the airport, generating a soil flux up to 1.8 tonnes day−1. In 3.5 months ~1500 tonnes of CO2 and 5.4 tonnes of CH4 were emitted in the atmosphere. Temporal monitoring of gas geochemistry indicates that in this area a mixing occurs between shallow and pressurized gas pockets, CO2-dominated, but with different chemical (i.e., He/CH4 ratio) and isotopic (3He/4He, δ13C-δDCH4) characteristics. Numerical simulation of CO2 dispersion in the atmosphere showed that dangerous air CO2 concentrations, up to lethal values, were only found near the vents at a height of 0.2 m. Fiumicino is a high blowout risk area, as CO2 rising through deep reaching faults pressurizes the shallowaquifer contained in gravels confined underneath shales of the Tiber delta deposits. The Fiumicino blowout is a typical example of dangerous phenomenon that may occur in urban context lying nearby active or recent volcanoes and requires quick response on hazard assessment by scientists to be addressed to civil protection and administrators.1114 162 - PublicationOpen AccessPreliminary geochemical characterization of the Mts. Simbruini karst aquifer (Central Italy)(2021-12-17)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Mts. Simbruini karst aquifer feeds important springs whose capture contributes to the water supply of Rome City. To improve the geochemical characterization of this aquifer, we analyzed 36 groundwater samples, 29 from springs and 7 from shallow wells, collected in 1996 and 2019. Atomic adsorption spectroscopy, titration, ionic chromatography and mass spectrometry were the used analytical methods. Groundwater is bicarbonate alkaline-earth type and HCO3- dominance confirms that the aquifer is hosted in carbonate rocks. Total alkalinity vs. cations plot indicates that CO2 driven weathering controls the water chemistry. The probability plots of HCO3-, cations and Ca2+ +Mg2+ indicate four groundwater populations with the less represented one (9 samples)characterized by the highest PCO2 values (> 0.3 atm). Most anomalous values of the dissolved PCO2are from springs located near the center of the studied area. Four samples have negative values of𝛿13CCO2 (about -22‰ vs. PDB), indicating its organic origin, but two other samples have positivevalues (1.6 and 2.6 ‰ vs. PDB), similar to those observed in the CO2 of deep origin discharged atthe close Colli Albani volcano. Therefore, geochemical evidence indicates that the Mts. Simbruiniaquifer is locally affected by the input of deep originated CO2, likely rising up along fractures, interacting with a recharge of meteoric origin, as evidenced by its 𝛿2H and 𝛿18O isotopic signatures.213 17 - PublicationRestrictedDangerous emissions of endogenous CO2 and H2S from gas blowouts of shallow wells in the Rome Municipality (Italy)(2020)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; The southeastern zone of Rome city is located at the northwest periphery of the quiescent Colli Albano volcano. This zone is characterized by the presence of a shallow (depth ~ 45–50 m) gas pressurized aquifer that produces gas blowouts when it is reached by wells. Three gas blowouts occurred in this zone in 2003, 2008 (another one was discovered during the present study) and 2016 and in this paper we describe in detail the latter two. The emitted gas consists mostly of CO2 (>90 vol%) and contains a low but significant quantity of H2S (0.3–0.5 vol%) and it has the highest helium isotopic R/Ra value (1.90) of all Colli Albani natural gas discharges, suggesting its likely magmatic origin. In both the described gas blowouts, dozens of families had to be prudentially evacuated from their houses and the emitted gas killed some animals. We monitored, continuously or by discrete surveys, the soil CO2 flux, the indoor and outdoor air concentration of CO2 and H2S, the environmental parameters and we checked whether the cementation of the gas releasing wells had been effective. In both cases, the upper part of the wells had been partly closed with an inflating packer to avoid free gas dispersion in atmosphere; as a consequence gas diffused laterally from the wells into the permeable surficial soil up to reach the nearest houses creating hazardous indoor conditions, particularly for CO2 in some basements. During the well cementation operations, and in one case because of the packer rupture, gas and nebulized water were freely discharged from the wells into the atmosphere, and high air CO2 and H2S concentrations were found. Fortunately gas was quickly dispersed by strong winds. The positive results obtained in all the studied gas blowouts demonstrate that our applied geochemistry approach represents a model of intervention useful for the assessment of the hazard associated to accidental endogenous gas release. This model is of fundamental importance also to overcome the risk problems created by accidental gas blowout from wells in an urbanized environment, up to the safe return of the people in their evacuated houses.410 5 - PublicationRestrictedEstimation of the geothermal potential of the Caldara di Manziana sitein the Sabatini Volcanic District (central Italy) by integratinggeochemical data and 3D-GIS modelling(2016-04-07)
; ; ; ; ; ;Ranaldi, M.; Università Roma Tre ;Lelli, M.; CNR - IGG ;Tarchini, L.; Università Roma Tre ;Carapezza, M. L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Patera, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; ;; ; This study evaluated the geothermal potential of Caldara di Manziana in central Italy. The chemical com-position of gas emissions was used for geothermometric-geobarometric estimations and the total amountof CO2released was assessed. The subsurface geology was reconstructed using data from deep exploratoryand shallow temperature-gradient wells. The bottom of the superficial volcanic deposits, the thickness ofthe impervious flysch cover and the top of the geothermal reservoir hosted in fractured Mesozoic lime-stones were reconstructed by a 3D-GIS modelling. Our results are consistent with a geothermal reservoir(T ∼140◦C) at ∼1000 m depth, with an estimated thermal energy capacity of 46–48 MWt.490 63 - PublicationOpen AccessHazard from Endogenous Gas Emissions and Phreatic Explosions in Rome City (Italy)(2021)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; A gas blowout during an unauthorised well drilling occurred on 9 June 2020 at the Rome-Ciampino boundary at the periphery of Colli Albani quiescent volcano. This zone hosts a shallow confined gas-pressured aquifer, which recently produced further three gas blowouts. Dangerous atmospheric CO2 and H2S concentrations killed some birds and 12 families were evacuated. The helium isotopic composition indicates that the gas has a magmatic origin. It rises toward the surface along leaky faults, pressurizing the shallow confined aquifer and creating a permanent gas blowout hazard. Colli Albani volcano is characterized by anomalous uplift, release of magmatic gas and episodic seismic crises. Should a volcanic unrest occur, gas hazard would increase in this densely inhabited zone of Rome city, as the input of magmatic gas into the confined aquifer might create overpressure conditions leading to a harmful phreatic explosion, or increase the emission of hazardous gas through newly created fractures.277 11 - PublicationRestrictedFluid geochemistry of the San Vicente geothermal field (El Salvador).The volcano Chichontepeque (San Vicente) is one of the nine recent volcanoes making up the El Salvador sector of the WNW-ESE-trending active Central American volcanic belt. Thermal activity is at present reduced to a few thermal springs and fumaroles. The most important manifestations (Agua Agria and Los Infernillos Ciegos) are boiling springs and fumaroles located on the northern slope of the volcano (850 m a.s.l.) along two radial faults. The chloride acid waters of the Los Infernillos area are partly fed by a deep hydrothermal aquifer (crossed at 1100–1300 m by a geothermal exploration well), which finds a preferential path to the surface through the radial fault system. C02 is the most important gas (>90%) of the Los Infernillos Ciegos and Agua Agria fumaroles. Part of the Los Infernillos gases may also come from a deeper, hotter source, given their high HCl/Stot. ratio and their more reducing conditions. The application of geothermometric and geobarometric methods to the gases and thermal waters suggests that both thermal areas are linked to the identified 1100–1300 m reservoir, whose temperature (250°C), lateral extension and chemical composition, as resulting from this study, are of interest for industrial development.
60 2 - PublicationOpen AccessEstimation of the geothermal potential of the Caldara di Manziana site in the Mts Sabatini Volcanic District (Central Italy) by integrating geochemical data and 3D-GIS modelling(2016)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; The Tyrrhenian margin of central Italy is an area characterized by crustal thinning (<25 km) and a high heat flow (>300 mW/m2), which makes it attractive for medium to high-enthalpy geothermal projects. The main difficulties encountered in the geothermal exploitation of the area are not related to the thermal conditions, but rather to the lack of an adequate rock permeability at depth. The medium-high enthalpy geothermal reservoirs of central Italy are hosted in Mesozoic carbonate-evaporitic rocks. These rocks exhibit secondary fracture permeability, locally reduced by self-sealing processes, especially in areas of low seismicity. Also, a low partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2) may facilitate the complete sealing of the reservoir fractures, preventing the ascent of hot fluids and resulting in a low CO2 flux at the surface. Conversely, a high CO2 flux reflects a high pressure of CO2 at depth, that is suggestive of the presence of an active geothermal reservoir. Despite the possibility that also part of CO2 be dissolved into groundwater, a large amount of this non-condensable gas will reach the surface being emitted into the atmosphere by discrete manifestations (gas vents) or through diffuse soil emissions. This is particularly true in sites -such as Caldara di Manziana, hereafter (CM) characterized by cold-gas emissions, which have CO2 concentrations up to 97 vol. %. In this paper we present the results of a study carried out in the western zone of Sabatini Volcanic District (SVD; north of Rome, Italy) that hosts CM (and also Solfatara di Manziana-SM), one of the most spectacular CO2 gas manifestations of central Italy. This study estimated the temperature and pressure conditions of the reservoir and the depth of its top using geological, geochemical and geophysical data and the TIN (triangulated irregular networks) interpolator provided in the ArcGIS for Desktop software. A new structural setting of the Mesozoic carbonates in the CM site is proposed, and an estimation of its geothermal potential is presented on the base of the total (diffuse and viscous) CO2 release.117 218