Options
Etiope, Giuseppe
Loading...
Preferred name
Etiope, Giuseppe
Email
giuseppe.etiope@ingv.it
Staff
staff
ORCID
Researcher ID
H-3343-2011
156 results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 156
- PublicationRestrictedInventory of Onshore Hydrocarbon Seeps in Romania (HYSED-RO Database)(2017-06-01)
; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ; Seeps are the expression of the migration of hydrocarbons from subsurface accumulations to the surface in sedimentary basins. They may represent an important indication of the presence of petroleum (gas and oil) reservoirs and faults, and are a natural source of greenhouse gas (methane) and atmospheric pollutants (ethane, propane) to the atmosphere. Romania is one of the countries with the largest number of seeps in the world, due to the high petroleum potential and active tectonics. Based on a review of the available literature, and on the field surveys performed by the authors during the last 17 years, we report the first comprehensive GIS-based inventory of 470 seeps in Romania (HYSED-RO), including gas seeps (10.4% of the total), oil seeps (11.7%), mud volcanoes (50.4%), gas-rich springs (12.6%), asphalt (solid) seeps (4.3%), unclassified manifestations (4.0%), and uncertain seeps (6.6%). Seeps are typically located in correspondence with major faults and vertical and fractured stratigraphic contacts associated to petroleum reservoirs (anticlines) in low heat flow areas, and their gas-geochemistry reflects that of the subsurface reservoirs. The largest and most active seeps occur in the Carpathian Foredeep, where they release thermogenic gas, and subordinately in the Transylvanian Basin, where gas is mainly microbial. HYSED-RO may represent a key reference for baseline characterization prior to subsurface petroleum extraction, for environmental studies, and atmospheric greenhouse gas emission estimates in Romania.310 6 - PublicationRestrictedMethane on Mars: subsurface sourcing and conflicting atmospheric measurementsWe address the potential for methane to exist in the subsurface of Mars, focusing on its generation, accumulation in sealed traps, and seepage to the atmosphere. We discuss two abiotic processes that could have produced subsurface methane, even if life never developed on the planet. Compared to Earth, accumulations of methane on Mars are likely to be limited, and those that are present may be better sealed by the thick and planetwide cryosphere. Releases are thus expected to be minor and episodic. We emphasize the importance of long-term, continuous monitoring of predicted release sites, as limited, episodic releases could be easy to miss. Moreover, we note that numerous scenarios of methane fluxes from terrestrial analogs may explain non-detections by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), as they can produce atmospheric concentrations below the TGO limit of detection. Our work does not negate the potential for meteoric/cometary sources of methane, but it does illustrate the strength of the case for subsurface sourcing. Finally, we provide a map of potential locations of release and discuss remaining uncertainties and a path forward.
23 1 - PublicationRestrictedContrasting taxonomic stratification of microbial communities in two hypersaline meromictic lakes(2015-12)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ; ;Hypersaline meromictic lakes are extreme environments in which water stratification is associated with powerful physicochemical gradients and high salt concentrations. Furthermore, their physical stability coupled with vertical water column partitioning makes them important research model systems in microbial niche differentiation and biogeochemical cycling. Here, we compare the prokaryotic assemblages from Ursu and Fara Fund hypersaline meromictic lakes (Transylvanian Basin, Romania) in relation to their limnological factors and infer their role in elemental cycling by matching taxa to known taxon-specific biogeochemical functions. To assess the composition and structure of prokaryotic communities and the environmental factors that structure them, deep-coverage small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA (rDNA) amplicon sequencing, community domain-specific quantitative PCR and physicochemical analyses were performed on samples collected along depth profiles. The analyses showed that the lakes harbored multiple and diverse prokaryotic communities whose distribution mirrored the water stratification patterns. Ursu Lake was found to be dominated by Bacteria and to have a greater prokaryotic diversity than Fara Fund Lake that harbored an increased cell density and was populated mostly by Archaea within oxic strata. In spite of their contrasting diversity, the microbial populations indigenous to each lake pointed to similar physiological functions within carbon degradation and sulfate reduction. Furthermore, the taxonomy results coupled with methane detection and its stable C isotope composition indicated the presence of a yet-undescribed methanogenic group in the lakes' hypersaline monimolimnion. In addition, ultrasmall uncultivated archaeal lineages were detected in the chemocline of Fara Fund Lake, where the recently proposed Nanohaloarchaeota phylum was found to thrive.86 2 - PublicationOpen AccessEMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook 2009(2009)
; ;Etiope, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, ItaliaStudies performed since 2000 have demonstrated that geologic emissions of methane are an important global greenhouse-gas source (Etiope, 2004; Kvenvolden and Rogers, 2005; Etiope al, 2008). It is recognised that significant amounts of methane, produced within the Earth crust, released naturally into the atmosphere through faults and fractured rocks. Major emissions are related to hydrocarbon production in sedimentary basins (microbial and thermogenic methane), through continuous exhalation and eruptions from more than 1 200 onshore and offshore mud volcanoes, more than 10 000 onshore and shallow marine seeps and through diffuse soil microseepage. Specifically, six source categories must be considered: mud volcanoes, gas seeps (independent of mud volcanism), microseepage (diffuse exhalation from soil in petroleum basins), submarine seepage, geothermal (non-volcanic) manifestations and volcanoes. Global emission estimates range from 42 to 64 Tg y-1 (mean of 53 Tg y-1), almost 10 % of the total CH4 emission, representing the second most important natural methane source after wetlands. Geo-CH4 sources would also represent the missing source of fossil methane recognised in the recent re-evaluation the fossil methane budget in the atmosphere (about 30 %; Lassey et al,, 2007; Etiope et al, 2008), which implies a total fossil methane emission much higher than that due to fossil fuel industry. The global geo-CH4 emission estimates are of the same level as or higher than other sources or sinks considered in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) tables, such as biomass burning, termites and soil uptake. Recent studies indicate that Earth’s degassing also accounts for at least 17 % and 10 % of total ethane and propane emissions (Etiope and Ciccioli, 2009).1601 2153 - PublicationOpen AccessMABEL: a Multidisciplinary Benthic Laboratory for Deep Sea, Long-Term Monitoring in the Antarctic(2001)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;Calcara, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia ;Beranzoli, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia ;Braun, T.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Calore, D.; Tecnomare, Venezia ;De Santis, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia ;Etiope, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia ;Favali, P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia ;Frugoni, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia ;Gasparoni, F.; Tecnomare, Venezia ;Montuori, C.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia ;Smriglio, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Multidisciplinary Benthic Laboratory for Deep Sea, Long-Term Monitoring in the Antarctic573 270 - PublicationRestrictedCold seeps, active faults and the earthquake cycle along the North Anatolian Fault system in the Sea of Marmara (NW Turkey)(2012-12)
; ; ; ; ; ; ;Gasperini, L.; Istituto di Scienze Marine, Sezione di Geologia Marina, CNR, Bologna, Italy ;Polonia, A.; Istituto di Scienze Marine, Sezione di Geologia Marina, CNR, Bologna, Italy ;Del Bianco, F.; Istituto di Scienze Marine, Sezione di Geologia Marina, CNR, Bologna, Italy ;Favali, P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia ;Marinaro, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia ;Etiope, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; ; ; ; ; After the 1999 Ìzmit earthquake (Mw7.4), along the North-Anatolian Fault (NAF), an increase in gas emissions from the seafloor of the Sea of Marmara was observed. Using a multidisciplinary approach, that includes a combined analysis of high-resolution marine geophysical and gas-geochemical data, we determined the character of gas/fluid emissions and their spatial relationship with tectonic structures in the Darıca Basin (Gulf of Ìzmit), close to the western termination of the 1999 earthquake surface rupture. Data collected during several oceanographic expeditions allowed us to investigate the fine structure of active fault branches, as well as the geochemical signature of the cold seeps. We observed that gas emissions at the seafloor of the Darıca Basin are mostly constituted by biogenic CH4, and are aligned along strike-slip and transtensional fault segments. Although maximum CH4 concentrations were measured in correspondence of transtensional strands, we suggest that the biogenic CH4 emissions found along strike-slip segments, showing a relatively low gas background noise and a potential to increase during seismic events, are more suitable to study relationships between gas expulsion and the earthquake cycle.391 35 - PublicationOpen AccessSeismogeochemical algorithms for earthquake prediction: an overview(1997-12)
; ; ; ;Etiope, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica, Roma, Italy ;Calcara, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica, Roma, Italy ;Quattrocchi, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica, Roma, Italy; ; While the literature abounds with case histories related to geochemical precursory phenomena, only a few studies on definite seismogeochemical algorithms have been published so far. Currently, available theoretical algorithms are based on obsolete views of fluid migration processes that do not take into account the possibility of rapid and long-distance gas migration from the focal zone. Empirical algorithms are often based on a limited number of data and need validation for several geostructural environments. The algorithms of Sardarov (1981) and Rikitake (1987), for Rn and other geochemical elements, suggest that a definite relationship exists between geochemical parameters and seismic events. Their validation must be based on the verification of independence (maintained by the former author) or dependence (maintained by the latter) of the precursor time on the seismic data.242 633 - PublicationRestrictedGeogenic emission of methane and carbon dioxide at beciu mud volcano, (berca-arbănaşi hydrocarbon-bearing structure, eastern carpathians, Romania)(2012-07-25)
; ; ; ; ;Frunzeti, N.; Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Cluj-Napoca, Romania ;Baciu, C.; Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Cluj-Napoca, Romania ;Etiope, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia ;Pfanz, H.; Institute of Applied Botany, University of Duisburg-Essen, D-45117 Essen, Germany; ; ; As shown by previously performed flux measurements, the mud volcanoes of Berca-Arbănaşi hydrocarbon-bearing structure in Eastern Carpathians Foredeep, including Pâclele Mari, Pâclele Mici, and Fierbători, represent a main gas seepage system in Romania, with considerable emissions of methane. The present work completes these gas emission studies by reporting the flux of methane and carbon dioxide at Beciu mud volcano, belonging to the same structure, not measured previously. In total, 78 measurements were carried out in June 2011 (40 on the vents, 34 on the area covered by mud and 4 in the external area, covered by vegetation). Diffuse fluxes from mud were found ranging from 102 to 105 mg CH4 m-2 day-1, and 102-104 mg CO2 m-2 day-1; the emission from individual vents was in the range of 0.014 to 32 t CH4 year-1 and 0.003 to 2.9 t CO2 year-1. These values are comparable with those typically documented for mud volcanoes worldwide. Gas seepage occurs pervasively throughout the muddy cover, even if it appears to be saturated with water. The total emission of CH4 and CO2 from Beciu mud volcano is conservatively estimated to be at least 190 t year-1 and 35 t year-1, respectively. The Beciu output leads the total CH4 emission from the four Berca mud volcanoes to at least 1350 t year-1, a value comparable with that reported for a similar number of giant mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan. This work contributed to update the geogenic gas flux data-set of Romania and to extend the global data-set of methane and carbon dioxide emissions from mud volcanoes.197 31 - PublicationOpen AccessFirst Detection of Methane within Chromitites of an Archean-Paleoproterozoic Greenstone Belt in BrazilAbiotic methane is widely documented in seeps, springs and aquifers associated with mafic-ultramafic rocks in Phanerozoic ophiolites, peridotite massifs and intrusions worldwide. Chromitites in ophiolites, in particular, have been interpreted as the rocks potentially generating methane though CO2 hydrogenation. Here, we document, for the first time, the presence of methane within chromitites in South America. We analyzed, through milling and gas extraction, the content of gas occluded in Cedrolina chromitite samples, belonging to the Pilar de Goiás greenstone belt in Brazil. The chromitites display significant gas concentrations up to 0.31 g CH4/grock and 2800 ppmv of hydrogen, while the host talc schist is devoid of gas. Stable C isotope composition of methane ( 13C from 30 to 39.2% ) and the absence of organic-matter rich metasediments in the region suggest an abiotic origin. Hydrogen and methane concentrations appear related to high-Cr chromite modal content and to the presence of Ni-sulfides/alloys, which are potential catalysts of CO2 hydrogenation at temperatures above 200 C. Accessory ruthenium-bearing minerals occurring in the chromitites could also act as catalysts, even at lower temperatures. Geothermometry of chlorite found in the chromitites constrains serpentinization at ~250 C, during lower greenschist facies retrometamorphism. Hydrogen could be autochthonous, and thus formed under similar temperature, which we hypothesize represents the upper limit for abiotic methane generation in the area (250 C). The Cedrolina chromitites are the first example of CH4 occurrence in ultramafic rocks related to an Archean-Paleoproterozoic greenstone belt. This may imply that serpentinized Cr-rich chromitites could have been sources of methane for the early Earth’s atmosphere.
112 19 - PublicationRestrictedNatural Gas Seepage(Springer, 2015-03)
; ;Etiope, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia234 87