http://hdl.handle.net/2122/92 2013-06-20T01:26:46Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8697 Title: Sulphur-gas concentrations in volcanic and geothermal areas in Italy and Greece: Characterising potential human exposures and risks Authors: D'Alessandro, W.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Aiuppa, A.; Università di Palermo, Dipartimento DiSTeM; Bellomo, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Brusca, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Calabrese, S.; Università di Palermo, Dipartimento DiSTeM; Kyriakopoulos, K.; University of Athens, Dept. Geology and Geoenvironment, Greece; Liotta, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Longo, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia Abstract: Passive samplers were used to measure the atmospheric concentrations of SO2 naturally emitted at three volcanoes in Italy (Etna, Vulcano and Stromboli) and of H2S naturally emitted at three volcanic/geothermal areas in Greece (Milos, Santorini and Nisyros). The measured concentrations and dispersion patterns varied with the strength of the source (open conduits or fumaroles), the meteorological conditions and the area topography. At Etna, Vulcano and Stromboli, SO2 concentrations reach values that are dangerous to people affected by bronchial asthma or lung diseases (>1000 μg m−3). H2S values measured at Nisyros also exceed the limit considered safe for the same group of people (>3000 μg m−3). The data obtained using passive samplers represent time-averaged values over periods from a few days up to 1 month, and hence concentrations probably reached much higher peak values that were potentially also dangerous to healthy people. The present study provides evidence of a peculiar volcanic risk associated with tourist exploitation of active volcanic areas. This risk is particularly high at Mt. Etna, where the elderly and people in less-than-perfect health can easily reach areas with dangerous SO2 concentrations via a cableway and off-road vehicles 2013-07-31T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8640 Title: Geochemical Monitoring System II prototype(GMSII) installation at the "Acqua Difesa" well, within the Etna region: first data during the 1999 volcanic crisis. Authors: Quattrocchi, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Di Stefano, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Pizzino, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Pongetti, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Romeo, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Scarlato, P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Sciacca, U.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Urbini, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia Abstract: The Geochemical Monitoring System II (GMSII)prototype was designed, assembled, tested and installed at the Acqua Difesa test site, near Belpasso (Catania). 1999-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8497 Title: Are the Salinelle mud volcanoes threatening human health or are anthropogenic activities threatening the Salinelle mud volcanoes? A comment on “Trace element biomonitoring using mosses in urban areas affected by mud volcanoes around Mt. Etna. The case of the Salinelle, Italy” by Bonanno et al. (DOI 10.1007/s10661-011-2332-z) Authors: D'Alessandro, W.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Bellomo, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Brusca, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Calabrese, S.; Università di Palermo, Dipartimento DiSTeM Abstract: no abstract 2012-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8406 Title: A literature review and new data of trace metals fluxes from worldwide active volcanoes Authors: Calabrese, S.; Università di Palermo, Dipartimento DiSTeM; Scaglione, S.; Università di Palermo, Dipartimento DiSTeM; D'Alessandro, W.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Brusca, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Bellomo, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Parello, F.; Università di Palermo, Dipartimento DiSTeM Editors: Corsaro, R.A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia Abstract: Volcanic emissions are considered one of the major natural sources of several trace metals (e.g. As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) to the atmosphere [Nriagu, 1989], and the geochemical cycles of these elements have to be considered strongly influenced by volcanic input. However, the accurate estimation of the global volcanic emissions of volatile trace metals into the atmosphere is still affected by a high level of uncertainty. The latter depends on the large variability in the emission of the different volcanoes, and on their changing stage of activity. Moreover, only few of the potential sources in the world have been directly measured [Hinkley et al. 1999]. Atmospheric deposition processes (wet and dry) are the pathways through which volcanic emissions return to the ground (soils, plants, aquifers), resulting in both harmful and beneficial effects [Baxter et al. 1982; Aiuppa et al. 2000; Brusca et al. 2001; Delmelle, 2003; Bellomo et al. 2007; Martin et al. 2009; Floor et al. 2011; Calabrese et al. 2011]. In the first part of this study we present the results of a literature review on trace metals emissions from active volcanoes around the world. In the second part, we present new data on the fluxes of the trace metals from Etna (Italy) and four active volcanoes in the world: Turrialba (Costarica), Nyiragongo (DRC), Mutnovsky and Gorely (Kamchatka). We found 27 publications (the first dating back to the 70’s), 13 of which relate to the Etna and the other include some of the world’s most active volcanoes: Mt. St. Helens, Erebus, Merapi, White Island, Kilauea, Popocatepetl, Galeras, Indonesian arc, Satasuma and Masaya. The review shows that currently there are very few data available, and that the most studied volcano is Mt. Etna. Using these data, we defined a range of fluxes for As, Ba, Bi, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Se, V and Zn (Figure 1). To obtain new data we sampled particulate filters at the five above mentioned volcanoes. Filters were mineralized (acid digestion) and analyzed by ICP-MS. Sulphur to trace element ratios were related to sulphur fluxes to indirectly estimate trace elements fluxes. Etna confirms to be one of the greatest point sources in the world. The Nyiragongo results to be also a significant source of metals to the atmosphere, especially considering its persistent state of degassing from the lava lake. Also Turrialba and Gorely have high emission rates of trace metals considering the global range. Only Mutnovsky Volcano show values which are sometimes lower than the range obtained from the review, consistent with the fact that it is mainly a fumarolic field. This work highlights the need to expand the current dataset including many other active volcanoes for a better constraint of global trace metal fluxes from active volcanoes. 2012-12-11T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8405 Title: Rain-ash interaction during paroxysmal events as potential input of toxic trace element in the environment: example from Mt. Etna Volcano Authors: Calabrese, S.; Università di Palermo, Dipartimento DiSTeM; D'Alessandro, W.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Parello, F.; Università di Palermo, Dipartimento DiSTeM Editors: Corsaro, R.A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia Abstract: Volcanic emissions represent one of the most relevant natural sources of trace elements to the troposphere, both during and between eruptions. Due to their potential toxicity they may have important environmental impacts from the local to the global scale. Mount Etna, the largest European volcano and one of the most active volcano in the world, covers an area of about 1250 km2 and reaches an altitude of about 3340 m. It has been persistently active during historical time, with frequent paroxysmal episodes separated by passive degassing periods. Atmospheric precipitation was collected approximately every two weeks, from April 2006 to December 2007, using a network of five rain gauges, located at various altitudes on the upper flanks around the summit craters of Etna Volcano. The collected samples were analysed for major (Ca, Mg, K, Na, F, SO4, Cl, NO3) and a large suite of trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hg, La, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Si, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, Zn) by using different techniques (IC, SPEC, ICP-MS and CV-AFS). The monitoring of atmospheric deposition gave the opportunity to occasionally sample volcanic fresh ashes emitted by the volcano during the paroxysmal events. This was possible because the network of five rain gauges were equipped with a filter-system to block the coarse material. In this way, more than twenty events of ashfall were collected. Unfortunately, only half of these samples were suitable for a complete chemical analysis, because of the small amount of sample. In order to obtain elemental chemical composition of ashes, powdered samples were analysed by a combination of methods, including X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF), total digestion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA), and infrared detection (IR). The chemistry of rainwater reveals that most of the investigated elements have higher concentrations close to the emission vent of the volcano, confirming the prevailing volcanic contribution. Rainwater composition clearly reflects the volcanic plume input. Ash-normalised rainwater composition indicates a contrasting behaviour between volatile elements, which are highly-enriched in rainwater, and refractory elements, which have low rainwater/ash concentration ratios. The degree of interaction between collected ash and rainwater was variable, depending on several factors: (i) the length of the period in which tephra was present in the sampler (the ash fall may have occurred any day from the first to the last day of the rain collecting period); (ii) the amount of rainwater fallen on the collectors after the ash-fall event, and its acidity; (iii) the granulometry of the ash samples that was widely variable (from few centimetres to micrometric particles) increasing the interaction with decreasing dimensions of the grains; (iv) the distance of collector with respect to the craters. In order to investigate the role of volcanic ash on the evolution of the rainwater chemistry, absolute concentrations of rain and ash were plotted in binary plot diagrams (Figure 1). Each diagram corresponds to a single event, and pH and TDS of the solution collected is reported. The diagonal bars in the diagrams represent the rain/ash ratios (1:1 and 1:10000). The results confirm that sulphate and halide salt aerosols are adsorbed onto ash particles, and their rate of dissolution in rainwater depends on solubility. Moreover, rapid chemical weathering of the silicate glass by volcanic acid (SO2, HCl and HF) can also explain the enrichment of several refractory elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Si, Al, Fe, Ti, Sc). Our observations highlight how explosive activity can increase enormously the deposition rate of several chemical elements, up to several km away from the emission vents. 2012-12-11T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8053 Title: Volcanic ash layers illuminate the resilience of Neanderthals and early modern humans to natural hazards Authors: Lowe, J.; Department of Geography, Royal Holloway University of London; Barton, N.; Institute of Archaeology, Oxford University,; Blockley, S.; Department of Geography, Royal Holloway University of London; Ramsey, C. B.; Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Oxford University,; Cullen, V. L.; Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Oxford University,; Davies, W.; Archaeology Department, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre; Gamble, C.; Archaeology Department, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre; Grant, K.; School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton,; Hardiman, M.; Department of Geography, Royal Holloway University of London,; Housley, R.; Department of Geography, Royal Holloway University of London,; Lane, C. S.; Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Oxford University,; Lee, S.; Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Oxford University,; Lewis, M.; Palaeontology Department, Natural History Museum, London; MacLeod, A.; Department of Geography, Royal Holloway University of London,; Menzies, M. A.; gDepartment of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London; Muller, W.; gDepartment of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London; Pollard, M.; Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Oxford University,; Price, C.; Institute of Archaeology, Oxford University,; Roberts, A. P.; Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University,; Rohling, E. J.; School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton; Satow, C.; Department of Geography, Royal Holloway University of London,; Smith, V. C.; Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Oxford University,; Stringer, C. B.; Palaeontology Department, Natural History Museum, London; Tomlinson, E. L.; Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London; White, D.; Institute of Archaeology, Oxford University,; Albert, P.; Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London,; Arienzo, I.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Barker, G.; McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge; Boric, D.; Cardiff School of History, Ancient History, Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University,; Carandente, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Civetta, L.; Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, Università Federico II, 80126 Naples,; Ferrier, C.; De la Préhistoire à l’Actuel: Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie, Préhistoire, Palèoenvironnement, Patrimonie, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5199 Centre National de la Recherche Scienti!que, Université Bordeaux; Guadelli, J. L.; De la Préhistoire à l’Actuel: Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie, Préhistoire, Palèoenvironnement, Patrimonie, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5199 Centre National de la Recherche Scienti!que, Université Bordeaux; Karkanas, P.; Ephoreia of Palaeoanthropology–Speleology of Southern Greece, 116 36 Athens, Greece;; Koumouzelis, M.; Ephoreia of Palaeoanthropology–Speleology of Southern Greece, 116 36 Athens, Greece; Muller, U.; Institute of Geosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany;; Orsi, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Pross, J.; Institute of Geosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt,; Rosi, M.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Pisa; Shalamanov-KorobarKorobas, L.; National Institution Museum of Macedonia,; Sirakov, N.; National Institute of Archaeology and Museum of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Tzedakis, P. C.; Department of Geography, University College London Abstract: Marked changes in human dispersal and development during the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition have been attributed to massive volcanic eruption and/or severe climatic deterioration. We test this concept using records of volcanic ash layers of the Campanian Ignimbrite eruption dated to ca. 40,000 y ago (40 ka B.P.). The distribution of the Campanian Ignimbrite has been enhanced by the discovery of cryptotephra deposits (volcanic ash layers that are not visible to the naked eye) in archaeological cave sequences. They enable us to synchronize archaeological and paleoclimatic records through the period of transition from Neanderthal to the earliest anatomically modern human populations in Europe. Our results con!rm that the combined effects of a major volcanic eruption and severe climatic cooling failed to have lasting impacts on Neanderthals or early modern humans in Europe. We infer that modern humans proved a greater competitive threat to indigenous populations than natural disasters. 2012-07-31T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7872 Title: Total CO2 output from Vulcano Island (Aeolian Islands, Italy) Authors: Inguaggiato, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Mazot, A.; GNS Science Wairakei Research Center; New Zealamd; Diliberto, I. S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Inguaggiato, C.; Universita' di Palermo, Italy; Madonia, P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Rouwet, D.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Vita, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia Abstract: Total CO2 output from fumaroles, soil gas, bubbling gas discharges and water dissolved gases discharged from the island, was estimated for Vulcano island, Italy. The CO2 emission from fumaroles from the La Fossa summit crater was estimated from the SO2 crater output, while CO2 discharged through diffuse soil emission was quantified on the basis of 730 measurements of CO2 fluxes from the soil of the island, performed by using the accumulation chamber method. The results indicate an overall output of ≅500 t/day of CO2 from the island. The main contribution to the total CO2 output comes from the summit area of the La Fossa cone (453 t/day), with 362 t/day from crater fumaroles and 91 t/day from crater soil degassing. The release of CO2 from peripheral areas is ≅20 t/day by soil degassing (Palizzi and Istmo areas mainly), an amount comparable to both the contribution of water dissolved CO2 (6 t/day), as well as to seawater bubbling CO2 (4 t/day measured in the Istmo area). Presented data (September 2007) refer to a period of moderate solphataric activity, when the fumaroles temperature were 450°C and gas/water molar ratio of fumaroles was up to 0.16. The calculated total CO2 emission allows the estimation of the mass release and related thermal energy from the volcanic-hydrothermal system. 2012-02-28T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7586 Title: Tephrostratigraphy, chronology and climatic events of the Mediterranean basin during the Holocene: An overview Authors: Zanchetta, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia; Sulpizio, R.; University of Bari, Italy; Roberts, N.; University of Plymouth, UK; Cioni, R.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia; Eastwood, W. J.; University of Birmingham, UK; Siani, G.; CNRS - Université Paris-Sud XI, France; Caron, B.; University of Pisa, Italy and CNRS-Université Paris-Sud XI, France; Paterne, M.; Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environment, France; Santacroce, R.; University of Pisa, Italy Abstract: The identification and characterisation of high-frequency climatic changes during the Holocene requires natural archives with precise and accurate chronological control, which is usually difficult to achieve using only 14C chronologies. The presence of time-spaced tephra beds in Quaternary Mediterranean successions represents an additional, independent tool for dating and correlating different sedimentary archives. These tephra layers are potentially useful for resolving long-standing issues in paleoclimatology and can help towards correlating terrestrial and marine paleoclimate archives. Known major tephras of regional extent derive from central and southern Italy, the Hellenic Arc, and from Anatolia. A striking feature of major Holocene tephra deposition events in the Mediterranean is that they are clustered rather than randomly distributed in time. Several tephra layers occurred at the time of the S1 sapropel formation between c. 8.4 and 9.0 ka BP (Mercato, Gabellotto-Fiumebianco/E1, Cappadocia) and other important tephra layers (Avellino, Agnano Monte Spina, ‘Khabur’ and Santorini/Thera) occurred during the second and third millennia BC, marking an important and complex phase of environmental changes during the mid- to late-Holocene climatic transition. There is great potential in using cryptotephra to overlap geographically Italian volcanic ashes with those originating from the Aegean and Anatolia, in order to connect regional tephrochronologies between the central and eastern Mediterranean. 2011-01-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7434 Title: Volcanic ash detection and retrievals using MODIS data by means of Authors: Picchiani, M.; Tor Vergata University; Chini, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione CNT, Roma, Italia; Corradini, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione CNT, Roma, Italia; Merucci, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione CNT, Roma, Italia; Sellitto, P.; Tor Vergata University; Del Frate, F.; Tor Vergata University; Stramondo, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione CNT, Roma, Italia Abstract: Volcanic ash clouds detection and retrieval represent a key issue for aviation safety due to the harming effects on aircraft. A lesson learned from the recent Eyjafjallajokull eruption is the need to obtain accurate and reliable retrievals on a real time basis. In this work we have developed a fast and accurate Neural Network (NN) approach to detect and retrieve volcanic ash cloud properties from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data in the Thermal InfraRed (TIR) spectral range. Some measurements collected during the 2001, 2002 and 2006 Mt. Etna volcano eruptions have been considered as test cases. The ash detection and retrievals obtained from the Brightness Temperature Difference (BTD) algorithm are used as training for the NN procedure that consists in two separate steps: ash detection and ash mass retrieval. The ash detection is reduced to a classification problem by identifying two classes: “ashy” and “non-ashy” pixels in the MODIS images. Then the ash mass is estimated by means of the NN, replicating the BTD-based model performances. A segmentation procedure has also been tested to remove the false ash pixels detection induced by the presence of high meteorological clouds. The segmentation procedure shows a clear advantage in terms of classification accuracy: the main drawback is the loss of information on ash clouds distal part. The results obtained are very encouraging; indeed the ash detection accuracy is greater than 90 %, while a mean RMSE equal to 0.365 t km−2 has been obtained for the ash mass retrieval. Moreover, the NN quickness in results delivering makes the procedure extremely attractive in all the cases when the rapid response time of the system is a mandatory requirement. 2011-12-06T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7378 Title: Disgas, a new model for passive gas dispersion. Early applications for the warm gases emitted by Solfatara (Campi Flegrei, Italy) Authors: Granieri, D.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia; Costa, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Macedonio, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Chiodini, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Bisson, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia; Avino, R.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Caliro, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia Abstract: A model to describe the cloud dispersion of gas denser than air is presented here. The dispersion of heavy gas is basically governed by the gravity but, when the density contrast (gas vs air) is not important the dispersion is controlled by the wind and atmospheric turbulence (so-called “passive dispersion”). DisGas is a model for dense gases which are dispersed under passive conditions, based on the full solution of the advection-diffusion equations for the gas concentration (Sankaranarayanan et al., 1998). The wind field can be assumed with a horizontally uniform profile calculated in accord to the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory or it can be estimated by the so-called DIAGNO, a Diagnostic Wind Model (DWM) developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the latter option requiring topographic data, average wind and atmospheric stability information within the computational domain. The model is able to forecast gas dispersion over large and complex terrain. Following the study of Costa et al., (2005), we present here an application of DisGas on the gas dispersion from the crater of Solfatara (Campi Flegrei) which releases a large quantity of CO2 into the surrounding densely-inhabited areas. For the simulated cases, the soil CO2 flow rate was assumed to be about 800 ton/day, such as the average of twelve different surveys carried out in the period 1998 to 2008 (Chiodini et al., 2010). Local atmospheric dynamics (3-components of the wind, friction velocity, Monin-Obukhov length) were derived by a two-year period of observations with micrometeorological technique inside the Solfatara crater. Our main finding showed that the urban area of Naples is affected by the CO2 buildup above the normal air CO2 content for this “natural” contribution, particularly in the no windy nocturnal situation. Estimated values show the absence of any risk to the population safety at the present emission rate but suggest that volcanic CO2 contributes towards deteriorating and warming the urban air of Naples. DisGas model is able to simulate the dispersion of a heavy warm gas accounting for obstacles, topographic effects, variation of atmospheric conditions and wind direction. So, a possible application is the cloud dispersion of pollutant and/or greenhouse gases emitted by industrial chimney over urban or suburban environmental. 2011-09-22T22:00:00Z