http://hdl.handle.net/2122/1055 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:06:42 GMT 2013-06-20T01:06:42Z 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 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 22:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8697 2013-07-31T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8572 Title: Integration of stochastic models for long-term eruption forecasting into a Bayesian event tree scheme: a basis method to estimate the probability of volcanic unrest Authors: Garcia-Aristizabal, A.; AMRA; Selva, J.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia; Fujita, E.; National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention Abstract: Eruption forecasting refers, in general, to the assessment of the occurrence probability of a given erup- tive event, whereas volcanic hazards are normally associated with the analysis of superficial and evident phenomena that usually accompany eruptions (e.g., lava, pyroclastic flows, tephra fall, lahars, etc.). Nevertheless, several hazards of volcanic origin may occur in noneruptive phases dur- ing unrest episodes. Among others, remarkable examples are gas emissions, phreatic explosions, ground deforma- tion, and seismic swarms. Many of such events may lead to significant damages, and for this reason, the “risk” associ- ated to unrest episodes could not be negligible with respect to eruption-related phenomena. Our main objective in this paper is to provide a quantitative framework to calculate probabilities of volcanic unrest. The mathematical frame- work proposed is based on the integration of stochastic mod- els based on the analysis of eruption occurrence catalogs into a Bayesian event tree scheme for eruption forecast- ing and volcanic hazard assessment. Indeed, such models are based on long-term eruption catalogs and in many cases allow a more consistent analysis of long-term tem- poral modulations of volcanic activity. The main result of this approach is twofold: first, it allows to make inferences about the probability of volcanic unrest; second, it allows to project the results of stochastic modeling of the eruptive history of a volcano toward the probabilistic assessment of volcanic hazards. To illustrate the performance of the pro- posed approach, we apply it to determine probabilities of unrest at Miyakejima volcano, Japan. Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8572 2013-02-11T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8546 Title: The scientific management of volcanic crises Authors: Marzocchi, W.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Newhall, C.; Earth Observatory of Singapore; Woo, G.; Risk Management Solutions Abstract: Sound scientific management of volcanic crises is the primary tool to reduce significantly volcanic risk in the short-term. At present, a wide variety of qualitative or semi-quantitative strategies is adopted, and there is not yet a commonly accepted quantitative and general strategy. Pre-eruptive processes are extremely com- plicated, with many degrees of freedom nonlinearly coupled, and poorly known, so scientists must quantify eruption forecasts through the use of probabilities. On the other hand, this also forces decision-makers to make decisions under uncertainty. We review the present state of the art in this field in order to identify the main gaps of the existing procedures. Then, we put forward a general quantitative procedure that may overcome the present barriers, providing guidelines on how probabilities may be used to take rational miti- gation actions. These procedures constitute a crucial link between science and society; they can be used to establish objective and transparent decision-making protocols and also clarify the role and responsibility of each partner involved in managing a crisis. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8546 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8543 Title: Perceptions of Risk for Volcanic Hazards at Vesuvio and Etna, Italy Authors: Davis, M. S.; Dominican Universiy of California; Ricci, T.; Mitchell, L. M.; Dominican University of California Abstract: There is a considerable body of work concerning citizens’ perceptions of risk regarding volcanic hazards, with most studies conducted in the United States and New Zealand, No comparable study has been done in Italy, where millions of residents live in close proximity to Mt. Etna and Mt. Vesuvio. This study compared the survey responses of 516 participants at Etna and Vesuvio on topics such as salience of the volcanic hazard, various measures of risk perception, perceived control over eruption effects, perceived preparedness, confidence in government officials’ efforts to protect them from the eruption hazard, self efficacy and sense of community. While residents at Etna appeared to have an objective and informed perspective concerning the volcanic hazard, those residents living in the highest risk areas at Vesuvio demonstrated high levels of fear and perceived risk concerning an eruption, but low levels of perceived ability to protect themselves from the effects of an eruption. These Vesuvio residents also demonstrated low levels of awareness concerning evacuation plans, and low levels of confidence in the success of such plans. Fri, 31 Dec 2004 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8543 2004-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8542 Title: Perceptions of risk for volcanic hazards in Italy: a research note Authors: Davis, M. S.; Dominican Universiy of California; Ricci, T. Abstract: While a considerable body of work concerning citizens’ perceptions of risk for volcanic hazards has been done in the United States and New Zealand, no comparable study has focused on residents near Italy’s two major volcanoes: Vesuvio and Etna. This survey study, involving 174 participants, focused on various measures of risk perception, feelings of personal vulnerability to the volcanic threat, and confidence in government officials’ preparedness for potential eruptions. Although it was expected that due to a recent eruption of Etna, residents there would have higher levels of perceived risk than those at Vesuvio, findings mostly demonstrated the reverse. Additionally, residents living in the highest risk areas at Vesuvio demonstrated low levels of awareness concerning evacuation plans and low levels of confidence in the success of such plans. Wed, 31 Dec 2003 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8542 2003-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8541 Title: Volcanic risk perception in the Campi Flegrei area Authors: Ricci, T.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Barberi, F.; Università Roma Tre; Davis, M. S.; Dominican University of California; Isaia, R.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Nave, R.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia Abstract: The Campi Flegrei which includes part of the city of Naples, is an active volcanic system; its last eruption occurred in 1538 AD. More recently two significant crises occurred between 1969 and 72 and 1982–84 and were accompanied by ground movements (bradyseism) and seismic activity, forcing people of the town of Pozzuoli to be evacuated. Since 1984 development of a volcanic emergency plan has been underway. In 2000 Civil Protection published a risk map which defined the Red Zone, an area highly at risk from pyroclastic flows, which would need to be evacuated before an eruption. The first study to evaluate the volcanic risk perceptions of the people living within the Campi Flegrei area was completed in spring 2006, resulting in the largest sample ever studied on this topic except for one on Vesuvio area residents by Barberi et al. (2008). A 46 item questionnaire was distributed to 2000 of the approximately 300,000 residents of the Campi Flegrei Red Zone, which includes three towns and four neighborhoods within the city of Naples. A total of 1161 questionnaires were returned, for an overall response rate of 58%. Surveys were distributed to junior high and high school students, as well as to adult members of the general population. Results indicated that unlike issues such as crime, traffic, trash, and unemployment, volcanic hazards are not spontaneously mentioned as a major problem facing their community. However, when asked specific questions about volcanic risks, respondents believe that an eruption is likely and could have serious consequences for themselves and their communities and they are quite worried about the threat. Considering the events of 1969–72 and 1982–84, it was not surprising that respondents indicated earthquakes and ground deformations as more serious threats than eruptive phenomena. Of significant importance is that only 17% of the sample knows about the existence of the Emergency Plan, announced in 2001, and 65% said that they have not received enough information about the possible effects of an eruption. In addition, residents' sense of community was significantly positively correlated with both confidence in local authorities and Civil Protection as well as residents' feelings of self efficacy regarding their ability to protect themselves from a potential eruption. These results indicate that most residents of Campi Flegrei, while aware of the volcanic threat posed by Vesuvio, are not familiar with more local volcanic hazards in their area. This, coupled with little knowledge about the Emergency Plan and the very low level of information residents have about the effects of a possible eruption, suggests that authorities, in collaboration with the scientific community, should direct their efforts to better educate and inform the population about volcanic hazards and the Emergency Plan, and that such efforts could be facilitated by trying to encourage stronger community bonds. Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8541 2013-03-14T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8536 Title: Landslide and alluvial hazard high-resolution mapping of the Somma-Vesuvius volcano by means of DTM, remote sensing, geophysical and geomorphological data GIS-based approach Authors: Alessio, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; De Falco, M.; UNINA; Di Crescenzo, G.; UNINA; Nappi, R.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Santo, A.; UNINA Editors: Società Geologica Italiana, Roma 2012 Abstract: The aim of this paper is to recognize and map the Somma-Vesuvius volcano landslide-prone areas by means of multi-disciplinary terrain analysis and classification; in detail, high-resolution DTM of landslides areas occurred over long time periods, remote sensing, and geophysical and geomorphological data are presented for assessing hydrogeological hazard parameters of this volcanic district. Mon, 11 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8536 2012-06-11T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8535 Title: Landslide and alluvial hazard high-resolution mapping of the Somma-Vesuvius volcano by means of DTM, remote sensing, geophysical and geomorphological data GIS-based approach Authors: Alessio, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; De Falco, M.; UNINA; Di Crescenzo, G.; UNINA; Nappi, R.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia; Santo, A.; UNINA Abstract: The aim of this paper is to recognize and map the Somma-Vesuvius volcano landslide-prone areas by means of multi-disciplinary terrain analysis and classification; in detail, high-resolution DTM of landslides areas occurred over long time periods, remote sensing, and geophysical and geomorphological data are presented for assessing hydrogeological hazard parameters of this volcanic district. The Somma-Vesuvius volcano, due to its explosive volcanism and the dense urbanization of the surrounding area with a population exceeding 650,000, is one of the most dangerous active volcanoes of the world. The main hazard of the perivolcanic area is associated to effusive eruptions and explosive Plinian and sub-Plinian eruptions, alternated to long-lasting quiescence periods. Moreover, additional hazard is related to lahars: flows of unconsolidated debris and water that typically include fragments of volcanic origin, colluvium, and soil. The features of lahars can range from debris flow to hyperconcentrated flow. The most important lahars phenomena of the Somma-Vesuvius occurred with the main historical eruptions of 79 A.D., 472 A.D., and 1631 (Mastrolorenzo et al. 2002; Rosi et al. 1993; Rosi et al. 1996). Recently, remobilization of the pyroclastic cover has produced several debris flows and alluvial phenomena that invaded the surrounding plains affecting towns and roads. Our methodological approach is based on landslides data recognizing and mapping both from geological maps, papers, historical chronicles, and from aerial photos, orthophoto, and available DTM image analysis of the Somma-Vesuvius complex. Through detailed study of this material the main landslides depositional areas have been surveyed; moreover, other geophysical and geomorphological parameters have been considered jointly with the landslides occurrence in order to correlate and interpret the soil movements phenomena. The analysis of several space-time series of data, together with the updated territorial information has been carried out through the Geographic Information System (GIS) (software ArcGIs 9.3), in order to store, manage and process large amount of spatial data. Finally, the achievement of landslide hazard high-resolution mapping of the Somma-Vesuvius volcano is performed in this paper through investigation of the flowslides deposits (lahar) of this area (Di Crescenzo et al. 2008). Actually, the recent heavy urbanization of landslide-prone areas has increased their vulnerability, consequently buildings and infrastructure could be seriously damaged and safety of the people endangered (Davoli et al., 2001). Therefore the obtained maps are necessary for identifying the future inundation areas and for evaluating the possible hydrogeological risk scenarios. Mon, 11 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8535 2012-06-11T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8441 Title: Interaction of pyroclastic density currents with human settlements: Evidence from ancient Pompeii Authors: Gurioli, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia; Pareschi, M. T.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia; Zanella, E.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Universita` di Torino, Torino, Italy; Lanza, R.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Universita` di Torino, Torino, Italy; Deluca, E.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Universita` di Torino, Torino, Italy; Bisson, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia Abstract: Integrating field observations and rock-magnetic measurements, we report how a turbulent pyroclastic density current interacted with and moved through an urban area. The data are from the most energetic, turbulent pyroclastic density current of the A.D. 79 eruption of Vesuvius, Italy, which partially destroyed the Roman city of Pompeii. Our results show that the urban fabric was able to divide the lower portion of the current into several streams that followed the city walls and the intracity roads. Vortices, revealed by upstream particle orientations and decreases in deposit temperature, formed downflow of obstacles or inside cavities. Although these perturbations affected only the lower part of the current and were localized, they could represent, in certain cases, cooler zones within which chances of human survival are increased. Our integrated field data for pyroclastic density current temperature and flow direction, collected for the first time across an urban environment, enable verification of coupled thermodynamic numerical models and their hazard simulation abilities. Tue, 31 May 2005 22:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8441 2005-05-31T22:00:00Z 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. Tue, 11 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8406 2012-12-11T23:00:00Z