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What happens to in-soil Radon activity during a long-lasting eruption? Insights from Etna by multidisciplinary data analysis
Author(s)
Language
English
Obiettivo Specifico
1T. Deformazione crostale attiva
6T. Variazioni delle caratteristiche crostali e precursori
2V. Struttura e sistema di alimentazione dei vulcani
4V. Dinamica dei processi pre-eruttivi
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
/18(2017)
Pages (printed)
2162–2176
Issued date
May 2017
Alternative Location
Subjects
Solid Earth
Abstract
We analyze short- to long-term changes (from days to months) in Radon (Rn) activity measured
nearby (<2 km) the eruptive fractures that fed a lava effusion at Mt. Etna, Italy, between 13 May 2008 and 6
July 2009. The N120-1408E eruptive fractures opened between 3050 and 2620 m above sea level before a
dike-forming intrusion fed the 14 month-long lava emission. Our high-rate data streams include: Rn,
ambient parameters (barometric pressure and soil temperature), and seismic data (earthquakes and volcanic
tremor) recorded from January 2008 to July 2009. The analysis highlights repeated episodes of rockfracturing
related to seismic swarms, and vigorous gas pulses and peak values in Rn emissions (maximum
4.13105 Bq/m3 on 16 November 2008), which we interpreted in a conceptual model as the response to
inputs from the magmatic system during the eruption. This multidisciplinary study: (i) provides evidence of
a close relationship between Rn emission at a fumarole near the summit active craters and local earthquakes,
and (ii) enables exploring the important role of the volcanic source on the temporal development
of the Rn flux, which may account for the much higher ( 94 m/d) ascent speed of the Rn carrier (vapor)
than diffusion. The close location of Rn probes to the active conduits, along with the application of our
multidisciplinary approach, may shed new light on the internal dynamics of other active volcanoes worldwide.
nearby (<2 km) the eruptive fractures that fed a lava effusion at Mt. Etna, Italy, between 13 May 2008 and 6
July 2009. The N120-1408E eruptive fractures opened between 3050 and 2620 m above sea level before a
dike-forming intrusion fed the 14 month-long lava emission. Our high-rate data streams include: Rn,
ambient parameters (barometric pressure and soil temperature), and seismic data (earthquakes and volcanic
tremor) recorded from January 2008 to July 2009. The analysis highlights repeated episodes of rockfracturing
related to seismic swarms, and vigorous gas pulses and peak values in Rn emissions (maximum
4.13105 Bq/m3 on 16 November 2008), which we interpreted in a conceptual model as the response to
inputs from the magmatic system during the eruption. This multidisciplinary study: (i) provides evidence of
a close relationship between Rn emission at a fumarole near the summit active craters and local earthquakes,
and (ii) enables exploring the important role of the volcanic source on the temporal development
of the Rn flux, which may account for the much higher ( 94 m/d) ascent speed of the Rn carrier (vapor)
than diffusion. The close location of Rn probes to the active conduits, along with the application of our
multidisciplinary approach, may shed new light on the internal dynamics of other active volcanoes worldwide.
Type
article
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2017 Falsaperla_et_al-2017-Geochemistry,_Geophysics,_Geosystems.pdf
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