Favara, Rocco

We report here on the real-time measurement of CO2 and SO2 concentrations in the near-vent volcanic gas plume of Mount Etna, acquired by the use of a field portable gas analyzer during a series of periodic field surveys on the volcano’s summit. During the investigated period (September 2004 to September 2005), the plume CO2/SO2 ratio ranged from 1.9 to 10.8, with contrasting composition for Northeast and Voragine crater plumes. Scaling the above CO2/SO2 ratios by UV spectroscopy determined SO2 emission rates, we estimate CO2 emission rates from the volcano in the range 0.9–67.5 kt d 1 (average, 9 kt d 1). About 2 kt of CO2 were emitted daily on average during quiescent passive degassing, whereas CO2 emission rates from Etna’s summit were 10–40 times larger during the 2004–2005 effusive event (with a cumulative CO2 release of 3800 kt during the 6 months of the eruption). Such a syneruptive increase, ascribed to the replenishment of the shallow (<6 km) volcanic plumbing system by CO2-rich (0.25 wt %) more primitive magmas, supports the potential of CO2 output rates as key parameters for volcanic hazard assessment.

Geochemical research was carried out on cold and hot springs at Popocatepetl (Popo) volcano (Mexico) in 1999 to identify a possible relationship with magmatic activity. The chemical and isotopic composition of the fluids is compatible with strong gas–water interaction between deep and shallow fluids. In fact, the isotopic composition of He and dissolved carbon species is consistent with a magmatic origin. The presence of a geothermal system having a temperature of 80–1008 C was estimated on the basis of liquid geothermometers. A large amount of dissolved CO2 in the springs was also detected and associated with high CO2 degassing.

Although characterized by low seismicity, the Monferrato area of north-western Italy was affected by earthquakes, of magnitude M5.1 and M4.8, in 2000 and 2001. At the same time, marked changes were recorded in water temperature and chemistry in several wells within the epicentral area. In May 2004, an automatic network for the continuous monitoring of groundwater was installed in selected wells to study the phenomenon. Here, we report on data collected during a 3-year period of groundwater monitoring. During the first year, episodes of water heating (by up to 20°C) were observed in one monitored well. The temporal analysis of the seismic activity recorded in the area revealed as almost all seismic events occurred during the period of elevated water temperatures. The similar timing of earthquakes and groundwater-temperature anomalies suggests that both may be triggered by the same processes acting in the crust.

Sources of groundwater contaminants in inhabited areas, located in complex geo-tectonic contexts, are often deeply interlocked, thus, making the discrimination between anthropic and natural origins difficult. In this study, we investigate the Peloritani Mountain aquifers (Sicily, Italy), using the combination of probability plots with concentration contour maps to retrieve an overall view of the groundwater geo-chemistry with a special focus on the flux of heavy metals. In particular, we present a methodology for integrating spatial data with very different levels of precision, acquired before and during the “geomatic era”. Our results depict a complex geochemical layout driven by a geo-puzzle of rocks with very different lithological natures, hydraulically connected by a dense tectonic network that is also responsible for the mixing of deep hydrothermal fluids with the meteoric recharge. Moreover, a double source, geogenic or anthropogenic, was individuated for many chemicals delivered to groundwater bodies. The concentration contour maps, based on the different data groups identified by the probability plots, fit the coherency and congruency criteria with the distribution of both rock matrices and anthropogenic sources for chemicals, indicating the success of our geostatistical approach.

In this paper we provide a systematic geochemical study of the Monticchio maar lakes, on the Mt. Vulture volcano, southern Italy, to understand the processes affecting the distribution of chemical elements. A high-resolution conductivity–temperature–depth profile was obtained, and water samples were collected at various depths for analyses of major and trace elements. Although the two lakes are separated by less than 200 m, they exhibit different behaviour. The Ca–Na–HCO3 composition of “Lago Grande” water suggests that low-temperature fluids are leached from the host volcanic rocks. Na–Ca–HCO3 in near-surface “Lago Piccolo” water is derived from the dissolution of local volcanic rocks, while the deepest water samples are bicarbonate alkaline-earth in composition and generally show an enrichment in solutes with respect to the epilimnion layer (except for SO42 − content). The hypolimnion water is principally governed by both the input of saline groundwater from the lake bottom and authigenic processes within bottom sediments. In addition, the occurrence of anoxic conditions and microbial activity is responsible for the transformation of sulphates to hydrogen sulphide, and for the precipitation of Fe sulphide phases. Both processes cause a change in the chemical composition of saline groundwater as it moves upwards. Overall, the water chemistry of the Monticchio lakes is principally affected by: i) the input of CO2-rich volcanic gas; ii) evaporative processes that deplete near-surface water in some elements; and iii) the occurrence of chemical, physical and biological conditions causing the transformation of molecular complexes and consequently promoting mineral precipitation.

The present work reports on the isotopic characterization of rainfall and groundwater at Mt. Vesuvius. Values of d18O, monthly measured on rain samples collected during the period 2002–2004 in a rain-gauge network composed of 10 stations, were compared with meteorological and DEM data. Air temperature, controlled by the local orographic structure, was identified as the main factor influencing rain isotopic composition. Another important role is played by orographic clouds, whose condensation over the top of Mt. Vesuvius is responsible for anomalously high d18O values recorded in rain samples from the summit area of the volcanic edifice. A spatial model of rain isotopic composition, based on a 3D distribution of temperature derived by a 1 9 1 km DEM, was implemented and used for calculating the theoretical isotopic signature of seepage, further compared with data measured in the groundwater monitoring network. The analysis evidenced the role of local meteoric recharge as the main source feeding Mt. Vesuvius aquifers. The unique exception is the Olivella drainage gallery, located on the north-eastern flank of the volcanic edifice, whose isotopic composition is slightly more positive than the one expected for its altitude, likely caused by both evaporation processes and mixing with condensed hydrothermal vapor.

This work presents the results of an assessment of the existence and concentration of 13 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in groundwaters from 14 hydrological basins in Sicily (25,710 km2). On the basis of hydrological, hydrogeochemical and geological studies, 324 sampling points were selected. All groundwater sampled were collected twice, from October to December 2004 and from February to May 2005, and were analysed to determine the concentration and spatial distribution of the VOCs in the aquifers. The need to analyze a large number of samples in a short space of time so as to obtain quantitative analyses in trace concentration levels spurred us to create a new analytical method, both simple and sensitive, based on HS-SPME/GC/MS. The concentrations of VOCs measured in industrial and intensive agricultural unconfined aquifers were greater than those found in other aquifers. Tetrachloroethylene, chloroform, trichloroethylene and 1,2-dichloropropane were the most frequently detected VOCs. However, they exceeded the guideline values proposed by the EU in only three aquifers located near to industrial and intense agricultural areas.

Large variations of the CO2 flux through the soil were observed between November 2002 and January 2006 at Mt. Etna volcano. In many cases, the CO2 flux was strongly influenced by changes in air temperature and atmospheric pressure. A new filtering method was then developed to remove the atmospheric influences on soil CO2 flux and, at the same time, to highlight the variations strictly related to volcanic activity. Successively, the CO2 corrected data were quantitatively compared with the spectral amplitude of the volcanic tremor by cross correlation function, cross-wavelet spectrum and wavelet coherence. These analyses suggested that the soil CO2 flux variations preceded those of volcanic tremor by about 50 days. Given that volcanic tremor is linked to the shallow (a few kilometer) magma dynamics and soil CO2 flux related to the deeper (*12 km b.s.l.) magma dynamics, the ‘‘delayed similarity’’ between the CO2 flux and the volcanic tremor amplitude was used to assess the average speed in the magma uprising into the crust, as about 170–260 mper day. Finally, the large amount of CO2 released before the onset of the 2004–2005 eruption indicated a deep ingression of new magma, which might have triggered such an eruption.

This work presents the results of hydrogeochemical studies carried out at Vesuvius during the period May 1998 - December 2001, mostly focusing on compositional time variations observed during this time. Based on their chemistry, groundwater samples are distinguished into two groups, 1 and 2, representative of water circulation in the southern and northern sectors of the volcano, respectively. Waters from group 1 are typically more acidic, warmer,and more saline than those of group 2. They also have higher CO2 and CH4 contents, attributed to enhanced input of deep-rising volatiles and prolonged water-rock interactions. Time-series highlight the fairly constant chemical composition of the entire aquifer. Groundwater temperature, pH, bicarbonate content and dissolved CO2 display quite stable values in the study period, particularly in deep wells (piezometric level more than 100 m deep). Shallower water bodies present more evident temporal variations, related to seasonal and anthropogenic effects. This paper also describes some important variations in water chemistry which had occurred by the time of the seismic event in early October 1999, particularly in the Olivella spring located on the northern flank of the volcano. At this site, a great decrease in water pH and redox potential, and increased dissolved CO2 contents and 3He/4He ratios were observed. These changes in chemical and isotope composition support the hypothesis of an input of magma-derived helium and carbon dioxide into the aquifer feeding the Olivella spring by the time of the earthquake.

Fumarolic gases and dissolved gases in some thermal waters of Ischia were analyzed.