Total CO2 output from Ischia Island volcano (Italy)

The total amount of CO2 released at Ischia Island has been estimated from soil gas flux measurements and from
chemical composition of the gases released by fumaroles or dissolved in groundwaters. The preliminary results indicate
an overall CO2 output of about 15 kg s–1 from the entire island (46 km2). The main contribution to the total output from
diffuse soil degassing is about 14.8 kg s–1, followed by dissolved CO2 of about 0.3 kg s–1. The contribution of fumaroles
to the total output was found to be negligible (about 0.03 kg s–1). Ischia’s output, although being considerably less than
that of open conduit volcanoes, is higher than many other volcanic systems, especially those related to volcanic arcs. The
recent tensile tectonic regime of the area allows probably an easier upflow of CO2 from the mantle sustaining the diffuse
degassing of the island.

Acocella, V. and Funiciello, R. (1999) The interaction between
regional and local tectonics during resurgent doming: the
case of the island of Ischia, Italy. J. Volcanol. Geotherm.
Res. 88, 109–123.
Agustsdottir, A. M. and Brantley, S. L. (1994) Volatile fluxes
integrated over four decades at Grimsvotn volcano, Iceland.
J. Geophys. Res. 99(B5), 9505–9522.
Allard, P., Carbonnelle, J., Dajlevic, D., Le Bronec, J., Morel,
P., Robe, M. C., Maurenas, J. M., Faivre-Pierret, R., Martin,
D., Sabroux, J. C. and Zettwoog, P. (1991) Eruptive
and diffuse emissions of CO2 from Mount Etna. Nature 351,
387–391.
Allard, P., Carbonelle, J., Metrich, N., Loyer, H. and Zettwoog,
P. (1994) Sulphur output and magma degassing budget of
Stromboli volcano. Nature 368, 326–330.
Arthur, M. A. (2000) Volcanic contributions to the carbon and
sulfur geochemical cycles and global change. Encyclopedia
of Volcanoes (Sigurdsson, H., Houghton, B., McNutt,
S., Rymer, H. and Stix, J., eds.), 1045–1056, Academic
Press, San Diego.
Brantley, S. and Koepenick, K. (1995) Measured carbon dioxide
emissions from Oldoinyo Lengai and the skewed distribution
of passive volcanic fluxes. Geology 23, 933–936.
Bruno, N., Caltabiano, T., Giammanco, S. and Romano, R.
(2001) Degassing of SO2 and CO2 at Mount Etna (Sicily)
as an indicator of pre-eruptive ascent and shallow emplacement
of magma. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 110, 137–153.
Burton, M. R., Oppenheimer, C., Horrocks, L. A. and Francis
P. W. (2000) Remote sensing of CO2 and H2O emission rates
from Masaya volcano, Nicaragua. Geology 28(10), 915–918.
Caliro, S., Panichi, C. and Stanzione, D. (1999) Variation in
the total dissolved carbon isotope composition of thermal
waters of the Island of Ischia Italy and its implications for
volcanic surveillance. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 90, 219–
240.
Capasso, G. and Inguaggiato, S. (1998) A simple method for
the determination of dissolved gases in natural waters. An
application to thermal waters from Vulcano Island. Appl.
Geochem. 13, 631–642.
Carapezza, M. L. and Federico, C. (2000) The contribution of
fluid geochemistry to the volcano monitoring of Stromboli.
J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 95, 227–245.
Cardellini, C., Chiodini, G. and Frondini, F. (2003) Application
of stochastic simulation to CO2 flux from soil: Mapping
and quantification of gas release. J. Geophys. Res.
108(B9), 2425, doi:10.1029/2002JB002165.
Celico, P., Stanzione, D., Esposito, L., Formica, F., Piscopo, V.
and De Rosa, B. (1999) La complessità idrogeologica di
un’area vulcanica attiva: l’Isola di Ischia (Napoli-
Campania). Boll. Soc. Geol. It. 118, 485–504 (in Italian with
English abstract).
Chiodini, G. and Frondini, F. (2001) Carbon dioxide degassing
from the Albani Hills volcanic region, Central Italy. Chem.
Geol. 177(1–2), 67–83.
Chiodini, G., Frondini, F. and Raco, B. (1996) Diffuse emissions
of CO2 from the Fossa Crater, Vulcano Island (Italy).
Bull. Volcanol. 58, 41–50.
Chiodini, G., Cioni, R., Guidi, M., Raco, B. and Marini, L.
(1998) Soil CO2 flux measurements in volcanic and
geothermal areas. Appl. Geochem. 13(5), 543–552.
Chiodini, G., Frondini, F., Kerrick, D. M., Rogie, J., Parello,
F., Peruzzi, L. and Zanzari, A. R. (1999) Quantification of
deep CO2 fluxes from Central Italy. Examples of carbon
balance for regional aquifers and of soil diffuse degassing.
Chem. Geol. 159, 205–222.
Chiodini, G., Avino, R., Brombach, T., Caliro, S., Cardellini,
C., De Vita, S., Frondini, F., Granirei, D., Marotta, E. and
Ventura, G. (2004) Fumarolic and diffuse soil degassing
west of Mount Epomeo, Ischia, Italy. J. Volcanol. Geotherm.
Res. 133, 291–309.
D’Alessandro, W., Giammanco, S., Parello, F. and Valenza, M.
(1997) CO2 output and δ13C(CO2) from Mount Etna as indicators
of degassing of shallow asthenosphere. Bull.
Volcanol. 58, 455–458.
De Gregorio, S., Diliberto, I. S., Giammanco, S., Gurrieri, S.
and Valenza, M. (2002) Tectonic control over large-scale
diffuse degassing in eastern Sicily (Italy). Geofluids 2, 273–
284.
Doukas, M. P. (1995) A compilation of sulfur dioxide and carbon
dioxide emission-rate data from Cook Inlet volcanoes
(Redoubt, Spurr, Iliama and Augustine), Alaska, during the
period from 1990 to 1994. U.S. Geol. Surv. Open-File Rep.
95-55.
Etiope, G., Beneduce, P., Calcara, M., Favali, P., Frugoni, F.
and Schiattarella, M. (1999) Structural pattern and CO2-
CH4 degassing of Ustica Island, S. Tyrrhenian basin. J.
Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 88, 291–304.
Farrar, C. D., Sorey, M. L., Evans, W. C., Howle, J. F., Kerr, B.
D., Kennedy, B. M., King, C. Y. and Southon, J. R. (1995)
Forest-killing diffuse CO2 emission at Mammoth Mountain
as a sign of magmatic unrest. Nature 376, 675–678.
Favara, R., Giammanco, S., Inguaggiato, S. and Pecoraino, G.
(2000) Preliminary estimate of CO2 output from Pantelleria
island volcano (Sicily, Italy): evidence of active mantle
degassing. Appl. Geochem. 16, 883–894.
Gerlach, T. M., Doukas, M. P., McGee, K. A. and Kessler, R.
(2001) Soil efflux and total emission rates of magmatic CO2
at the Horseshoe Lake tree kill, Mammoth Mountain, California,
1995–1999. Chem. Geol. 177(1–2), 101–116.
Gerlach, T. M., McGee, K. A., Elias, T., Sutton, A. J. and
Doukas, M. P. (2002) Carbon dioxide emission rate of
Kilauea volcano: Implications for primary magma and the
summit reservoir. J. Geophys. Res. 107(B9), 2189,
doi:10.1029/2001JB000407.
Goff, F., Love, S. P., Warren, R. G., Counce, D., Obenholzner,
J., Siebe, C. and Schmidt, S. C. (2001) Passive infrared remote sensing evidence for large, intermittent CO2 emissions
at Popocatepetl volcano, Mexico. Chem. Geol. 177, 133–
156.
Harris, D. M., Sato, M., Casadevall, T. J., Rose, W. I. and
Bornhorst, T. J. (1981) Emission rates of CO2 from plume
measurements. U.S.G.S. Prof. Paper 1250, 201–207.
Hernandez, P. A., Notsu, K., Salazar, J. M., Mori, T., Natale,
G., Okada, H., Virgili, G., Shimoike, Y., Sato, M. and Perez,
N. M. (2001a) Carbon dioxide degassing by advective flow
from Usu volcano, Japan. Science 292, 83–86.
Hernandez, P. A., Salazar, J. M., Shimoike, Y., Mori, T., Notsu,
K. and Perez. N. (2001b) Diffuse emission of CO2 from
Miyakejima volcano, Japan. Chem. Geol. 177(1–2), 175–
185.
Hernández, P. A., Notsu, K., Tsurumi, M., Mori, T., Ohno, M.,
Shimoike, Y., Salazar, J. M. L. and Pérez, N. M. (2003)
Carbon dioxide emissions from soils at Hakkoda, North
Japan. J. Geophys. Res., 108, doi:10.1029/2002JB001847.
Hobbs, P. V., Radke, L. F., Lyons, J. H., Ferek, R. J., Coffman,
D. J. and Casadevall, T. J. (1991) Airborne measurements
of particle and gas emissions from the 1990 volcanic eruptions
of Mount Redoubt. J. Geophys. Res. 96(D10), 18735–
18752.
Inguaggiato, S., Pecoraino, G. and D’Amore, F. (2000) Chemical
and isotopical characterisation of fluid manifestations
of Ischia Island (Italy). J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 99, 151–
178.
Inguaggiato, S., Martin-Del Pozzo, A. L., Aguayo, A., Capasso,
G. and Favara, R. (2005) Isotopic, chemical and dissolved
gas constraints on spring water from Popocatepetl volcano
(Mexico): evidence of gas-water interaction between magmatic
component and shallow fluids. J. Volcanol. Geotherm.
Res., 141, 91–108.
Koepenick, K. W., Brantley, S. L., Thompson, J. M., Rowe, G.
L., Nyblade, A. A. and Moshy, C. (1996) Volatile emissions
from the crater and flank of Oldoinyo Lengai volcano, Tanzania.
J. Geophys. Res. 101(B6), 13819–13830.
Le Guern, F. (1987) Mechanism of energy transfer in the lava
lake of Niragongo (Zaire), 1959–1977. J. Volcanol.
Geotherm. Res. 31, 17– 31.
Molin, P., Acocella, V. and Funiciello, R. (2003) Structural,
seismic and hydrothermal features of the border of an active
resurgent block: Ischia Island (Italy). J. Volcanol.
Geotherm. Res. 121, 65–81.
Mori, T., Hernández, P. A., Salazar, J. M. L., Pérez, N. M. and
Notsu, K. (2001) An in situ method for measuring CO2 flux
from volcanic-hydrothermal fumaroles. Chem. Geol. 177(1–
2), 85–99.
Mörner, N. A. and Etiope, G. (2002) Carbon degassing from
the lithosphere. Global Planet. Change 33, 185–203.
Panichi, C., Bolognesi, L., Ghiara, M. R., Noto, P. and
Stanzione, D. (1992) Geothermal assessment of the island
of Ischia (southern Italy) from isotopic and chemical composition
of the delivered fluids. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res.
49, 329–348.
Parello, F., Allard, P., D’Alessandro, W., Federico, C., Jean-
Baptiste, P. and Catani, O. (2000). Isotope geochemistry of
Pantelleria volcanic fluids, Sicily Channel rift: a mantle
volatile end-member for volcanism in southern Europe.
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 180, 325–339.
Perez, N. M., Nakai, S., Notsu, K. and Talai, B. (1998) Anomalous
diffuse degassing of helium-3 and CO2 related to the
active Ring-Fault structure at Rabaul Caldera, Papua New
Guinea. EOS Trans. AGU 79(45) Fall Meet. Suppl., F957.
Salazar, M. L., Hernandez, P. A., Alvarez, J., Segura, F., Melian,
G., Perez, N. M. and Notzu, K. (2000) Diffuse emission of
CO2 from Cerro Negro volcano, Nicaragua, Central
America. IAVCEI General Assembly 2000, Abstracts, July
18–22, 2000, Bali, Indonesia.
Sinclair, A. J. (1974) Selection of thresholds in geochemical
data using probability graphs. J. Geochem. Explor. 3, 129–
149.
Stix, J., Calvache, V. M. L. and Williams, S. N. (eds.) (1997)
Galeras volcano, Colombia: Interdisciplinary study of a
decade volcano (special issue). J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res.
77, 338 pp.
Symonds, R. B., Reed, M. H. and Rose, W. I. (1992) Origin,
speciation, and fluxes of trace-element gases at Augustine
volcano, Alaska: Insights into magma degassing and
fumarolic processes. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 56, 633–
657.
Symonds, R. B., Gerlach, T. W. and Reed, M. H. (2001) Magmatic
gas scrubbing: Implications for volcano monitoring.
J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 108, 303–341.
Varley, N. R. and Armienta, M. A. (2001) The absence of diffuse
degassing at Popocatepetl volcano, Mexico. Chem.
Geol. 177, 157–173.
Vezzoli, L. (ed.) (1988) Island of Ischia. Quad. de La ricerca
scientifica 114(10), C.N.R., Roma, 133 pp.
Wardell, L. J., Kyle, P. R., Dunbar, N. and Christenson, B.
(2001) White Island volcano, New Zealand: carbon dioxide
and sulfur dioxide emission rates and melt inclusion
studies. Chem. Geol. 177(1–2), 187–200.
Wardell, L. J., Kyle, P. R. and Chaffin, C. (2004) Carbon dioxide
and carbon monoxide emission rates from an alkaline
intra-plate volcano: Mt. Erebus, Antarctica. J. Volcanol.
Geotherm. Res. 131, 109–121.
Werner, C., Brantley, S. L. and Boomer, K. (2000) CO2 emissions
related to the Yellowstone volcanic system: 2. Statistical
sampling, total degassing, and transport mechanism.
J. Geophys. Res. 105(B5), 10831–10846.
Werner, C., Chiodini, G., Voigt, D., Caliro, S., Avino, R., Russo,
M., Brombach, T., Wyngaard, J. and Brantley, S. (2003)
Monitoring volcanic hazard using eddy covariance at
Solfatara volcano, Naples, Italy. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 210,
561–577.