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Continuous soil radon monitoring during the July 2006 Etna eruption
Author(s)
Language
English
Status
Published
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
/33 (2006)
Publisher
AGU
Pages (printed)
L24316
Issued date
2006
Keywords
Abstract
Continuous soil radon monitoring was carried out near
the Southeast Crater (SEC) of Mt. Etna during the 10-day
July 2006 Strombolian-effusive eruption. This signal was
compared with simultaneously acquired volcanic tremor
and thermal radiance data. The onset of explosive activity
and a lava fountaining episode were preceded by some
hours with increases in radon soil emission by 4–5 orders of
magnitude, which we interpret as precursors. Minor changes
in eruptive behavior did not produce significant variations
in the monitored parameters. The remarkably high radon
concentrations we observed are unprecedented in the
literature. We interpret peaks in radon activity as due
primarily to microfracturing of uranium-bearing rock. These
observations suggest that radon measurements in the
summit area of Etna are strongly controlled by the state of
stress within the volcano and demonstrate the usefulness of
radon data acquisition before and during eruptions.
the Southeast Crater (SEC) of Mt. Etna during the 10-day
July 2006 Strombolian-effusive eruption. This signal was
compared with simultaneously acquired volcanic tremor
and thermal radiance data. The onset of explosive activity
and a lava fountaining episode were preceded by some
hours with increases in radon soil emission by 4–5 orders of
magnitude, which we interpret as precursors. Minor changes
in eruptive behavior did not produce significant variations
in the monitored parameters. The remarkably high radon
concentrations we observed are unprecedented in the
literature. We interpret peaks in radon activity as due
primarily to microfracturing of uranium-bearing rock. These
observations suggest that radon measurements in the
summit area of Etna are strongly controlled by the state of
stress within the volcano and demonstrate the usefulness of
radon data acquisition before and during eruptions.
References
Allard, P., B. Behncke, S. D’Amico, M. Neri, and S. Gambino (2006),
Mount Etna 1993– 2005: Anatomy of an evolving eruptive cycle, Earth
Sci. Rev., 78, 85– 114, doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2006.04.002.
Alparone, S., B. Behncke, S. Giammanco, M. Neri, and E. Privitera (2005),
Paroxysmal summit activity at Mt. Etna monitored through continuous
soil radon measurements, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L16307, doi: 10.1029/
2005GL023352.
Aubert, M., and J.-C. Baubron (1988), Identification of a hidden thermal
fissure in a volcanic terrain using a combination of hydrothermal convection
indicators and soil-atmosphere analysis, J. Volcanol. Geotherm.
Res., 35, 217– 225.
Burton, M., M. Neri, and D. Condarelli (2004), High spatial resolution
radon measurements reveal hidden active faults on Mt. Etna, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 31, L07618, doi:10.1029/2003GL019181.
Burton, M. R., et al. (2005), Etna 2004–2005: An archetype for geodynamically-
controlled effusive eruptions, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L09303,
doi:10.1029/2005GL022527.
Cox, M. E., K. E. Cuff, and D. M. Thomas (1980), Variations of ground
radon concentrations with activity of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, Nature,
288, 74– 76.
Neri, M., and V. Acocella (2006), The 2004–05 Etna eruption: Implications
for flank deformation and structural behaviour of the volcano,
J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 158, 195– 206, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.
2006.04.022.
Neri, M., V. Acocella, B. Behncke, V. Maiolino, A. Ursino, and R. Velardita
(2005), Contrasting triggering mechanisms of the 2001 and 2002– 2003
eruptions of Mount Etna (Italy), J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 144, 235–
255, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2004.11.025.
Neri, M., M. Burton, S. Giammanco, B. Behncke, E. Privitera, and
D. Condarelli (2006a), Eruptive and geodynamic activity at Mt. Etna
(Italy) monitored through continuous soil radon measurements, Geophys.
Res. Abstr., 8, Abstract 02173.
Neri, M., F. Guglielmino, D. Rust, and B. Behncke (2006b), Multidisciplinary
monitoring of an active fault on the unstable flank of Mount Etna
(Italy): Radon, InSAR interferometry and geodetic data, Geophys. Res.
Abstr., 8, Abstract 02582.
Nishimura, S., and I. Katsura (1990), Radon in soil gas: Applications in
exploration and earthquake prediction, in Geochemistry of Gaseous Elements
and Compounds, edited by E. M. Durrance et al., pp. 497– 533,
Theophrastus, Athens.
Pinault, J.-L., and J.-C. Baubron (1996), Signal processing of soil gas
radon, atmospheric pressure, moisture, and soil temperature data: A
new approach for radon concentration modeling, J. Geophys. Res.,
101(B2), 3157– 3172.
Sawyer, G. M., and M. R. Burton (2006), Effects of a volcanic plume on
thermal imaging data, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L14311, doi:10.1029/
2005GL025320.
Thomas, D. M. (1988), Geochemical precursors to seismic activity, Pure
Appl. Geophys., 126, 241–265.
Mount Etna 1993– 2005: Anatomy of an evolving eruptive cycle, Earth
Sci. Rev., 78, 85– 114, doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2006.04.002.
Alparone, S., B. Behncke, S. Giammanco, M. Neri, and E. Privitera (2005),
Paroxysmal summit activity at Mt. Etna monitored through continuous
soil radon measurements, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L16307, doi: 10.1029/
2005GL023352.
Aubert, M., and J.-C. Baubron (1988), Identification of a hidden thermal
fissure in a volcanic terrain using a combination of hydrothermal convection
indicators and soil-atmosphere analysis, J. Volcanol. Geotherm.
Res., 35, 217– 225.
Burton, M., M. Neri, and D. Condarelli (2004), High spatial resolution
radon measurements reveal hidden active faults on Mt. Etna, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 31, L07618, doi:10.1029/2003GL019181.
Burton, M. R., et al. (2005), Etna 2004–2005: An archetype for geodynamically-
controlled effusive eruptions, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L09303,
doi:10.1029/2005GL022527.
Cox, M. E., K. E. Cuff, and D. M. Thomas (1980), Variations of ground
radon concentrations with activity of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, Nature,
288, 74– 76.
Neri, M., and V. Acocella (2006), The 2004–05 Etna eruption: Implications
for flank deformation and structural behaviour of the volcano,
J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 158, 195– 206, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.
2006.04.022.
Neri, M., V. Acocella, B. Behncke, V. Maiolino, A. Ursino, and R. Velardita
(2005), Contrasting triggering mechanisms of the 2001 and 2002– 2003
eruptions of Mount Etna (Italy), J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 144, 235–
255, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2004.11.025.
Neri, M., M. Burton, S. Giammanco, B. Behncke, E. Privitera, and
D. Condarelli (2006a), Eruptive and geodynamic activity at Mt. Etna
(Italy) monitored through continuous soil radon measurements, Geophys.
Res. Abstr., 8, Abstract 02173.
Neri, M., F. Guglielmino, D. Rust, and B. Behncke (2006b), Multidisciplinary
monitoring of an active fault on the unstable flank of Mount Etna
(Italy): Radon, InSAR interferometry and geodetic data, Geophys. Res.
Abstr., 8, Abstract 02582.
Nishimura, S., and I. Katsura (1990), Radon in soil gas: Applications in
exploration and earthquake prediction, in Geochemistry of Gaseous Elements
and Compounds, edited by E. M. Durrance et al., pp. 497– 533,
Theophrastus, Athens.
Pinault, J.-L., and J.-C. Baubron (1996), Signal processing of soil gas
radon, atmospheric pressure, moisture, and soil temperature data: A
new approach for radon concentration modeling, J. Geophys. Res.,
101(B2), 3157– 3172.
Sawyer, G. M., and M. R. Burton (2006), Effects of a volcanic plume on
thermal imaging data, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L14311, doi:10.1029/
2005GL025320.
Thomas, D. M. (1988), Geochemical precursors to seismic activity, Pure
Appl. Geophys., 126, 241–265.
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