Hydrogeological insights at Stromboli volcano (Italy) from geoelectrical, temperature and CO2 soil degassing investigations

Abstract

Finding the geometry of aquifers in an active volcano is important for evaluating the hazards associated with phreatomagmatic phenomena and incidentally to address the problem of water supply. A combination of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), self-potential, CO2, and temperature measurements provides insights about the location and pattern of ground water flow at Stromboli volcano. The measurements were conducted along a NE-SW profile across the island from Scari to Ginostra, crossing the summit (Pizzo) area. ERT data (electrode spacing 20 m, depth of penetration of 200 m) shows the shallow architecture through the distribution of the resistivities. The hydrothermal system is characterized by low values of the resistivity (<50 W m) while the surrounding rocks are resistive (>2000 W m) except on the North-East flank of the volcano where a cold aquifer is detected at a depth of 80 m (resistivity in the range 70–300 W m). CO2 and temperature measurements corroborate the delineation of the hydrothermal body in the summit part of the volcano while a negative self-potential anomaly underlines the position of the cold aquifer.