The 2014 effusive eruption at Stromboli volcano (Italy): Inferences from soil CO2 flux and 3He/4He ratio in thermal waters

Abstract

A new eruption started at Stromboli on August 6, 2014, which had been preceded by 2 months of increased Strombolian activity and several lava overflows from the craters. The eruption was characterized by a lava effusion in Sciara del Fuoco from a fracture at 650 m a.s.l. that lasted until November 13–17. Here we present the first geochemical observations of this eruption, based on the soil CO2 flux in the summit area, and on 3He/4He ratios in the thermal waters near Stromboli village. We infer that this eruption was triggered by the gradual replenishment of the feeding system by a CO2- and 3He-rich magma at the end of 2013 and after June 2014, suggested by the increase in 3He/4He ratio before eruption, which reached its highest value since 2007. We thus infer that this eruption was unusual and we finally speculate on the evolutionary scenario of post eruption.