Burlini, L.

Episodic tremor and slip (ETS) have been correlated with rupture phenomena in subducting oceanic lithosphere at 30–45 km depth, where high VP/VS ratios, which suggest high-fluid pressures, have been observed. ETS, by accommodating slip in the down-dip portion of the subduction zone, may trigger megathrust earthquakes up-dip in the locked section. During dehydration experiments on serpentinite (typical rock of the oceanic lithosphere) at temperatures found in nature at 30–45 km depth (400– 550 C), we observe seismic signals in the form of acoustic emissions that closely resemble low frequency earthquakes, seismic tremor and regular earthquakes. Our findings support the concept that water released during dehydration reactions increases the pore pressures and can trigger ETS and regular earthquakes by reducing slip resistance. Citation: Burlini, L., G. Di Toro, and P. Meredith (2009), Seismic tremor in subduction zones: Rock physics evidence, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L08305, doi:10.1029/2009GL037735.

see Abstract Volume

see Abstract Volume

A variety of seismic signals representing different physical mechanisms precedes volcanic eruptions. The most meaningful signals are high- and low-frequency earthquakes and volcanic tremor that have tentatively been related to fracturing and magma transport in the volcanic edifice. We provide experimental support for this association by reproducing magma migration while recording seismic signals. Opening fractures emit high-frequency acoustic events, while the switch to low frequency and harmonic tremor accompanies the flow of the melt in the fractures. Discerning between these seismic signals in nature can signifi cantly refine volcanic hazard evaluation.

The eruptive dynamics of volcanic systems are largely controlled by the viscosity of deforming magma. Here we report the results of a series of high-temperature, high-pressure experiments at conditions relevant for volcanic conduits (250 MPa confining pressure and temperature between 500 °C and 900 °C) that were undertaken to investigate the rheology of magma with crystal fractions varying between 0.5 and 0.8 (50 to 80 wt.%) at different strain-rate conditions. The experiments demonstrate that the presence of crystals increases the relative viscosity (ratio between the viscosity of the mixture and the viscosity of the melt phase) of magmas and additionally induces a decrease of the relative viscosity with increasing strain-rate (shear thinning, non-Newtonian behavior). The experimental results, combined with existing data at low crystal fractions (0–0.3), were used to develop a semi-empirical parameterization that describes the variations of relative viscosity for crystal fractions between 0 and 0.8 and accounts for the complex non-Newtonian rheology of crystal-bearing magmas. The new parameterization, included into numerical models simulating the magma ascent dynamics, reveals that strain-rate-dependent rheology significantly modifies the dynamic behavior inside volcanic conduits, particularly affecting the magma fragmentation conditions.

An ECBM (Enhanced Coal Bed Methane) feasibility study started for the Sulcis Coal Province (SW Sardinia, Italy) in December 2004: geochemical, structural-geology, stratigraphic and reservoir engineering considerations are discussed. The first newly gathered experimental data are discussed, including: fluid geochemistry (major and minor elements, dissolved gases, C and He isotopic ratios) of the reservoir, coal composition and experimental data on CO2/CH4 adsorption on coal. A MapInfo GIS structure was built up including stratigraphical, geo-structural, hydrogeochemical, coal-compositional and environmental impact information as well as the CO2 sources location and typology. Even if these data could be preliminary with respect to the coal characteritics effectively located at the future injection depth, they highlighted both the challenging positive and negative aspects of the Sulcis Coal Province versus the exploitation of the ECBM technique. The most important objective of this phase I of the project is the selection of the best Sulcis ECBM test-pilot site, which will be followed (Phase II) by the choice of a scaled up site and possibly by a future network (Phase III). These phases are foreseen to be accompanied by the selection of progressively added CO2 industrial sources, to be used within the project economic spreadsheet model, actually in evolution. CO2 geological storage and CH4 production potentials in Sulcis have been grossly evaluated as a whole, in the frame of the Sardinia region CO2 sources, including the coal-fired power plants, both existent and foreseen (hundreds of millions of tonns of CO2 are possible to be stored underground in the next decades). The reservoir estimates, both for the CO2 injection and for the CH4 production are clearly involving to start the test-site phase exploitation, in the frame of an auspicabile international operative project.

A variety of seismic signals representing different physical mechanisms precedes volcanic eruptions. The most meaningful signals are high- and low-frequency earthquakes and volcanic tremor that have tentatively been related to fracturing and magma transport in the volcanic edifi ce. We provide experimental support for this association by reproducing magma migration while recording seismic signals. Opening fractures emit high-frequency acoustic events, while the switch to low frequency and harmonic tremor accompanies the fl ow of the melt in the fractures. Discerning between these seismic signals in nature can signifi cantly refi ne volcanic hazard evaluation.