0000000000000386
AUTHOR
Favara R
The role of isotopes in understanding the groundwater circulation in coastal areas of the south-eastern Sicily (Italy)
New insights into magma dynamics during last two eruptions of Mount Etna as inferred by geochemical monitoring from 2002 to 2005
Two distinct eruptive events characterize the volcanic activity at Mount Etna during the 2002 to 2005 period. We identified signals of magma ascent preceding these eruptions by geochemical monitoring of both chemical composition and He-isotope ratio of gas emissions from five locations in the peripheral area of the volcano. The geochemical signals are interpreted using the models proposed by Caracausi et al. (2003a, 2003b) and allow identification of episodes of magma ascent and estimation of the pressures of degassing magma. As observed for the 2001 eruption (Caracausi et al., 2003b), magma ascent probably triggered the onset of the 2002–2003 eruption, and minor events of magma ascent were…
Integrated neotectonic and morphometric analysis of northern Sicily
Sicily is characterised by active deformations, as suggested by the presence of very recent faulted deposits and by widespread seismicity. The northern portion of the Sicilian belt has undergone strike-slip tectonics since the Pliocene, as the effect of the south Tyrrhenian border dynamics. Integrated methodologies of analysis have been utilised to evaluate the neotectonic setting of the northern sector of the island. To this aim, we have elaborated mesostructural, morphotectonic and morphometric data obtained from field survey, photogeological analysis and from the elaboration of digital elevation model (DEM) data relative to 31 drainage basins. The data sets have been compared with the up…
Groundwater resources assessment of the Sicilian region, Italy
Groundwater residence time estimations based on heat and 4He abundance: an application to Western Sicily (Italy) hydrothermal systems.
Mapping of volatile organic compounds in Sicilian groundwater determined by HS-SPME/GC-MS
The runoff map of Sicily
Active Geodynamics of the Central Mediterranean Sea: tensional tectonic evidences in western Sicily from mantle-derived helium.
We report results on the measured high 3He/4He isotope ratio in western Sicily, interpreted together with the heat data. The study of this sector of the Europe-Africa interaction is crucial to a better understanding of the tectonics and the geodynamical evolution of the central Mediterranean area. The estimated mantle-derived helium fluxes in the investigated areas are up to 2-3 orders of magnitude greater than those of a stable continental area. The highest flux, found in the southernmost area near the Sicily Channel, where recent eruptions of the Ferdinandea Island occurred 20 miles out to sea off Sciacca, has been associated with a clear excess of heat flow. Our results indicate that the…
Large-scale neoteconic deformations in Northern Sicily producing crustal blocks uplift and tilting
Distribution of Volatile Organic Compounds in Sicilian groundwaters analysed by Head Space Solid Phase Micro Extraction coupled with Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (SPME/GC/MS)
This work presents the results of an assessment of the existence and concentration of 13 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in groundwaters from 14 hydrological basins in Sicily (25,710 km2). On the basis of hydrological, hydrogeochemical and geological studies, 324 sampling points were selected. All groundwater sampled were collected twice, from October to December 2004 and from February to May 2005, and were analysed to determine the concentration and spatial distribution of the VOCs in the aquifers. The need to analyze a large number of samples in a short space of time so as to obtain quantitative analyses in trace concentration levels spurred us to create a new analytical method, both si…