0000000000114659
AUTHOR
Fausto Grassa
Molecular and isotopic composition of free hydrocarbon gases from Sicily, Italy
[1] Chemical and isotopic data have been used as geochemical tracers for a genetic characterization of hydrocarbon gases from a total of eleven manifestations located in Eastern and Central-Southern Sicily (Italy). The molecular analysis shows that almost all the samples are enriched in methane (up to 93.2% Vol.), with the exception of four gas samples collected around Mt. Etna showing high mantle-derived CO2 content. Methane isotope signatures suggest that these are thermogenic gases or a mixture between thermogenic gases and microbial gases. Although samples from some mud volcanoes in Southern Sicily (Macalube di Aragona) show isotope signatures consistent with a mixing model between ther…
The influence of high pCO2 on otolith shape, chemical and carbon isotope composition of six coastal fish species in a Mediterranean shallow CO2 vent
Naturally acidified environments, such as CO2 vents, are important sites to evaluate the potential effects of increased ocean acidification on marine ecosystems and biota. Here we assessed the effect of high CO2/low pH on otolith shape and chemical composition of six coastal fish species (Chromis chromis, Coris julis, Diplodus vulgaris, Gobius bucchichi, Sarpa salpa, Symphodus ocellatus) in a Mediterranean shallow CO2 vent. Taking into consideration the major and trace elements found near the vent and the gradient of dissolved inorganic carbon, we compared the otolith chemical signatures of fish exposed long-term to elevated CO2 emissions and reduced pH (mean pH 7.8) against fish living in …
Fluid escape structures in the north Sicily continental margin
Abstract High resolution and multichannel seismic profiles coupled with multibeam echosounder (seafloor relief) data, acquired along the northern Sicily continental margin (southern Tyrrhenian Sea), document the occurrence of mound and pockmark features, revealing fluid escape processes. Along this margin, morphology of the high-gradient continental slope is irregular due to the presence of structural highs, slope failures and canyons, and is interrupted by flat areas at a mean depth of 1500 m. Seismostratigraphic analysis tools and methods were used to identify fluid escape structures and to work out a classification on the basis of their morpho-acoustic characteristics. The detailed 3D ba…
First observations of the fumarolic gas output from a restless caldera: Implications for the current period of unrest (2005-2013) at Campi Flegrei
The fumarolic gas output has not been quantified for any of the currently deforming calderas worldwide, due to the lack of suitable gas flux sensing techniques. In view of resumption of ground uplift (since 2005) and the associated variations in gas chemistry, Campi Flegrei, in southern Italy, is one of the restless calderas where gas flux observations are especially necessary. Here we report the first ever obtained estimate of the Campi Flegrei fumarolic gas output, based on a set of MultiGAS surveys (performed in 2012 and 2013) with an ad-hoc-designed measurement setup. We estimate that the current Campi Flegrei fumarolic sulphur (S) flux is low, on the order of 1.5–2.2 tons/day, suggesti…
Carbon isotope composition of CO2-rich inclusions in cumulate-forming mantle minerals from Stromboli volcano (Italy)
We report on measurements of concentration and carbon isotope composition (δ13CCO2) of CO2 trapped in fluid inclusions of olivine and clinopyroxene crystals separated from San Bartolo ultramafic cumulate Xenoliths (SBX) formed at mantle depth (i.e., beneath a shallow Moho supposed to be at 14.8 km). These cumulates, erupted about 2 ka ago at Stromboli volcano (Italy), have been already investigated by Martelli et al. (2014) mainly for Sr-Nd isotopes and for their noble gases geochemistry. The concentration of CO2 varies of one order of magnitude from 3.8·10− 8 mol g− 1 to 4.8·10− 7 mol g− 1, with δ13C values between − 2.8‰ and − 1.5‰ vs V-PDB. These values overlap the range of measurements …
Flow changes and geochemical anomalies in warm and cold springs associated with the 1992-1994 seismic sequence at Pollina, Central Sicily, Italy
During a three-year discontinuous geochemical monitoring of some warm springs and cold discharges located in central-northern Sicily, some hydro-geochemical changes were observed. Excluding a possible related to a moderate seismic activity were accidentally identified. The observed anomalies showed amplitudes that were modulated by the different geometries and volumes of the feeding aquifers. A poroelastic aquifer contraction, a shaking-induced dilatancy theory as well as seismogenetic-induced changes in the properties of the aquifers have been proposed as possible mechanisms for the water flow and hydro-geochemical changes. These preliminary results could be used to design a monitoring net…
The marine activities performed within the TOMO-ETNA experiment
<p>The TOMO-ETNA experiment was planned in order to obtain a detailed geological and structural model of the continental and oceanic crust beneath Mt. Etna volcano and northeastern Sicily up to the Aeolian Islands (southern Italy), by integrating data from active and passive refraction and reflection seismic methodologies, magnetic and gravity surveys. This paper focuses on the marine activities performed within the experiment, which have been carried out in the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, during three multidisciplinary oceanographic cruises, involving three research vessels (“Sarmiento de Gamboa”, “Galatea” and “Aegaeo”) belonging to different countries and institutions. During the o…
Tunable diode laser measurements of hydrothermal/volcanic CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and implications for the global CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; budget
Abstract. Quantifying the CO2 flux sustained by low-temperature fumarolic fields in hydrothermal/volcanic environments has remained a challenge, to date. Here, we explored the potential of a commercial infrared tunable laser unit for quantifying such fumarolic volcanic/hydrothermal CO2 fluxes. Our field tests were conducted between April 2013 and March 2014 at Nea Kameni (Santorini, Greece), Hekla and Krýsuvík (Iceland) and Vulcano (Aeolian Islands, Italy). At these sites, the tunable laser was used to measure the path-integrated CO2 mixing ratios along cross sections of the fumaroles' atmospheric plumes. By using a tomographic post-processing routine, we then obtained, for each manifestati…
Total (fumarolic + diffuse soil) CO2 output from Furnas volcano
Furnas volcano, in São Miguel island (Azores), being the surface expression of rising hydrothermal steam, is the site of intense carbon dioxide (CO2) release by diffuse degassing and fumaroles. While the diffusive CO2 output has long (since the early 1990s) been characterized by soil CO2 surveys, no information is presently available on the fumarolic CO2 output. Here, we performed (in August 2014) a study in which soil CO2 degassing survey was combined for the first time with the measurement of the fumarolic CO2 flux. The results were achieved by using a GasFinder 2.0 tunable diode laser. Our measurements were performed in two degassing sites at Furnas volcano (Furnas Lake and Furnas Villag…
GEOCHEMISTRY OF THE GAS MANIFESTATIONS OF GREECE: METHANE AND LIGHT HYDROCARBONS
Το σύνθετο γεωδυναμικό καθεστώς της Ελλάδας πηγάζει από την πολύπλοκη γεωλογική της ιστορία, η οποία χαρακτηρίζεται από έντονη σεισμική δραστηριότητα και ενισχυμένη γεωθερμική βαθμίδα. Αυτή η δραστηριότητα σε συνδυασμό με το ενεργό ηφαιστειακό τόξο, ευνοεί την ύπαρξη πολλών εκπομπών αερίων, με αποτέλεσμα την κατηγοριοποίηση σε CO2-, N2- και CH4-αέρια, ανάλογα με το επικρατών είδος. Η παρούσα εργασία επικεντρώνεται στο μεθάνιο και τους ελαφρούς υδρογονάνθρακες (C2-C6) με σκοπό τον προσδιορισμό της προέλευσή τους. Οι συγκεντρώσεις του CH4 (<2 έως 915,200 μmol/mol) και η ισοτοπική του αναλογία (δ13C -79.8 έως +16.9 ‰, δD -298 έως +264‰) καλύπτουν ένα ευρύ φάσμα τιμών, που υποδεικνύει διαφορ…
Origin of methane and light hydrocarbons in natural fluids emissions: A study from Greece.
Abstract Greece, a country characterised by intense seismic and volcanic activity, has a complex geodynamic and geological setting that favours the occurrence of many gas manifestations. In this study, we address the origin of CH 4 and light hydrocarbons in cold and thermal emissions discharging along the Hellenic territory. Also, we investigate their possible relationship with the main geochemical composition of the gases and the different geological settings of the sampling sites. For this purpose we collected 101 new samples that were analysed for their chemical (O 2 , N 2 , CH 4 , CO 2 , He, Ne, Ar, H 2 , H 2 S and C 2 -C 6 hydrocarbons) and isotopic (R/R A , δ 13 C-CO 2 , δ 13 C-CH 4 a…