Degassing and Cycling of Mercury at Nisyros Volcano (Greece)

Nisyros Island (Greece) is an active volcano hosting a high-enthalpy geothermal system. During June 2013, an extensive survey on Hg concentrations in different matrices (fumarolic fluids, atmosphere, soils, and plants) was carried out at the Lakki Plain, an intracaldera area affected by widespread soil and fumarolic degassing. Concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), together with H2S and CO2, were simultaneously measured in both the fumarolic emissions and the atmosphere around them. At the same time, 130 samples of top soils and 31 samples of plants (Cistus creticus and salvifolius and Erica arborea and manipuliflora) were collected for Hg analysis. Mercury concentrations in fum…

Geothermal mercury output at Nisyros Volcano (Greece)

Nisyros (Greece) is an active volcano in the eastern part of the South Aegean Active Volcanic Arc (SAAVA), hosting a high-enthalpy geothermal system. On June 2013, an extensive survey on Hg concentrations in different types of matrices (fumarolic fluids, atmosphere, soils and plants) was carried out at Lakki plain, an area affected by widespread soil degassing and fumarolic manifestations. To investigate the spatial distribution of mercury emission and its possible relationships with diffuse degassing of hydrothermal fluids, Hg concentrations in soils were related to their physicochemical parameters (e.g. temperature, soil-pH, hydrothermal gases and elemental C, N and S concentrations). Fur…

The use of moss-bags technique to volcanic aerosols investigation on Mt. Etna (Italy)

Trace elements mobility in soils from the active hydrothermal area of Nisyros (Greece)

Nisyros Island, Greece, is a stratovolcano known for its intense hydrothermal activity. On June 2013, during a multidisciplinary field campaign, soil samples were collected in the caldera area to determinate the main mineralogical paragenesis and to investigate the distribution of trace elements concentrations and the possible relationship to the contribution of deep originated fluids. Soil samples were analysed with XRD and for the chemical composition of their leachable (deionized water) and near total (microwave digestion) fraction both for major and trace elements. All data were compared to a local background soil. The results allow to divide the samples in 2 groups: Lakki Plain and Ste…

The use of moss-bags technique for volcanic aerosols investigation on Mt. Etna (Italy)

Explosive eruptions and volcanic passive degassing inject large quantities of gas and particles into the atmosphere that are ultimately deposited at the Earth’s surface through wet or dry deposition processes, affecting the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the biosphere. Mount Etna (Italy) is one of the most prodigious and persistent sources of gases and particles to the troposphere. Volcanic emissions were studied at Etna volcano by using moss-bags technique. Mosses (Sphagnum species) were exposed around the volcano at different distances from the active vents to evaluate the impact of its emissions into the atmosphere and in the local surrounding. The results confirmed the huge amount of s…

The geochemical cycle of Tellurium in volcanic environments

This research is focused on the geochemistry of Tellurium (Te) in active volcanic environments. To this end concentrations of Te have been measured on different matrices (plume, ashes, soils, atmospheric depositions and plants). Samples were collected from different volcanoes around the world: volcanic aerosols from Etna and Vulcano (Italy), Turrialba (Costa Rica), Myakejima, Asama and Aso (Japan), Mutnovsky and Gorely (Kamchatka, Russia), Copahue (Argentina), Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo (D.R. Congo); atmospheric depositions from Etna and Vulcano (Italy), Nyiragongo (D.R. Congo); ash from Etna (Italy), Copahue (Argentina), San Miguel (El Salvador). Among with plume and rain samples, several …

Passive degassing at Nyiragongo (D.R. Congo) and Etna (Italy) volcanoes

Volcanoes are well known as an impressive large natural source of trace elements into the troposphere. Etna (Italy) and Nyiragongo (D.R. Congo) are two stratovolcanoes located in different geological settings, both characterized by persistent passive degassing from their summit craters. Here, we present some results on trace element composition in volcanic plume emissions, atmospheric bulk deposition (rainwater) and their uptake by the surrounding vegetation, with the aim to compare and identify differences and similarities between these two volcanoes. Volcanic emissions were sampled by using active filter-packs for acid gases (sulfur and halogens) and specific teflon filters for particulat…

Passive degassing at Nyiragongo (D.R. Congo) and Etna (Italy) volcanoes: the chemical characterization of the emissions and assessment of their uptake of trace elements emissions on the local environment

Investigating Tools for Sustainability Assessment of Road Pavements in Europe

Sustainability assessment (SA) is a method to support decision making processes through the evaluation of system effectiveness, environmental integrity, economic valuation, and social implications [1]. SA can be carried out through the application of life-cycle-based techniques for quantitative assessment, or by performing a mainly qualitative approach via sustainability rating systems (SRS). In the field of civil engineering, many SRS have been proposed, all based on assigning point values to actions that are determined to contribute to the overall sustainability of the project. However, only few of these systems can be applied specifically to compare road pavement technologies and/or main…

Life Cycle Management delle pavimentazioni stradali

Ormai parola chiave della nostra società, la sostenibilità è al centro di ricerche e dibattiti. La comunità scientifica si impegna da anni nella definizione di strumenti e metodologie comuni per riuscire a quantificarla, proponendo standard e linee guida basate sull’analisi del ciclo di vita, come il Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), di prodotti e processi. Nell’ambito dell’ingegneria civile esistono procedure standardizzate a livello internazionale per svolgere esercizi di Sustainability Assessment; queste risultano ben strutturate per gli edifici, meno dettagliate invece per altre opere, come le pavimentazioni stradali. Questo lavoro presenta il risultato principale del progetto “PavementLCM”,…

Volcanogenic particulates and gases from Etna volcano (Italy)

Volcanic emissions represent one of the most relevant natural sources of trace elements to the troposphere. Due to their potential toxicity they may have important environmental impacts from the local to the global scale and they can severely affect the atmospheric and terrestrial environment also at timescales ranging from a few to million years. Etna volcano is known as one of the largest global contributors of magmatic gases (CO2, SO2, and halogens) and particulate matter, including some toxic trace elements. The aim of this study was to characterize the chemical composition and the mineralogical features of the volcanogenic aerosol passively emitted from Mt. Etna. Nine samples were coll…

Preliminary data on trace element emissions from Nyiragongo volcano (DR Congo)

Tellurium in active volcanic environments: Preliminary results

Mercury’s Distribution in the Atmosphere, Soils and Plants of the Active Hydrothermal Area of Nisyros (Greece).

Mount Etna volcano (Italy) as a major “dust” point source in the Mediterranean area

Volcanic emissions represent one of the most relevant natural sources of trace elements to the troposphere. Due to their potential toxicity, they may have important environmental impacts from local to global scale. They can also severely affect the atmospheric and terrestrial environment at timescales ranging from a few to millions of years. Mt. Etna volcano is known as one of the largest global contributors of magmatic gases (CO2, SO2 and halogens) and particulate matter, including some toxic trace elements. The aim of this study is to characterize the chemical composition and the mineralogical features of the volcanogenic aerosol passively emitted from Mt. Etna. Twenty-five samples were c…

Preliminary results of trace elements mobility in soils and plants from the active hydrothermal area of Nisyros island (Greece)