Environmental impact of volcanic emissions at Nyiragongo (DRC)

The large amount of trace elements emitted from volcanoes has a strong impact on the close surrounding areas. Nyiragongo Volcano (Democratic Republic of Congo) belongs to the Virunga volcanic chain and is one of the most active volcanoes in Africa. It is characterized by the presence of an active and permanent lava lake with a persistent degassing activity. During a field trip in October-November 2014, we investigated the impact of the volcanogenic deposition in the surrounding of the crater by using different sampling techniques. Rain-gauges were used to collect atmospheric bulk deposition. Active and passive biomonitoring techniques (moss-bags and leaves of endemic plants – Senecio spp. a…

A literature review and new data of trace metals fluxes from worldwide active volcanoes

Plume composition and volatile flux from Nyamulagira volcano

Nyamulagira, in the Virunga volcanic province (VVP), Democratic Republic of Congo, is one of the most active volcanoes in Africa. The volcano is located about 25 km north-northwest of Lake Kivu in the Western Branch of the East African Rift System (EARS). The activity is characterized by frequent eruptions (on average, one eruption every 2–4 years) which occur both from the summit crater and from the flanks (31 flank eruptions over the last 110 years). Due to the peculiar low viscosity of its lava and its location in the floor of the rift, Nyamulagira morphology is characterized by a wide lava field that covers over 1100 km2 and contains more than 100 flank cones. Indeed, Nyamulagira is a S…

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

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…

Volcanogenic particulates and gases from Etna volcano (Italy)

Intercomparison of gas emissions from the lava lakes of Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira, DR Congo

From 25th of October to 5th of November 2014 field surveys were carried out at Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira volcanoes, DR Congo. These two volcanoes belong to the eight volcanoes in the Virunga volcanic chain. They have an altitude of about 3470 m.a.s.l. and 3060 m.a.s.l., respectively. The craters of the two volcanoes lie within a distance of less than 15 km and both have a diameter of about 1000 m and 2000 m, respectively showing a similar inner geometry containing several terraces inside. The lava lake of Nyamulagira is still under formation while Nyiragongo’s lava lake is known since more than 100 years with short interruptions after the eruptions in 1977 and 2002. However, also Nyamulagi…

Plume composition changes during the birth of a new lava lake - Nyamulagira volcano, DR Congo

Nyamulagira, in the Virunga Volcanic Province (VVP), Democratic Republic of Congo, is one of the most active volcanoes in Africa. The volcano is located about 25 km north-northwest of Lake Kivu in the Western Branch of the East African Rift System (EARS) with a distance of only 15 km to Nyiragongo, which is well known for its decades-old active lava lake. Nyamulagira is a shield volcano with a 3058 m high and 2000 m wide summit caldera. The volcano is characterized by frequent eruptions, which occur both from the summit crater and from the flanks (31 flank eruptions over the last 110 years). Due to the low viscosity lava, although significantly higher than the one of Nyiragongo, wide lava f…

New results and review of major and trace element output from worldwide passive degassing volcanoes

A BRIEF GUIDE TO THE ANATOMICAL DISSECTION OF THE STOMACH

The purpose of this article is to write a short guide on the macroscopic anatomy of the stomach, describing its structures, its relationships within the abdominal cavity and the dissection methods used during the internship performed by a group of students from the University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy, at the University of Malta, Msida, Malta, during the summer of 2018. Indeed,, they had the opportunity to spend a period of two weeks at the department of Anatomy in the Maltese University for studying and practining on some corpses, with the aim of improving their anatomical knowledge.