Search results for " volcanic emission"
showing 5 items of 15 documents
The contribution of volcanic emissions (Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano) to the atmospheric trace metals budget in the Mediterranean basin
2010
Volcanic emissions represent one of the major natural source for several trace metals (Cd, Cu, As, Pb, Hg and Zn) into the atmosphere both as gaseous and aerosol forms. The Mediterranean Sea can be considered a large geochemical sink for these elements whose source are the huge amounts of aerosols of different origin. The industrialized areas located in the northern part of the basin represent a nearly constant source of the anthropogenic-dominated aerosol. By contrast, the arid and desert regions located at the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean, are the sources of frequent dust “pulses” perturbing the “steady-state” conditions of the local atmosphere through the input of seve…
Mount Etna volcanic emissions signature on the chemical composition of bulk atmospheric deposition in Sicily, Italy.
2022
Mt. Etna, on the eastern coast of Sicily (Italy), is one of the most active and most intensely monitored volcanoes on the Earth, widely recognized as a big source of volcanic gases, such as CO2, SO2, halogens, and many trace elements, including technological critical elements (TCEs), to the atmosphere on a regional and global scale. Mt. Etna emissions account for a significant percentage of the worldwide average volcanic budget and especially during eruptive periods, its products can be dispersed over great distances and they influence the chemical composition of the atmosphere of other continents too. The current knowledge about the geochemical cycle of TCEs is still scarce, nevertheless, …
Application of the moss bag biomonitoring technique in an active volcanic environment (Mt. Etna, Italy).
2011
This paper presents the preliminary results of a biomonitoring study based on the use of moss bags exposed at 24 sites on Etna volcano. Sphagnum mosses were used to study bioaccumulation originating from atmospheric deposition, by measuring the tissue contents of major and a large suite of trace elements. Elements, such as Tl, Bi, As, Se, Cu and Cd, display high concentrations in the exposed samples close to the active vents. This study confirms the effectiveness of the moss bags technique also in active volcanic areas.
A christmas gift: Signature of the 24th December 2018 eruption of Mt. Etna on the chemical composition of bulk deposition in eastern sicily
2020
The eruption of Mt. Etna which occurred on December 24th 2018 was characterized by strombolian activity and fire fountains, emitted by the New South-East Crater and along a fissure that propagated towards the SE. The influence of volcanic emissions on atmospheric deposition was clearly detectable at several kilometres from the source. Wet and dry (bulk) deposition samples were collected each month, through a network of eleven collectors, in the areas of Milazzo, and Priolo between June 2018 and June 2019. They were analysed for major ions and trace elements concentrations. The pH values range from 3.9 to 8.3, while the EC values range from 7 to 396 μS cm-1. An extensive neutralization of th…
Chemical and isotopic characterization of rainwater in volcanic, urban and industrial areas of Sicily (Italy)
2021
The chemical composition of rainwater depends on (i) the dissolution of gases and particulate matter emitted by different sources, (ii) the chemical and physical reactions occurring during local and regional scale transport, and (iii) removal processes. The source of major and trace elements dissolved in rainwater can be both natural (e.g. sea salts, volcanic emissions, geogenic dust, biogenic material) and anthropogenic (e.g. industrial plants, vehicular traffic, domestic heating, vessel traffic). A group of trace elements has been recently brought to attention, especially for their possible environmental impacts, the Technology-critical elements (TCEs): Ga, Ge, In, Te, Nb, Ta, Tl, the Pla…