Radon surveys and real-time monitoring at Stromboli volcano: Influence of soil temperature, atmospheric pressure and tidal forces on Rn-222 degassing

Year: 2009

Authors: Cigolini C., Poggi P., Ripepe M., Laiolo M., Ciamberlini C., Delle Donne D., Ulivieri G., Coppola D., Lacanna G., Marchetti E., Piscopo D., Genco R.

Autors Affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mineralogiche e Petrologiche, Universitą di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso, 35, 10125, Torino, Italy;
CNR – Istituto Nazionale di Ottica Applicata, Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125, Firenze, Italy;
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Universitą di Firenze, Via Giorgio La Pira 4, 50121, Firenze, Italy

Abstract: We used a network of stations to perform systematic radon surveys at Stromboli volcano. The time series of periodic measurements show that monthly average Rn-222 emissions reflect changes in volcanic activity and exhibit increasing trends prior and during the last major eruptive cycles. Maps of radon emissions indicate that diffuse degassing is operative at Stromboli volcano. Concentrated degassing essentially occurs in the summit area and within a sector proximal to the two major NE trending faults. These sites were chosen for deploying the two real-time stations that are currently operating at Stromboli. In these devices, the Rn-222 electronic dosimeters are connected to a radiomodem for wireless data transfer to a receiving station at the volcano observatory. Radon activity, soil temperature and atmospheric pressure data are sampled and instantaneously transferred via web so that they can be checked remotely. Collected time series reveal an overall inverse correlation between radon emissions and seasonal temperature variations. Radon emissions in sectors of diffuse degassing are modulated by tidal forces as well. Radon activities recorded at the summit station, located along the fracture zone where the gas flux is concentrated, are positively correlated with changes in atmospheric pressure and confirm the occurrence of the \”atmospheric stack effect\”. We finally emphasize that real-time radon monitoring is an innovative technique that may be systematically applied in volcano surveillance. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Journal/Review: JOURNAL OF VOLCANOLOGY AND GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH

Volume: 184 (3-4)      Pages from: 381  to: 388

More Information: This research has benefited from funding provided by the Italian Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri – Dipartimento delta Protezione Civile (DPC). Scientific papers funded by DPC do not represent its official opinion and policies. We thank R. Colozza and C. Cardaci for logistic support at Stromboli. RA. HernSndez Perez and N. Varley provided valued reviews of an earlier draft of the paper. The Stromboli topographic DEM image has been kindly provided by M.A. Marsella.
KeyWords: Diffuse degassing; Electronic dosimeter; environmental parameters; Fracture zone; Gas flux; Inverse correlation; Network of stations; Radon emissions; radon monitoring; Radon survey; Real time monitoring; Receiving stations; Seasonal temperature variations; Soil temperature; Stack effect; Stromboli volcano; Tidal forces; Volcanic activities; Wireless data transfer, Atmospheric pressure; Atmospheric temperature; Data transfer; Degassing; Engineering geology; Monitoring; Pressure effects; Soils; Surveys; Volcanoes; Wireless networks, Radon, atmospheric pressure; degassing; monitoring; radon; soil temperature; volcanic eruption, Eurasia; Europe; Italy; Lipari Islands; Messina [Sicily]; Sicily; Southern Europe; Stromboli
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2009.04.019

Citations: 77
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