The tritium and carbon-14 profiles at the Geosecs I (1969) and GOGO I (1971) North Pacific stations

Tritium and¹⁴C data of the “GOGO I” station at 28.5°N, 121.6°W in November 1971 are reported. The tritium decline between 150 and 350 m depth is as pronounced as was observed on a previous occupation of the same position, station “Geosecs I” in September 1969, and the tritium concentrations below 200 m are unchanged.¹⁴C data from the depth range of tritium decline are corrected for fallout¹⁴C contribution. The correcting procedure requires simultaneous measurements of¹⁴C, ΣCO₂, and tritium. It is concluded that the natural absolute¹⁴C concentration attains a maximum near 400 m depth, of 7.5% excess over that of surface water.     

On estimating frequency-magnitude relations from heterogeneous catalogs

The paper studies the effect of magnitude errors on heterogeneous catalogs, by applying the apparent magnitude theory (seeTinti andMulargia, 1985a), which proves to be the most natural and rigorous approach to the problem. Heterogeneities in seismic catalogs are due to a number of various sources and affect both instrumental as well as noninstrumental earthquake compilations.The most frequent basis of heterogeneity is certainly that the recent instrumental records are to be combined with the historic and prehistoric event listings to secure a time coverage, considerably longer than the recurrence time of the major earthquakes. Therefore the case which attracts the greatest attention in the present analysis is that of a catalog consisting of a subset of higher quality data, generallyS ₁, spanning the interval T ₁ (the instrumental catalog), and of a second subset of more uncertain magnitude determination, generallyS ₂, covering a vastly longer interval T ₂ (the historic and/or the geologic catalog). The magnitude threshold of the subcatalogS ₁ is supposedly smaller than that ofS ₂, which, as we will see, is one of the major causes of discrepancy between the apparent magnitude and the true magnitude distributions. We will further suppose that true magnitude occurrences conform to theGutenberg-Richter (GR) law, because the assumption simplified the analysis without reducing the relevancy of our findings.The main results are: 1) the apparent occurrence rate exceeds the true occurrence rate from a certain magnitude onward, saym _GR; 2) the apparent occurrence rate shows two distinct GR regimes separated by an intermediate transition region. The offset between the two regimes is the essential outcome ofS ₁ being heterogeneous with respect toS ₂. The most important consequences of this study are that: 1) it provides a basis to infer the parameters of the true magnitude distribution, by correcting the bias deriving from heterogeneous magnitude errors; 2) it demonstrates that the double GR decay, that several authors have taken as the incontestable proof of the failure of the GR law and of the experimental evidence of the characteristic earthquake theory, is instead perfectly consistent with a GR-type seismicity.     

Fracture surface energy of olivine

A relatively simple indentation technique for the rapid measurement of fracture surface energy, , of small samples is described. The reliability of this technique is assessed by testing soda-lime glass for which there are good independent fracture mechanics determinations of fracture surface energy. The indentation technique gives a value for of 4.33 J m^–2 which compares favourably with the accepted value of 3.8 J m^–2. Fracture surface energies of the {010} and {001} cleavage planes of single crystal olivine (modal composition Fo₈₈Fa₁₂) are then determined and compared with theoretical estimates of the thermodynamic surface energy, , calculated from atomistic parameters ( is equal to in the absence of dissipative processes during crack extension). The experimental values for _{010} and _{001} are respectively 0.98 J m^–2 and 1.26 J m^–2. The calculated values of _{010} and _{001} are respectively in the range from 0.37 J m^–2 to 8.63 J m^–2 and 12.06 J m^–2. The particular advantages of the indentation technique for the study of the fracture surface energies of geological materials are outlined.     

Source characteristics of the 1992 Nicaragua tsunami earthquake inferred from teleseismic body waves

We analyzed the broadband body waves of the 1992 Nicaragua earthquake to determine the nature of rupture. The rupture propagation was represented by the distribution of point sources with moment-rate functions at 9 grid points with uniform spacing of 20 km along the fault strike. The moment-rate functions were then parameterized, and the parameters were determined with the least squares method with some constraints. The centroid times of the individual moment-rate functions indicate slow and smooth rupture propagation at a velocity of 1.5 km/s toward NW and 1.0 km/s toward SE. Including a small initial break which precedes the main rupture by about 10 s, we obtained a total source duration of 110 s. The total seismic moment isM _o =3.4×10²⁰ Nm, which is consistent with the value determined from long-period surface waves,M _o =3.7×10²⁰ Nm. The average rise time of dislocation is determined to be 10 s. The major moment release occurred along a fault length of 160 km. With the assumption of a fault widthW=50 km, we obtained the dislocationD=1.3 m. From andD the dislocation velocity isD=D/0.1 m/s, significantly smaller than the typical value for ordinary earthquakes. The stress drop =1.1 MPa is also less than the typical value for subduction zone earthquakes by a factor of 2–3. On the other hand, the apparent stress defined by 2E _s /M _o , where andE _s are respectively the rigidity and the seismic wave energy, is 0.037 MPa, more than an order of magnitude smaller than . The Nicaragua tsunami earthquake is characterized by the following three properties: 1) slow rupture propagation; 2) smooth rupture; 3) slow dislocation motion.     

AuroralH-emission and interplanetary neutral hydrogen

Summary Auroral spectra taken from within the auroral zone reveal H-emission as not limited to the magnetic zenith but as extending over the sky. The surface brightness forH andH may tentatively be estimated to a few airglows. The assumption is made that some of this emission may extend to the very low gm latitudes and be practically universal and the possible mode of excitation of neutral hydrogen in space is speculated upon. At the earth's orbit the density number of the cosmic, infalling, hydrogen accreted from beyond the solar system towards the sun is about 10² neutral atoms cm^–3 and coronal plasma contributions cannot encrease this number by more than a factor of two. If an exceptionally violent solar disturbance ejects stream-electrons attaining velocities-of 2,200 km sec^–1 corresponding to the threshold energy forH excitation of 12.8 eV and if these electrons, at the earth's orbit, have a density number of 10³ cm^–3, then a shell about 100,000 km thick may contributeH emission having a surface brightness of about 0.1 airglow this being the higher probable value. Such anH-emission could be detectable from all latitudes during, or, most probably, just before the occurence of an auroral storm.     

Evaluation of crystallization temperatures of mineral paragenesis in consolidated crust and uppermost mantle from explosion seismology data

In terms of the general endogeneous evolution of the lithosphere, the continental crystalline crust and the uppermost mantle, formed by regional metamorphic and magmatic processes, show mineral paragenesis stratification, expressed by a regular mineral sequence. The continuous macrolayering of mineral paragenesis through lithospheric depth profile is caused by phase transformations and variations in composition of complex natural systems, and affects the vertical distribution of seismic velocities,V _p,V _s, and other physical parameters.To evaluate palaeotemperatures (crystallization temperatures of mineral paragenesis), consistentV _pandV _s (Z) velocity models for the consolidated crust of two regionally separated areas of different geological structures — Precambrian shield (Voronezh Massif) and a young fold-mountain structure in the central part of the Transasian orogeneous belt (Himalaya) — are used as starting data.The velocity models are recalculated into (Z) and (Z) profiles (Z) being the seismic parameter. (Z) the Debye temperature). These, according to Debye theory, allow the determination of variations in entropy, thermodynamic and temperature gradients at the time of crustal generation.For the two regions chosen, palaeotemperature distributions are eventually calculated for the depth intervals given by velocity profiles. Crystallization temperatures calculated from seismic data show good agrrement with the values obtained from mineralogical thermobarometry.     

A method of searching for radial velocity anomalies in the lower mantle using interfering signals

Radial velocity anomalies in the lower mantle that give rise to triplications in the travel-time curve for short-periodP waves will produce arrivals havingdT/d values that differe by roughly 0.2–0.5 s/deg. The first two arrivals associated with such triplications will be separated by less than one second over a distance range of 4°–10° they may not, therefore, be separable visually on single seismograms, so that their presence can only be inferred from some measurable property that depends on their mutual interference. If there are lateral variations in the regions of anomalous velocity gradients, the interfering signals will also have different azimuths of arrival. Using two synthetic wavelets we have investigated the effect of interference on bothdT/d and azimuth measurements at the Yellowknife Array. We found that if the interfering pulses have a dominant frequencyv, there is a range of time separations (0.30/v0.55/v) over which the measureddT/d and azimuth values may fluctuate by much more than the differences indT/d and azimuth between the interfering signals. We have evaluated the following empirically defined functions for three different primary signals, and for three different relative amplitudes of the interfering signals:f (t), the drift function, which expresses how the measured slownesses,p, and azimuths, , differ from the slownesses and azimuths of the primary wavelets; f(), the range function, which describes the behaviour of the upper and lower bounds ofp and as a function of the difference in arrival times of the signals, andf , studied the properties of these functions, and have outlined how these properties provide criteria based on the numerical and statistical characteristics of the arrival vectors, and on the waveform of the signal that will enable small radial velocity anomalies to be more clearly delineated.Contribution No. 863 from the Earth Physics Branch.     

Power-law Distributions of Offspring and Generation Numbers in Branching Models of Earthquake Triggering

We consider a general stochastic branching process,which is relevant to earthquakes as well as to many other systems, and we study the distributions of the total number of offsprings (direct and indirect aftershocks in seismicity) and of the total number of generations before extinction. We apply our results to a branching model of triggered seismicity, the ETAS (epidemic-type aftershock sequence) model. The ETAS model assumes that each earthquake can trigger other earthquakes (aftershocks). An aftershock sequence results in this model from the cascade of aftershocks of each past earthquake. Due to the large fluctuations of the number of aftershocks triggered directly by any earthquake (fertility), there is a large variability of the total number of aftershocks from one sequence to another, for the same mainshock magnitude. We study the regime in which the distribution of fertilities is characterized by a power law ~1/¹⁺. For earthquakes we expect such a power-distribution of fertilities with =b/ based on the Gutenberg-Richter magnitude distribution ~ 10^–bm and on the increase ~ 10^–m of the number of aftershocks with the mainshock magnitude m. We derive the asymptotic distributions p_r(r) and p_g(g) of the total number r of offsprings and of the total number g of generations until extinction following a mainshock. In the regime < 2 for which the distribution of fertilities has an infinite variance, we find This should be compared with the distributions obtained for standard branching processes with finite variance. These predictions are checked by numerical simulations. Our results apply directly to the ETAS model whose preferred values =0.8–1 and b=1 puts it in the regime where the distribution of fertilities has an infinite variance. More generally, our results apply to any stochastic branching process with a power-law distribution of offsprings per mother     

Crustal stress in Iceland

Hydrofracturing stress measurements have been carried out to about 0.4 km in two boreholes in Quaternary volcanic rocks in Reykjavik, Iceland, on the flank of the Reykjanes-Langjökull continuation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The measurements indicate a dominant orientation of _{H max} approximately perpendicular to the axial rift zone, in contrast to earthquake focal mechanism solutions from within the axial rift zone of the Reykjanes Peninsula. In one hole (H32) a depth-dependent change in stress orientation is indicated, with ₁ horizontal above a depth of about 0.25 km, and vertical below it; however the orientation of _{H max} remains unchanged. The data thus suggest reconciliation of an apparent conflict between the dominantly compressive indications of shallow overcoring stress measurements and dominant extension as required by focal mechanism solutions. The measured stresses are supported by the more reliable of overcoring measurements from southeast Iceland, and by recent focal mechanism solutions for the intraplate Borgarfjördur area. A fundamental change in crustal stresses appears therefore to occur as a function of distance from the axis of the axial rift zone. The data seem reasonably explicable in terms of a combination of thermoelastic mechanisms associated with accretion and cooling of spreading lithosphere plates. Stresses directly associated with the driving mechanisms of plate tectonics apparently do not dominate the observed stress pattern.     

Magnetic Fluctuations for Small Magnetic Prandtl Numbers

Numerous studies of magnetic fluctuations with a zero mean-field for small magnetic Prandtl numbers (Pr _m 1) show that magnetic fluctuations cannot be generated by turbulent fluid flow with the Kolmogorov energy spectrum. In addition, the generation of magnetic fluctuations with a zero mean-field for Pr _m 1 were not observed in numerical simulations. However, in astrophysical plasmas the magnetic Prandtl numbers are small and magnetic fluctuations are observed. Thus a mechanism of generation of magnetic fluctuations for Pr _m 1 still remains poorly understood. On the other hand, in astrophysical applications (e.g., solar and stellar convection zones, galaxies, accretion disks) the turbulent velocity field cannot be considered as a divergence-free. The generation of magnetic fluctuations by turbulent flow of conducting fluid with a zero mean magnetic field for Pr _m 1 is studied by means of linear and nonlinear analysis. The turbulent fluid velocity field is assumed to be homogeneous and isotropic with a power law energy spectrum ( k ^–p ) and with a very short scale-dependent correlation time. It is found that magnetic fluctuations can be generated when the exponent p > 3/2. It is shown also that the growth rates of the higher moments of the magnetic field are larger than those of the lower moments, i.e., the spatial distribution of the magnetic field is intermittent. In addition, the effect of compressibility (i.e., u 0) of the low-Mach-number turbulent fluid flow u is studied. It is demonstrated that the threshold for the generation of magnetic fluctuations by turbulent fluid flow with u 0 is higher than that for incompressible fluid. This implies that the compressibility impairs the generation of magnetic fluctuations. Nonlinear effects result in saturation of growth of the magnetic fluctuations. Asymptotic properties of the steady state solution for the second moment of the magnetic field in the case of the Hall nonlinearity for the low-Mach-number compressible flow are studied.     

Reservoir lifetime and heat recovery factor in geothermal aquifers used for urban heating

Simple models are discussed to evaluate reservoir lifetime and heat recovery factor in geothermal aquifers used for urban heating. By comparing various single well and doublet production schemes, it is shown that reinjection of heat depleted water greatly enhances heat recovery and reservoir lifetime, and can be optimized for maximum heat production. It is concluded that geothermal aquifer production should be unitized, as is already done in oil and gas reservoirs.Nomenclature a distance between doublets in multi-doublet patterns, meters - A area of aquifer at base temperature, m² drainage area of individual doublets in multidoublet patterns, m² - D distance between doublet wells, meters - h aquifer thickness, meters - H water head, meters - Q production rate, m³/sec. - r _e aquifer radius, meters - r _w well radius, meters - R _g heat recovery factor, fraction - S water level drawdown, meters - t producing time, sec. - T aquifer transmissivity, m²/sec. - v stream-channel water velocity, m/sec. - actual temperature change, °C - theoretical temperature change, °C - water temperature, °C - heat conductivity, W/m/°C - _r rock heat conductivity, W/m/°C - _aC_a aquifer heat capacity, J/m³/°C - _aC_r rock heat capacity, J/m³/°C - _WC_W water heat capacity, J/m³/°C - aquifer porosity, fraction     

Rupture process of the 19 August 1992 Susamyr, Kyrgyzstan, earthquake

The Susamyr earthquake of August 19, 1992 in Kyrgyzstan is one of the largest events (M_s = 7.4, M_b = 6.8) of this century in this region of Central Asia. We used broadband and long period digital data from IRIS and GEOSCOPE networks to investigate the source parameters, and their space-time distribution by modeling both body and surface waves. The seismic moment (M₀ = 6.8 × 10¹⁹ N m) and the focal mechanism were determined from frequency-time analysis (FTAN) of the fundamental mode of long period surface waves (100–250 s). Then, the second order integral moments of the moment-rate release were estimated from the amplitude spectra of intermediate period surface waves(40–70 s). From these moments we determined a source duration of 11–13 s, major and minor axes of the source of 30 km and 10–22 km, respectively; and an instant centroid velocity of 1.2 km/s. Finally, we performed a waveform inversion of P and SH waves at periods from 5–60 s. We found a source duration of 18–20 s, longer than the integral estimate from surface wave amplitudes. All the other focal parameters inverted from body waves are similar to those obtained by surface waves ( = 87° ± 6°, = 49° ± 6°, = 105° ± 3°, h = 14 ± 2 km, and M₀ = 5.8 ± 0.7 × 10¹⁹ N m). The initial rupture of this shallow earthquake was located at the south-west border of Susamyr depression in the western part of northern Tien Shan. A finite source analysis along the strike suggests a westward propagation of the rupture. The main shock of this event was preceded 2 s earlier by small foreshock. The main event was almost immediately followed by a very strong series of aftershocks. Our surface and body wave inversion results agree with the general seismotectonic features of the region.     

Stress constraints and hydrofracturing stress data for the continental crust

Faulting and seismicity in the upper continental crust require considerable differential stresses. Application of experimentally developed friction, fracture and flow laws shows that high differential stresses can only exist in the uppermost crust. Direct hydraulic fracturing measurements in deep boreholes seem to support this rock mechanics conclusion. The experimental data base presently consists of approximately 500 hydrofrac tests conducted in about 100 boreholes at about 30 different geographical locations. To illustrate the variation of measured stresses with depth, the data are expressed as dimensionless horizontal stresses in the formS _H,h/S_v=(/z)+, whereS _v=gz Extrapolation of the experimental data to greater depth shows that the minor horizontal stress approaches the valueS _h/S_v=0.5 which limits friction on wet faults, and that the major horizontal stress approaches a value close toS _H/S_v=1 at rather shallow depth (5 to 10 km.). This limits faulting and seismicity in most of the upper crust to either strike-slip or normal faults. The lower boundary for seismicity is mainly dependent on tectonic strain accumulation and rock creep at the environmental conditions at depth.     

Dynamical stability of convection cells in the upper mantle

Summary A two-dimensional flow model of an incompressible fluid with constant viscosity has been used to study the changes in the large-scale flow pattern (aspect ratio 4). Implications for convection in the Earth's mantle are discussed.

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a ¶rt; mn uuu ua u¶rt;mu nm m unm ¶rt; uu uu mu ama¶rt;a. ¶rt;am mam ¶rt; uu amuu u.

     

Electromagnetic scattering by a perfectly conducting half-plane in a conductive half-space

FollowingDmitriev (1960) a rigorous theoretical solution for the problem of scattering by a perfectly conducting inclined half-plane buried in a uniform conductive half-space has been obtained for plane wave excitation. The resultant integral equation for the Laplace transform of scattering current in the half-plane is solved numerically by the method of successive approximation. The scattered fields at the surface of the half-space are found by integrating the half-space Green's function over the transform of the scattering current.The effects of depth of burial and inclination, of the half-plane on the scattered fields are studied in detail. An increase in the depth of burial leads to attenuation of the fields. Inclination introduces asymmetry in the field profiles beside affecting its magnitude. Depth of exploration is greater for quadrature component. An interpretation scheme based on a phasor diagram is presented for the VLF-EM method of exploration for rich vein deposits in a conductive terrain.List of symbols x, y, z Space co-ordinates - Half-space conductivity - ₀ Free-space permeability - Excitation frequency (angular) - T Time - h Depth of the half-plane - a Inclination of the half-plane - E _x x-Directed total electric field - E _x ^p x-Directed primary electric field - E _xo ^p x-Directed primary electric field atz=0 directly over the half-plane - H _y y-Component of total magnetic field - H _y ^p y-Component of primary magnetic field - H _y0 ^p y-Component of primary magnetic field atz=0 directly over the half-plane - H _z z-Component of total magnetic field - H _z ^p z-Component of primary magnetic field - J _x Surface density ofx-directed scattering current - G Green's function - k ₀,K Wave numbers - u,u ₀,u ₁,u ₂ Functions - Space co-ordinate - s Variable in transform domain - Variable of integration - Normalized scattering current - Laplace transform of - N Normalized - , ₀, ₁, ₂ Functions - t Variable of integration - Skin depth - H Total magnetic field - H ^p Primary magnetic field - H ₀ ^p Primary magnetic field atz=0 directly over the half-plane - M,Q,R,S,U,V Functions - N ₁,N ₂ Functions     

A deep geophysical study in the Baikal region

Experimental data show that in East Siberia resistivity curves, irrespective of their trends, are affected by galvanic (local) distortions. The preliminary step of the magnetotelluric data processing is to obtain a steady shape of resistivity curves reflecting a true deep section. For this purpose statistical averaging and different criteria of impedance rejecting were used. The available MTS curves were normalized by level to the global magnetovariation curves. Two-dimensional modelling was performed from several sublatitudinal profiles crossing the Baikal rift zone. Three-dimensional models based on two-dimensional modelling and on induction vector distribution have been computed via programs of M. N. Yudin. Following other researchers, two conductive layers are distinguished: i) the mid- and low crustal and ii) the mantle one, with the layer surface uplifted from 100–110 km depth in the southern Baikal rift zone to 60–70 km northeastwards along the eastern Baikal coast. The top of this layer seems to correspond to the asthenospheric roof. The asthenosphere deepening in southern BRZ is likely to be related to a decrease in the asthenospheric bulge width and an increase in the rate of lithospheric thickening with mantle degasing. The origin and evolution of the Baikal rift is considered, proceeding from the model of passive rifting with regard to a long-existing lithospheric inhomogeneity between the Siberian platform and the Sayan-Baikal folded area.     

Su unaVexata quaestio di gerarchia nei dispositivi dei sondaggi elettrici

Riassunto L'A. mostra corne dal metodo più semplice di misura di rcsistività d'un suolo del polo singolo, si possano dedurrc tutti gli altri (Wenner, Schlumberger, ecc). CiÒ dà la possibilità di risalire immediatamente dai grafici _s di un dispositivo a quelli di un altro. L'A., dopo rettificato recenti valutazioni del metodo dei due punti, rimuove la pretesa da altri formulata di porre gerarchie nei dispositivi di misure _s .

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Summary The Author shows how departing from simplest method of the ground resistivity measurement with the single pole can be deduced all another methods (Wenner, Schlumberger, etc.). That gives the practical possibility to pass immediately the _s graphics of one arrangement to these of other types of arrangement. After having rectified recently mades evaluations about the two points method, the Author removes the requirements made from other side to graduate the _s measuring arrangements.

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Zusammenfassung Der Verfasser zeigt wie man von der einfachsten Methode der Widerstandsmessung eines Bodens mit Einzelpol alle anderen Methoden (Wenner, Schlumberger, usw.) ableiten kann. Dadurch hat man die praktische Möglichkeit, von den _s Diagrammen einer Anordnung sofort auf jene anderer Anordnungen überzugehen. Nach Richtigstellung von kürzlich geäusserten Ansichten über die Zweipunktmethode, beseitigt der Verfasser die von Anderen gestellten Ansprüche, die _s Messanordnungen vermeintlichen Vorzügen nach staffeln zu wollen.

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Relazion e presentata il 5 Aprile 1956 alla Quarta Assemblea Generale dcllaSocietà Italiana di Geofisica e Meteorologia (Genova: 5–8 Aprile 1956).     

Changes of electric conductivity in the neighbourhood of the curie temperature of basalts

Summary In investigating the electric conductivity of rocks as a function of the temperature it was found that rocks containing ferrimagnetic minerals display a change in the slope of the functionlg =f(1/T) in the neighbourhood of the Curie temperature . In order to explain these changes the curveslg =f(1/T) and the Curie temperatures , obtained from the temperature dependence of the saturated magnetization J_s=f(T), were compared. Eight samples of basalts, 2 samples of haematite and magnetite were used to demonstrate the relation between and the changes in the pattern of the electric conductivity, caused by the variations of the exchangeable energy of ferrimagnetic minerals.     

How deep was the Dudley (UK) earthquake of 22 September 2002?

On 22 September 2002, the largest UK earthquake (m_b4.3) of the last 10 years occurred near the town of Dudley in the West Midlands. Here we determine the earthquake focal mechanism and depth using data from stations at regional and teleseismic distances. Short-period teleseismic seismograms are interpreted in terms of P and surface reflections pP and sP. This analysis suggests that the source depth is deeper than the 9.7 km initially determined by the British Geological Survey (BGS). The relative amplitude method is applied to four teleseismic seismograms to support our interpretation of the surface reflections, and constrain the focal mechanism. Our preferred focal mechanism, a near vertical strike-slip with _s = 94°, = 88° and = –179°, is in reasonable agreement with a moment tensor determined by the Swiss Seismological Service. Synthetic regional surface wave seismograms match the observed seismograms for a model focal depth of 19.5 (±3.0) km and scalar moment, M₀, of 3.2 × 10¹⁵ N m. Our results emphasize that due to the well-known trade-off between depth and M₀ from inversions of long period (0.02–0.1 Hz) surface waves, it is preferable to combine long- and short-period data to constrain reliably the depth and hence estimate M₀. Our focal mechanism and depth are further validated by generating short-period synthetic seismograms that match the observations.     

Origin of the fumarolic fluids of Vulcano Island,Italy and implications for volcanic surveillance

Variations in D and ¹⁸O values with H₂O contents and outlet temperatures indicate that the fumaroles of La Fossa crater have discharged mixtures of magmatic water and marine hydrothermal water, since 1979. The contribution of meteoric water was low in the period 1979–1982 and very low afterwards. The ¹⁸O values of the marine-hydrothermal component of +5 to +7.2 are due to isotopic exchange with the ¹⁸O-rich silicates of the rocks under high-temperature and low-permeability conditions. The ¹⁸O value of the magmatic end-member is generally +3.5 to +4.3, although values as high as +5.5 to +6.5 were reached in the summer of 1988, when magma degassing appears to have extended into the core of the magma body. The D values of the end-member were close to -20, typical of andesitic waters. Both the isotopic values and chemical data strongly support a dry model, consisting of a central magmatic gas column and a surrounding hydrothermal envelope, in which marine hydrothermal brines move along limited fracture zones to undergo total evaporation on approaching the conduits of magmatic fluids. The vents at the eastern and western boundaries of the fumarolic field are fed by fluids whose pressure is governed by the coexistence of vapor, liquid and halite, giving rise to a high risk of phreato magmatic explosions, should magma penetrate into these wet environments. Most La Fossa eruptions were triggered by an initial hydrothermal blast and continued with a series of phreatomagmatic explosions. The fluids discharged by the Forgia Vecchia fumaroles are mixed with meteoric water, which is largely evaporated, although subordinate loss of condensed steam may be responsible for scrubbing most of the acidic gas species. The temperatures and pressures, and the risk of a sudden pressure increase, are low. A boiling hydrothermal aquifer at 230° C is present underneath the Baia di Levante beach. This area has a minor risk of hydrothermal explosions.