Structural pattern and CO2–CH4 degassing of Ustica Island,Southern Tyrrhenian basin

Brittle tectonics and ground degassing, including fracture-field, soil–gas and exhalation flux analyses of CO₂ and CH₄, were studied at Ustica Island, a Pleistocene volcanic complex in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea. The mesoscopic fracture pattern perfectly fits an E–W-trending left-lateral strike–slip master fault, in agreement with the main morpho-structural submarine alignment including Ustica Island and Anchise Seamount. Along the SW–NE high-angle normal Arso Fault, geological evidence of reactivation with different kinematics (left- to right-lateral displacements) was recognised. Major CO₂ and CH₄ degassing (with fluxes up to 93,750 and 20 t km⁻² a⁻¹, respectively, and soil–gas concentrations of 11.3% and 5.7 ppm) occur over the Arso Fault. Although this fault is mapped just in the SW sector of the island, soil–gas CO₂ anomalies point out its clear continuation up to the NE margin of the island. These data, together with those of previous geophysical and geochemical results from off-shore Ustica, suggest that the Arso Fault is the local evidence of a more important active, gas-bearing structure. This tectonic feature is interpreted as a reactivation of a preexistent SW–NE trend, inherited as a second-order structure of the E–W deep shear zone. The reactivation is related to the interplay among different structures of the Southern Tyrrhenian basin.     

Perceptions of hazard and risk on Santorini

Santorini, Greece is a major explosive volcano. The Santorini volcanic complex is composed of two active volcanoes—Nea Kameni and Mt. Columbo. Holocene eruptions have generated a variety of processes and deposits and eruption mechanisms pose significant hazards of various types. It has been recognized that, for major European volcanoes, few studies have focused on the social aspects of volcanic activity and little work has been conducted on public perceptions of hazard, risk and vulnerability. Such assessments are an important element of establishing public education programmes and developing volcano disaster management plans. We investigate perceptions of volcanic hazards on Santorini. We find that most residents know that Nea Kameni is active, but only 60% know that Mt. Columbo is active. Forty percent of residents fear that negative impacts on tourism will have the greatest effect on their community. In the event of an eruption, 43% of residents would try to evacuate the island by plane/ferry. Residents aged >50 have retained a memory of the effects of the last eruption at the island, whereas younger residents have no such knowledge. We find that dignitaries and municipal officers (those responsible for planning and managing disaster response) are informed about the history, hazards and effects of the volcanoes. However, there is no “emergency plan” for the island and there is confusion between various departments (Civil Defense, Fire, Police, etc.) about the emergency decision-making process. The resident population of Santorini is at high risk from the hazards associated with a future eruption.     

CORRELATION BETWEEN GAS GEOCHEMICAL EMISSION AND FAULT ACTIVITY OF THE YUXIAN-GUANGLING AND KOUQUAN FAULTS

Soil gas emission is closely related to tectonic and seismic activity and has been widely used to track active faults and monitor seismicity in the upper crust. Because active fault plays an important role as the channel of the earth's deep gas upward migration due to its high permeability and porosity, the geochemical characteristics of soil gas in fault zone is a good indicator of tectonic fracture and activity. In order to study the soil gas geochemical emission intensities and its correlation to fault activity, fluxes of Rn, Hg and CO₂ in soil gas and the ground resistivity were surveyed across the Yuxian-Guangling Fault and Kouquan Fault which are both Quaternary active faults in the border area of Shanxi Province, Hebei Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In 2017, soil gas fluxes were measured in 2 profiles consisting of 10 and 9 wells of depth of 3.0m across the fault scarps in Yuxian-Guangling Fault and Kouquan Fault, respectively. Resistivity tomography sections were attained by ground resistivity survey with electrode spacing of 5.0m along the profiles of soil gas measurement. The gas geochemical data show that there exist two abnormal flux peaks across the Yuxian-Guangling Fault and one in the Kouquan Fault. The high density resistivity measurement shows that fault breccia and fractured rocks zones are developed under the measured faults, where higher values of soil gas flux are also observed. Fractures with high gas permeability in the strata favor the transfer and migration upward of soil gases, which results in the anomalies of gas flux value. In addition, the anomalies of gas flux values are spatially identical with the occurrence of the fault scarps. The soil gas degassing rate of Yuxian-Guangling Fault is higher than that of Kouquan Fault. The research results of high density electrical prospecting and previous tectonic activity show that low-resistance bodies are more developed and the fault activity is stronger with higher slip rate, which leads to the more intense emission of soil gas in Yuxian-Guangling Fault. The conclusions can be made that soil gas geochemical characteristics and degassing rate in fault zone is closely correlated to the tectonic activity and fracture degree. Combination of geochemical and geophysical methods is an efficient way for the monitoring and study of fault activity to estimate the possible earthquake hazards.     

Long-time variation of soil CO2 fluxes at the summit crater of Vulcano (Italy)

Here, we report the first continuous data of geochemical parameters acquired directly from the active summit crater of Vulcano. This approach provides a means to better investigate deep geochemical processes associated with the degassing system of Vulcano Island. In particular, we report on soil CO₂ fluxes from the upper part of Vulcano, a closed-conduit volcano, from September 2007 to October 2010. Large variations in the soil CO₂ and plume SO₂ fluxes (order of magnitude), coinciding with other discontinuous geochemical parameters (CO₂ concentrations in fumarole gas) and physical parameters (increase of shallow seismic activity and fumarole temperatures) have been recorded. The results from this work suggest new prospects for strengthening geochemical monitoring of volcanic activity and for improving the constraints in the construction of a “geochemical model”, this being a necessary condition to better understand the functioning of volcanic systems.     

Petrogenesis of Cenezoic volcanic rocks from the Aegean island arc

The Aegean volcanic arc formed in response to northeasterly subduction of the Mediterranean sea floor beneath the Aegean Sea. The active arc lies over 250 km from the Hellenic Trench in a region which has suffered considerable extension and subsidence since the mid-Tertiary. Suites of samples from the different volcanic centres making up the arc have been studied geochemically in order to assess lateral variations and to constrain the contribution of crustal contamination and sediment subduction in their petrogenesis.Lavas from all the major volcanic centres exhibit typical calc-alkaline major-element characteristics, and show enrichment in light REE and LIL elements but low contents of HFS elements. The enrichment in light REE is greater in the eastern (Nisyros, Kos) and western (Milos, Poros, Methana, Aegina) sectors of the arc (Ce_n/Yb_n=4) than in the central Santorini sector (Ce_n/Yb_n=2). All lavas have significant negative Eu anomalies and many have slight negative Ce anomalies. Less coherence is observed in the abundances and ratios of the other LIL elements, compared with the REE, along the island chain.Whereas the effects of crystal fractionation are evident in the trace-element patterns of lavas from individual islands, and are particularly well marked for Santorini, it is clear that there are consistent differences in trace-element abundances and ratios in the lavas of the various islands which reflect compositional differences in the mantle source and/or in melting conditions. Lavas from the eastern and western sectors have much higher levels of Ba and Sr but relatively lower Th, K and Rb than those from Santorini. Although some geochemical features could be explained through involvement of a component of subducted sediment in the source regions of the volcanoes, other element abundances and ratios indicate that this component must be very small. Detailed consideration of the inter-island geochemical variations suggests a complex make-up of the underlying lithosphere, resulting from a long history of subduction. In the region of Santorini, where crustal stretching is greatest, the underlying asthenosphere may be involved in magma production.     

郯庐断裂带安徽段土壤气体的地球化学特征

在郯庐断裂带安徽段由北向南分别于泗县、明光、肥东、桐城布设了4个测区,每个测区各布设了4条跨断层土壤气测量剖面,测量土壤气Rn、Hg和CO_2的浓度。根据16条跨断层土壤气剖面的测量结果,对郯庐断裂带安徽段的3种土壤气体的释放特征及其与断层空间位置间的关系进行了初步分析。结果表明,气体在断裂带附近较为富集,对断层位置有一定指示作用;气体的富集程度与断裂的活动性、该区段断层岩性及地质环境有一定关系。该结果对于认识测量区域气体的积累特征及构造地球化学研究有一定意义。     

Natural tracers for identifying the origin of the thermal fluids emerging along the Aegean Volcanic arc (Greece): Evidence of Arc-Type Magmatic Water (ATMW) participation

The Aegean volcanic arc is the result of a lithosphere subduction process during the Quaternary time. Starting from the Soussaki area, from west to east, the arc proceeds through the islands of Egina, Methana, Milos, Santorini, the Columbus Bank, Kos and Nisyros. Volcano-tectonic activities are still pronounced at Santorini and Nisyros in form of seismic activity, craters of hydrothermal explosions, hot fumaroles and thermal springs. A significant number of cold water springs emerge in the vicinity of hot waters on these islands.Chemical and isotopic analyses were applied on water and fumaroles samples collected in different areas of the volcanic arc in order to attempt the assessment of these fluids. Stable isotopes of water and carbon have been used to evaluate the origin of cold and thermal water and CO₂.Chemical solute concentrations and isotopic contents of waters show that the fluids emerging in Egina, Soussaki, Methana and Kos areas represent geothermal systems in their waning stage, while the fluids from Milos, Santorini and Nisyros proceed from active geothermal systems.The δ²H–δ¹⁸O–Cl^? relationships suggest that the parent hydrothermal liquids of Nisyros and Milos are produced through mixing of seawater and Arc-Type Magmatic Water (ATMW), with negligible to nil contribution of local ground waters and with very high participation of the magmatic component, which is close to 70% in both sites. A very high magmatic contribution to the deep geothermal system could occur at Santorini as well, perhaps with a percentage similar to Nisyros and Milos, but it cannot be calculated because of steam condensation heavily affecting the fumarolic fluids of Nea Kameni before the surface discharge.The parent hydrothermal liquid at Methana originates through mixing of local groundwaters, seawater and ATMW, with a magmatic participation close to 19%. All in all, the contribution of ATMW is higher in the central–eastern part of the Aegean volcanic arc than in the western sector. This difference, which is spotted in the variable isotopic composition of the sampled fluids from west to east along the arc, is probably due to several causes, including the tectonic regime, the depth of the deep reservoir below sea level, the age of volcanic activity and in general the geomorphologic state of each island.     

Anomalous soil CO2 degassing in relation to faults and eruptive fissures on Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy)

 The relationships between soil gas emissions and both tectonic and volcano-tectonic structures on Mt. Etna have been studied. The investigation consisted of soil CO₂ flux measurements along traverses orthogonal to the main faults and eruptive fissures of the volcano. Anomalous levels of soil degassing were found mainly in coincidence with faults, whereas only 49% of the eruptive fissures were found to produce elevated CO₂ soil fluxes. This result suggests that only zones of strain are able to channel deep gases to the surface. According to this hypothesis, several previously unknown structures are suggested. Based on our geochemical data, new structural maps of different areas of Etna are proposed. The soil CO₂ fluxes observed in this study are higher than those measured in a 1987 study, and they are consistent with the higher level of volcanic unrest during the current study. Received: 20 March 1998 / Accepted: 17 June 1998     

Soil H<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Surveys at Several Active Faults in Japan

Soil H₂ and CO₂ surveys were carried out along seven active faults and around the aftershock region of the 2000 Tottori-ken Seibu earthquake in Japan. Diffuse CO₂ effluxes were also measured along one fault and around the 2000 aftershock region. The results show highly variable H₂ concentration in space and time and it seems that the maximum H₂ concentration at each active fault correlates with fault activity as exemplified by the time of the latest big earthquakes. Even though observed H₂ concentrations in four faults were markedly lower than those collected previously in the latter half of the 1970s, it is evident that the higher H₂ concentrations in this study are due to the addition of the fault gases. Comparing the chemical composition of trapped gases (H₂: 5–20% and CO₂/H₂: 0.5–12) in fractured rocks of drill cores bored at the Nojima fault, a soil gas sample with the highest H₂ concentration showed large amounts of the trapped fault gas, diluted with atmospheric component. The profile experiment across a fracture zone at the Yamasaki fault showed higher H₂ concentrations and lower CO₂/H₂ ratios as was observed in soil gas from the fracture zone. A few days after the 2000 Tottori-kei Seibu earthquake, no CO₂ effluxes related to the occurrence of earthquakes were observed at the aftershock region. However, only above the epicenter zone, relatively high H₂ concentrations in soil gases were observed.     

土壤氡对郯庐断裂宿迁段F5断裂探测和活动性的研究

郯庐断裂带宿迁段多年来一直被列为江苏地震重点关注区域。在该区域展开了多期活断层探测和工程地震安全性评价工作,地震监测已经建成了测震、形变、电磁、流体等多种手段。用气体地球化学方法开展相关研究,探索活动断层运动和地震发生之间的相互关系,是对该地区地震科学研究的一种补充,其有着十分重要的意义。沿郯庐断裂带宿迁段F₅断裂布设土壤氡测线并获得相关数据,结合地质勘察、浅层人工地震等资料进行综合分析,结果表明该区域内土壤氡探测结果对断裂带的位置、断层类型和特征、断层活动性具有较好的指示性。土壤氡探测展示F₅断裂两条分支断裂F_5-1、F_5-2的位置,氡浓度异常形态与断层特征存在一定的对应关系,并利用土壤氡浓度强度为指标,初步判断郯庐断裂带宿迁段F₅断裂2条分支断裂的相对活动性。     

乌鲁木齐市城区隐伏断裂气体地球化学探测

利用气体地球化学方法对乌鲁木齐市城区７条隐伏断裂的重点地段进行了１１个剖面的定位探测。结果发现,断裂带中地球脱气现象十分强烈,而远离断裂脱气则迅速减弱。１１个剖面中９个剖面的土壤气氡在断裂上方异常显著,６个剖面的土壤气汞对断裂反映明显。经过数据数据处理和对比分析,有６条隐伏断裂在地面延伸的位置得到了较精确的判定。应当指出,地下水和人为开挖等因素对城市隐伏断裂的气体地球化学探测有较明显的干扰。     

Diffuse CO2 efflux from Iwojima volcano,Izu-Ogasawara arc,Japan

Iwojima volcano, located on the southernmost part of the Izu-Ogasawara arc, is characterized by the extrusion of trachyte or trachy andesite lavas and pyroclastic rocks of Holocene and surface thermal manifestations. Small phreatic explosions have been recorded frequently during the last 100 years with the most recent in 1999 and 2001. In order to elucidate the behavior of volcanic volatiles and to assess the potential activity of this volcano, diffuse CO₂ efflux, CO₂ content and δ¹³C–CO₂ in soil gas, and soil temperature at 30 cm depth were measured at 272 sites in March 2000, 112 sites in December 2000 and 40 sites in December 2001. We found that high CO₂ efflux values, of more than 100 g m⁻² day⁻¹, occurred at several locations on Motoyama volcano corresponding with high soil temperatures (more than 60 °C at 30 cm depth) region and with areas where CO₂ with magmatic δ¹³C was observed. Here, the magmatic δ¹³C determined for fumarolic CO₂ data ranged from −2‰ to +3‰, which is clearly higher than magmatic gas values (−8‰ to −2‰) typically found in island arc settings around the world. However, this can be explained in terms of carbon-isotope fractionation between calcite and CO₂ under subsurface temperature and pressure conditions at Iwojima. A total efflux of CO₂ for Iwojima volcano is estimated to be 760 t day⁻¹, with a magmatic contribution of about 450 t day⁻¹. This value is rather high compared with other volcanoes in island arc settings. Since Iwojima has no visible plume, almost all volcanic CO₂ is released as diffuse efflux through the volcanic edifice.     

CO2气体在地震孕育与发生过程中的作用及其机理研究

通过甘东南地震危险区地震宏观异常观测实例分析,系统研究CO_2气体在地震构造活动过程中的地球化学演化过程,以及发生的一系列酸碱平衡和氧化还原化学反应。结果表明地下深部CO_2气体不仅是其他微量气体Rn等向地表方向运移的载体,而且参与酸碱平衡和氧化还原反应,是地下深部生物化学反应的重要影响条件,地震前兆及宏观异常现象的发生常伴随着CO_2的异常变化。因此CO_2气体可以作为良好的示踪气体,在地震前兆观测及重大异常落实中尤其要重视对其进行监测。     

Cluster analysis of soil CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> data from Mt. Etna (Italy) reveals volcanic influences on temporal and spatial patterns of degassing

Soil CO₂ concentration data were collected periodically from July 2001 to June 2005 from sampling site grids in two areas located on the lower flanks of Mt. Etna volcano (Paternò and Zafferana Etnea–Santa Venerina). Cluster analysis was performed on the acquired data in order to identify possible groups of sites where soil degassing could be fed by different sources. In both areas three clusters were recognised, whose average CO₂ concentration values throughout the whole study period remained significantly different from one another. The clusters with the lowest CO₂ concentrations showed time-averaged values ranging from 980 to 1,170 ppm vol, whereas those with intermediate CO₂ concentrations showed time-averaged values ranging from 1,400 to 2,320 ppm vol, and those with the highest concentrations showed time-averaged values between 1,960 and 55,430 ppm vol. We attribute the lowest CO₂ concentrations largely to a biogenic source of CO₂. Conversely, the highest CO₂ concentrations are attributed to a magmatic source, whereas the intermediate values are due to a variable mixing of the two sources described above. The spatial distribution of the CO₂ values related to the magmatic source define a clear direction of anomalous degassing in the Zafferana Etnea–Santa Venerina area, which we attribute to the presence of a hidden fault, whereas in the Paternò area no such oriented anomalies were observed, probably because of the lower permeability of local soil. Time-series analysis shows that most of the variations observed in the soil CO₂ data from both areas were related to changes in the volcanic activity of Mt. Etna. Seasonal influences were only observed in the time patterns of the clusters characterised by low CO₂ concentrations, and no significant interdependence was found between soil CO₂ concentrations and meteorological parameters. The largest observed temporal anomalies are interpreted as release of CO₂ from magma batches that migrated from deeper to shallower portions of Etna’s feeder system. The pattern of occurrence of such episodes of anomalous gas release during the observation period was quite different between the two studied areas. This pattern highlighted an evident change in the mechanism of magma transport and storage within the volcano’s feeder system after June 2003, interpreted as magma accumulation into a shallow (<8 km depth) reservoir.     

Environmental influences on soil CO2 degassing at Furnas and Fogo volcanoes (São Miguel Island,Azores archipelago)

Since October 2001, four soil CO₂ flux stations were installed in the island of São Miguel (Azores archipelago), at Fogo and Furnas quiescent central volcanoes. These stations perform measurements by the accumulation chamber method and, as the gas flux may be influenced by external variables, the stations are equipped with several meteorological sensors. Multivariate regression analysis applied to the large datasets obtained allowed observing that the meteorological variables may influence the soil CO₂ flux oscillations from 18% to 50.5% at the different monitoring sites. Additionally, it was observed that meteorological variables (mainly soil water content, barometric pressure, wind speed and rainfall) play a different role in the control of the gas flux, depending on the selected monitoring site and may cause significant short-term (spike-like) fluctuations. These divergences may be potentially explained by the porosity and hydraulic conductivity of the soils, topographic effects, drainage area and different exposure of the monitoring sites to the weather conditions. Seasonal effects are responsible for long-term oscillations on the gas flux.     

Soil CO2 flux baseline in an urban monogenetic volcanic field: the Auckland Volcanic Field, New Zealand

The Auckland Volcanic Field (AVF) is a dormant monogenetic basaltic field located in Auckland, New Zealand. Though soil gas CO₂ fluxes are routinely used to monitor volcanic regions, there have been no published studies of soil CO₂ flux or soil gas CO₂ concentrations in the AVF to date or many other monogenetic fields worldwide. We measured soil gas CO₂ fluxes and soil gas CO₂ concentrations in 2010 and 2012 in varying settings, seasons, and times of day to establish a baseline soil CO₂ flux and to determine the major sources of and controlling influences on Auckland's soil CO₂ flux. Soil CO₂ flux measurements varied from 0 to 203 g m^?2 day^?1, with an average of 27.1 g m^?2 day^?1. Higher fluxes were attributed to varying land use properties (e.g., landfill). Using a graphical statistical approach, two populations of CO₂ fluxes were identified. Isotope analyses of δ¹³CO₂ confirmed that the source of CO₂ in the AVF is biogenic with no volcanic component. These data may be used to assist with eruption forecasting in the event of precursory activity in the AVF, and highlight the importance of knowing land use history when assessing soil gas CO₂ fluxes in urban environments.     

唐山断裂带土壤气地球化学特征分析

由于唐山断裂带土壤气地球化学研究成果相对较少，因此于2017—2018年分3期对唐山断裂带5条分支断裂土壤气浓度（包括Rn、Hg、CO₂）和通量（包括Rn、Hg）进行测量，利用土壤气浓度平均值+2倍均方差的方法确定每条断裂异常限。分析结果表明，唐山-古冶断裂和唐山断裂土壤气浓度及通量出现高值异常；2017—2018年M_L1.0以上地震多集中在唐山断裂和唐山-古冶断裂，与土壤气异常分布有较好的相关性；土壤气地球化学空间变化特征能反映断裂带的分段活动性。     

Fault-controlled Soil CO2 Degassing and Shallow Magma Bodies: Summit and Lower East Rift of Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii), 1997

Soil CO₂ flux measurements were carried out along traverses across mapped faults and eruptive fissures on the summit and the lower East Rift Zone of Kilauea volcano. Anomalous levels of soil degassing were found for 44 of the tectonic structures and 47 of the eruptive fissures intercepted by the surveyed profiles. This result contrasts with what was recently observed on Mt. Etna, where most of the surveyed faults were associated with anomalous soil degassing. The difference is probably related to the differences in the state of activity at the time when soil gas measurements were made: Kilauea was erupting, whereas Mt. Etna was quiescent although in a pre-eruptive stage. Unlike Mt. Etna, flank degassing on Kilauea is restricted to the tectonic and volcanic structures directly connected to the magma reservoir feeding the ongoing East Rift eruption or in areas of the Lower East Rift where other shallow, likely independent reservoirs are postulated. Anomalous soil degassing was also found in areas without surface evidence of faults, thus suggesting the possibility of previously unknown structures. Received: November 2003, revised: January 2005, accepted: January 2005     

新疆呼图壁地下储气库断层气体地球化学特征研究

Rn、CO₂、Hg、H₂等断层气体被广泛应用于断层活动性以及断层结构特征的研究。当前，研究介质中压力变化与断层气间的关系是断层气映震研究的主要技术方法之一。新疆呼图壁地下储气库自建成以来，每年以周期性循环“注入/采出”模式运行，该运行模式带来的储气库气压变化会影响周围地区的地震活动。同时，这一定期加压存储与减压释放气体的过程为研究应力变化引起的断层气变化提供了天然的实验场。通过对呼图壁储气库开展断层气定期流动测量以及定点连续观测，获取反复加载、卸载气体过程中储气库及周边区域断层气体Rn、CO₂、Hg、H₂浓度的变化特征，在储气库区域内观测到明显的Hg、H₂浓度高值现象，其最大值分别为190ng/m³和725.40ppm，且其空间分布特征表现为在储气库加压存储过程中，储气库区域内注采井附近的气体浓度高于储气库区域外；此外，长期连续观测结果表明，断层气H₂与储气库的压力变化存在一定的关系，H₂对储气库内压力变化的响应更为灵敏。对呼图壁储气库应力变化引起的断层气变化特征进行分析，可以认识不同应力状态下断层气变化特征，为地震台站勘选与建设、震情跟踪以及异常落实等提供地球化学科技支撑。     

福州市隐伏断层地球化学试验探测及研究

在城市环境中进行隐伏断层地球化学探测试验是一次新的尝试。试验探测内容包括 :不同地球化学测项 (土壤气汞和土汞、土壤气氡等 )、不同类型测氡仪器 (FD - 12 5 ,FD - 30 17RaA)、不同探测场地 (稻田、菜地、林区、道路、回填土和市区街道绿化带等 )。地球化学与浅层地震勘探结果的比较表明 ,2类异常点的对应率约为 70 % ,表明地球化学方法在福州市环境下的隐伏断层探测中是一种有效的方法 ;地球化学“伪异常”出现的可能部位是小桥边、废弃建筑物地基、路边垃圾堆放地等