Neri Marco, Ferrera Elisabetta, Giammanco Salvatore, Currenti Gilda, Cirrincione Rosolino, Patanè Giuseppe, Zanon Vittorio
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Etneo, Sezione di Catania, Piazza Roma, 2-95123 Catania, Italy.
Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali - Università di Catania. C.so Italia 57, 95129 Catania, Italy.
Sci Rep. 2016 Apr 15;6:24581. doi: 10.1038/srep24581.
In Earth Sciences there is a growing interest in studies concerning soil-radon activity, due to its potential as a tracer of numerous natural phenomena. Our work marks an advance in the comprehension of the interplay between tectonic activity, volcanic eruptions and gas release through faults. Soil-radon measurements, acquired on Mt. Etna volcano in 2009-2011, were analyzed. Our radon probe is sensitive to changes in both volcanic and seismic activity. Radon data were reviewed in light of the meteorological parameters. Soil samples were analyzed to characterize their uranium content. All data have been summarized in a physical model which identifies the radon sources, highlights the mechanism of radon transport and envisages how such a mechanism may change as a consequence of seismicity and volcanic events. In the NE of Etna, radon is released mainly from a depth of <1400 m, with an ascent speed of >50 m/day. Three periods of anomalous gas release were found (February 2010, January and February 2011). The trigger of the first anomaly was tectonic, while the second and third had a volcanic origin. These results mark a significant step towards a better understanding of the endogenous mechanisms that cause changes in soil-radon emission at active volcanoes.
在地球科学领域，由于土壤氡气活度作为众多自然现象示踪剂的潜力，关于它的研究兴趣日益浓厚。我们的工作在理解构造活动、火山喷发和通过断层释放气体之间的相互作用方面取得了进展。对2009 - 2011年在埃特纳火山采集的土壤氡气测量数据进行了分析。我们的氡气探测器对火山活动和地震活动的变化都很敏感。根据气象参数对氡气数据进行了审查。对土壤样本进行了分析以确定其铀含量。所有数据都汇总在一个物理模型中，该模型确定了氡气来源，突出了氡气传输机制，并设想了这种机制可能因地震活动和火山事件而如何变化。在埃特纳火山的东北部，氡气主要从深度小于1400米处释放，上升速度大于50米/天。发现了三个异常气体释放期（2010年2月、2011年1月和2月）。第一次异常的触发因素是构造活动，而第二次和第三次则起源于火山活动。这些结果朝着更好地理解导致活火山土壤氡气排放变化的内生机制迈出了重要一步。
