Publication Date:
2017-04-04
Description:
Volcanic emissions are considered one of the major natural sources of several trace metals (e.g. As,
Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) to the atmosphere [Nriagu, 1989], and the geochemical cycles of these elements have to
be considered strongly influenced by volcanic input. However, the accurate estimation of the global volcanic
emissions of volatile trace metals into the atmosphere is still affected by a high level of uncertainty. The
latter depends on the large variability in the emission of the different volcanoes, and on their changing stage
of activity. Moreover, only few of the potential sources in the world have been directly measured [Hinkley et
al. 1999]. Atmospheric deposition processes (wet and dry) are the pathways through which volcanic
emissions return to the ground (soils, plants, aquifers), resulting in both harmful and beneficial effects
[Baxter et al. 1982; Aiuppa et al. 2000; Brusca et al. 2001; Delmelle, 2003; Bellomo et al. 2007; Martin et al.
2009; Floor et al. 2011; Calabrese et al. 2011].
In the first part of this study we present the results of a literature review on trace metals emissions
from active volcanoes around the world. In the second part, we present new data on the fluxes of the trace
metals from Etna (Italy) and four active volcanoes in the world: Turrialba (Costarica), Nyiragongo (DRC),
Mutnovsky and Gorely (Kamchatka).
We found 27 publications (the first dating back to the 70’s), 13 of which relate to the Etna and the
other include some of the world’s most active volcanoes: Mt. St. Helens, Erebus, Merapi, White Island,
Kilauea, Popocatepetl, Galeras, Indonesian arc, Satasuma and Masaya. The review shows that currently there
are very few data available, and that the most studied volcano is Mt. Etna. Using these data, we defined a
range of fluxes for As, Ba, Bi, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Se, V and Zn (Figure 1).
To obtain new data we sampled
particulate filters at the five above
mentioned volcanoes. Filters were
mineralized (acid digestion) and
analyzed by ICP-MS. Sulphur to trace
element ratios were related to sulphur
fluxes to indirectly estimate trace
elements fluxes. Etna confirms to be
one of the greatest point sources in the
world. The Nyiragongo results to be
also a significant source of metals to the
atmosphere, especially considering its
persistent state of degassing from the
lava lake. Also Turrialba and Gorely
have high emission rates of trace metals
considering the global range. Only
Mutnovsky Volcano show values which
are sometimes lower than the range
obtained from the review, consistent
with the fact that it is mainly a
fumarolic field.
This work highlights the need to
expand the current dataset including
many other active volcanoes for a better
constraint of global trace metal fluxes
from active volcanoes.
Description:
Published
Description:
Nicolosi (Catania)
Description:
1.2. TTC - Sorveglianza geochimica delle aree vulcaniche attive
Description:
open
Keywords:
Volcanic degassing
;
trace elements
;
environmental impact of volcanic activity
;
01. Atmosphere::01.01. Atmosphere::01.01.07. Volcanic effects
;
04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.01. Gases
;
04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.08. Volcanic risk
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
Oral presentation
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