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Time-space variation of volcano-seismic events at La Fossa (Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy): new insights into seismic sources in a hydrothermal system

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Abstract

We investigated the relationship between volcano-seismic events, recorded at La Fossa crater of Vulcano (Aeolian Islands, Italy) during 2004-2006, and the dynamics of the hydrothermal system. During the period of study, three episodes of increasing numbers of volcano-seismic events took place at the same time as geothermal and geochemical anomalies were observed. These geothermal and geochemical anomalies have been interpreted as resulting from an increasing deep magmatic component of the hydrothermal fluids. Three classes of seismic events (long period, high frequency and monochromatic events), characterised by different spectral content and various similarity of the waveforms, have been recognised. These events, clustered mainly below La Fossa crater area at depths of 0.5–1.1 km b.s.l., were space-distributed according to the classes. Based on their features, we can infer that such events at Vulcano are related to two different source mechanisms: (1) fracturing processes of rocks and (2) resonance of cracks (or conduits) filled with hydrothermal fluid. In the light of these source mechanisms, the increase in the number of events, at the same time as geochemical and geothermal anomalies were observed, was interpreted as the result of an increasing magmatic component of the hydrothermal fluids, implying an increase of their flux. Indeed, such variation caused an increase of both the pore pressure within the rocks of the volcanic system and the amount of ascending fluids. Increased pore pressures gave rise to fracturing processes, while the increased fluid flux favoured resonance and vibration processes in cracks and conduits. Finally, a gradual temporal variation of the waveform of the hybrid events (one of the subclasses of long period events) was observed, likely caused by heating and drying of the hydrothermal system.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Editor Maurizio Ripepe and the two Reviewers Jackie Caplan-Auerbach and Hiroyuki Kumagai for their useful comments and suggestions which helped us to significantly improve the paper. Vincenzo Milluzzo benefited from a grant by Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia. Work performed with grants INGV-DPC (2005-2007) Project V3_5 and University of Catania “Fondi di Ateneo–2006”.

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  1. Vincenzo Milluzzo

    Present address: Divisione Exploration and Production, Eni S.p.A., Via Emilia 1, San Donato Milanese, 20097, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Catania, P.zza Roma 2, 95123, Catania, Italy

    Salvatore Alparone, Andrea Cannata, Salvatore Gambino & Placido Montalto

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, Università di Catania, Corso Italia 57, 95129, Catania, Italy

    Stefano Gresta & Vincenzo Milluzzo

  3. Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica, Elettronica e dei Sistemi, Università di Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy

    Placido Montalto

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  1. Salvatore Alparone
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  2. Andrea Cannata
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  3. Salvatore Gambino
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Correspondence to Salvatore Alparone.

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Alparone, S., Cannata, A., Gambino, S. et al. Time-space variation of volcano-seismic events at La Fossa (Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy): new insights into seismic sources in a hydrothermal system. Bull Volcanol 72, 803–816 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-010-0367-6

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