Soil radon concentration and effective stress variation at Mt. Etna (Sicily) in the period January 2003–April 2005

In this study we discuss the relationship between the in-soil radon concentration and the effective stress variation at Mt. Etna volcano in the period January 2003–April 2005. The acquired radon concentration trend was compared with the one obtained by the b-value variation analysis in the frequency–magnitude relationship for earthquakes that occurred at Mt. Etna volcano (Sicily) during the investigation period. The b-value calculated using both the maximum likelihood and the least square methods shows a similar trend and, in particular, an increase starting a few months before the 7th September 2004 eruption and a decrease during the following 9 months. A similar trend was recorded during 2003 when a recharging magma phase of the volcano occurred. Results obtained by studying the b-value trend and the comparison with in-soil radon concentration are also discussed.     

Fisher information analysis of volcano-related advanced, very-high-resolution radiometer (AVHRR) thermal products time series

The Fisher information measure (FIM) analysis, a powerful tool to investigate complex and nonstationary signals, was performed on a long time series (1995-2005) of advanced very-high-resolution radiometer (AVHRR) satellite thermal data, recorded over Mt. Etna (southern Italy) volcanic area. The time evolution of FIM calculated for the signal reveals a significant pattern associated with the Etna volcanic activity.     

Volcanic monitoring for radon and chemical species in the soil and in spring water samples

Soil radon has been monitored at two fixed stations in the northern flank of Popocatepetl Volcano, a high risk volcano located 60 km SE from Mexico City. Water samples from three springs were also studied for radon as well as major and trace elements. Radon in the soil was recorded using track detectors. Radon in the water samples was evaluated using the liquid scintillation method and an Alphaguard. The major elements were determined through conventional chemical methods and trace elements using an ICP-MS equipment. Soil radon levels were low, indicating a moderate diffuse degassing through the flanks of the volcano. Groundwater radon had almost no relation with the eruptive stages. Water chemistry was stable in the reported time (2000–2002).     

Spatial variations of radon and helium concentrations in soil-gas across the Shan-Chiao fault, Northern Taiwan

Spatial variability of gases like radon and helium in soil-gas can be used for seismic surveillance and for finding fault system. The present study is aimed at determining a possible connection between eventual radon/helium anomalies and active fault. Radon and helium concentrations in subsurface soil-gas have been monitored along the Shan-Chiao fault, Northern Taiwan. Twenty transverse profile surveys have been conducted across the fault, where 235 and 125 samples were collected for helium and radon analyses, respectively. The data analysis clearly reveals anomalous values of both radon and helium along the fault. To find the fault system, where the migration of gases is governed by advection, it is essential to identify the anomalies in both radon and helium together. The consistency of this pattern confirms that radon and helium together can act as a powerful tool for the detection and mapping of active fault zones.     

Monitoring of volcanic sulphur dioxide emissions using differential absorption lidar (DIAL), differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS), and correlation spectroscopy (COSPEC)

2 fluxes of the order of 1000, 100, and 10 tonnes/day were measured for Mt. Etna, Stromboli, and Vulcano, respectively. Received: 17 April 1998     

Results of monitoring 222Rn in soil gas of the Gulf of Corinth region,Greece

Within the framework of the European projects GAÏA and CORSEIS, dedicated to the study of the rift of Corinth, various geophysical and geochemical monitoring had been performed between 1995 and 2002 for the search of crustal transients and earthquake precursors. We present here the monitoring of ²²²Rn activity in soils, which are expected to carry information on underground fluids transport mechanisms. In order to identify transient anomalies, possibly correlated with seismic activity, continuous long-term monitoring is needed, and the background level is to be assessed for each measurement site. We discuss the methodological constraints (probes, installation, and site effects) and present the first results on the magnitude of radon variations with time. Radon time-series in soils gas appear to be very site-dependent: background levels, yearly cycle and spurious signals differ as the result of multiple local effects (meteorological disturbances, permeability of soils, etc.).     

Correlations between radon in soil gas and the activity of seismogenic faults in the Tangshan area,North China

The spatial variation of soil gas radon values were correlated with the seismogenic faults and earthquakes in the Tangshan area (north China). Radon concentrations were measured at 756 sites in an area about 2500 km² from April to May 2010. The background and anomaly threshold values calculated were 4730.4 Bq/m³ and 8294.1 Bq/m³, respectively. Radon concentrations highlight a decreasing gradient from NE to SW in the area. Higher values mostly distributed in the NE sector of the Tangshan fault and the Luanxian fault where the Tangshan (Ms 7.8), and Luanxian (MS 7.1) earthquakes occurred in 1976 and 17 earthquakes with MS = 3.0 occurred in this area since 2005. Radon values illustrated a close relation with the shallow fault trace and earthquake activity in the area. The active fault zones and the associated fractures formed by the larger earthquakes, act as paths for radon migration.     

Response of Radon in a seismic calibration explosion,Israel

Radon measurements were performed at shallow levels during an in-land 20-ton seismic calibration explosion experiment, simulating a 2.6-M_L earthquake, to investigate the influence of the explosive blast and the transitory seismic wave fields on the Radon transport in the country rock, adjacent to the focus of the explosion. The experiment was conducted in a basalt quarry in the northern margin of the Beit Shean valley (Israel). Five gamma-ray sensors were placed, at a depth of about 2 m, along a line located 17–150 m from the edge of the explosion zone. Measurements commenced 4 days before and continued for 9 days after the explosion with 15 min integrations. A 10-s sampling was used in the interval of several hours before and after the explosion itself.Diurnal variations of Radon, reflecting the typical variation pattern of Radon in the shallow environment, were registered before and after the explosion. No significant change in the overall Radon concentration was observed as a consequence of the main explosion as well as three smaller experimental shots (0.5–2 tons) in the 2 h prior to the calibration blast. The seismological data indicate that the transient excess pressure at the farthest Radon sensor was above 5 bar m⁻¹ during 0.2–0.4 s, and evidently much higher at the nearest sensors, but none of the sensors responded by recording any exceptional change in the Radon concentration. Moreover the hypothesis that additional Radon may emanate from solid grains as a result of the excess local pressure exerted by the blast is also not observed.In contrast to a real earthquake event an explosion experiment has neither eventual preceding nor following geodynamic activity. Therefore the absence of significant Radon anomalies during or after the blast does not contradict assumptions, observations or conclusions as the occurrence of Radon anomalies prior or after an earthquake event due to associated long-term geodynamic processes.     

Radioactivity in waters of Mt. Etna (Italy)

Radioactivity in underground waters from Mt. Etna was investigated on the basis of 13 samples. The samples were collected from springs, wells and galleries around the volcano. Water from nine out of thirteen intakes is used for consumption. Activity concentration of uranium isotopes ^234,238U, radium isotopes ^226,228Ra and radon ²²²Rn were determined with the use different nuclear spectrometry techniques. The measurements of radium and radon activity concentration were performed with the use of a liquid scintillation counter. The determination of uranium isotopes was carried out with the use of alpha spectrometry. All samples show uranium concentration above Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA), with the highest total uranium (²³⁴U + ²³⁸U) activity concentration equal to 130 mBq/l. For radium isotopes, all samples except one showed the activity concentration below MDA. Radon activity concentration was within the range from 1 to 13 Bq/l, hence these waters can be classified as low-radon waters.     

Geophysical gas monitoring using optical techniques: volcanoes, geothermal fields and mines

Optical spectroscopy provides powerful means for studying geophysical gas emissions. An extensive research program in this field has been performed by Swedish researchers in collaboration with European partners during the last 10 years, and a review of the activities and results is given. The techniques suitable for geophysical gas monitoring include the differential absorption lidar (DIAL), differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS), diode laser spectroscopy and gas correlation imaging. Field experiments regarding atomic mercury emissions from geothermal fields were performed with a mobile lidar laboratory in Iceland and in Italy. The atomic mercury concentrations and fluxes from mercury mines were also determined at Abbadia S. Salvatore (Italy) and Almadén (Spain). The volcanic emissions of sulfur dioxide were studied in four ship-borne campaigns concerning the three Italian volcanoes Mt. Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano. Comparisons between the results from the DIAL and passive techniques (DOAS and correlation spectroscopy) were performed. Infrared spectroscopy for geophysical applications is now being developed and will also be discussed.     

Optical monitoring of volcanic sulphur dioxide emissions—comparison between four different remote-sensing spectroscopic techniques

The emissions of sulphur dioxide from the Italian volcanoes Mt. Etna and Stromboli were studied in ship-borne underpasses of their plumes. Four different optical spectroscopy techniques were used and inter-compared. All techniques utilise the absorption signature of the gas in the wavelength region of around 300 nm. A differential absorption lidar was employed in active gas concentration assessment. In parallel, a differential optical absorption spectroscopy system (DOAS) provided spectrally resolved absorption spectra. In one configuration the DOAS used a vertically looking telescope and the absorption of the sky-light was studied, while a different DOAS implementation utilised the sun disc as the light source in slant-angle, long-path absorption measurements. Parallel measurements with the customary correlation spectroscopy method were also performed. Path length Monte Carlo simulations of the down-welling radiation through the volcanic plume at different sun altitude and azimuth angles have been performed taking into account also the effects of other geometric parameters as the plume height and extension. The results are discussed with special emphasis on systematic effects due to scattering.     

Radon studies for extending los azufres geothermal energy field in Mexico

Los Azufres is a 98 MW producing geothermal energy field situated in the Mexican volcanic belt at the west part of the country. Recently, hydrothermal activity and geochemical analysis of geothermal fluids from the north part of the geothermal field gave indications of a possible geothermal-production area, similar to the already producing field.

In order to investigate the activity of geological structures, which are considered the means of geothermal fluids transporters, radon mapping was carried out using sets of 240 LR-115 detectors in the area of interest. Radon values higher than 10 kBq m⁻³ were considered anomalous and indicative of geothermal anomalies.     

Soil radon time series: Surveys in seismic and volcanic areas

Soil radon surveys have been performed in a long term monitoring basis with SSNTD (LR 115 type II), in order to observe possible fluctuations due to high magnitude seismic events and volcanic eruptions. Five-year radon time series are available in stations located in an intense seismic zone located along the Pacific coast of Mexico. The series analyses have been performed as a function of the local seismicity and geological characteristics. A discussion is intended to explain the lack of biunivocal relation between single radon peaks and earthquakes for the long term monitoring data using SSNTDs. Examples of short term radon anomalies obtained with continuous probes are also discussed as a function of local earthquakes and meteorological perturbations. Additionally, complementary results from recent changes in the activity pattern of an active volcano indicate that degassing process induced anomalous soil radon emanation correlated with the volcanic activity changes.     

Effects of simulated source of tremor on acoustic and airflow voice measures

To test the effects of different sources of tremor on the voice, tremor was simulated by external rhythmic perturbation of structures at the subglottal, glottal, and supraglottal levels in 10 healthy subjects. The acoustic and airflow signals simultaneously recorded during sustained phonation in the normal and the 3 simulated tremor conditions were analyzed and compared. Voice measures included: fundamental frequency, 2 short-term perturbation measures (jitter and shimmer), and 3 long-term tremor measures (prominence ratios of the spectral peaks of the acoustic frequency contour, acoustic amplitude contour, and airflow contour). Measures of fundamental frequency and percent shimmer were not significantly affected by the simulated tremors. Measures of percent jitter and the amplitudes of the long-term frequency and amplitude modulations were most prominently increased when respiratory drive was perturbed by simulated tremor. Spectral analysis of the acoustic amplitude contour was most useful in distinguishing the 3 sites of simulated tremor.     

Ultrasonic activity phases measured on Lipari

Summary Results obtained by measuring Ultrasonic Emission (UE) from volcanic rocks on Lipari island are reported. The lack of volcanic activity and revealable volcanic tremor on Lipari, (two phenomema that, together with magmatic tide, we hypothesize as the principal causes of UE on Stromboli) suggest Earth tide as responsible for UE generation on the rock surface.     

声波远探测测井与地震缝洞精细评价技术研究*

地震勘探探测范围广、空间尺度大,数据采集、处理、解释体系完善,资料运用率高,但纵向分辨率低。声波远探测可实现井周数十米范围内的异常体探测,克服了常规测井方法探测深度浅的局限,具有很高的纵向、周向、径向分辨率,但偶极横波远探测具有180°方位不确定性,径向探测范围不及地震勘探。本研究将两者优势结合,通过对缝洞型地质异常体远探测和地震响应特征进行综合分析,约束远探测方位解释结果,精细刻画地质异常体形态及发育情况,完善远探测测井的横向延伸信息,有效提高远探测解释的精准度,最终形成声波远探测测井与地震一体化缝洞综合评价技术,提升缝洞油气藏钻遇率和开发效率。在塔河等缝洞发育地区进行应用,实现多尺度、全方位和高精度的地质异常体描述与解释,为解决油气勘探过程中由于地震分辨率不足造成的脱靶等现象提供了新的思路。     

Analysis of lidar measurements using nonparametric kernel regression methods

The lidar technique is an efficient tool for remote monitoring of the distribution of a number of atmospheric species. We study measurements of sulphur dioxide emitted from the Italian volcano Mt. Etna. This study is focused on the treatment of data and on the procedure to evaluate range-resolved concentrations. In order to make an in-depth analysis, the lidar system was prepared to store measurements of individual backscattered laser pulses. Utilizing these repeated measurements a comparison of three different methods to average the returned signals is made. In the evaluation process we use local polynomial regression to estimate the range-resolved concentrations. Here we calculate optimal bandwidths based on the empirical-bias bandwidth selector. We also compare two different variance estimators for the path-integrated curves: local polynomial variance estimation and variance estimation based on Taylor approximations. Results show that the method performs well. An advantage compared to previous methods for evaluation of lidar measurements is that an estimate of the mean squared error of the estimated concentration can be calculated. Received: 9 July 2001 / Revised version: 15 November 2001 / Published online: 17 January 2002     

Iron site populations from Mössbauer spectroscopy in Ti-bearing garnets from Mt Vulture (Italy)

The present work concerns the determination of the cation site populations and crystal chemical formulae of some Ti-rich silicate garnets. The samples come from Mt. Vulture, a volcanic complex located on the east side of the Lucania Apennines (south Italy). Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS) has been used in order to obtain the iron site occupancies. Two different models for interpreting the Fe²⁺ peak positions in the Mössbauer spectra are compared, and some methodological aspects are discussed. The derived iron distributions have then been combined with the data obtained by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) to obtain consistent crystal chemical formulae for these compounds.     

Radon anomalies along faults in North of Jordan

Radon emanation was sampled in five locations in a limestone quarry area using SSNTDs CR-39. Radon levels in the soil air at four different well-known traceable fault planes were measured along a traverse line perpendicular to each of these faults. Radon levels at the fault were higher by a factor of 3–10 than away from the faults. However, some sites have broader shoulders than the others. The method was applied along a fifth inferred fault zone. The results show anomalous radon level in the sampled station near the fault zone, which gave a radon value higher by three times than background. This study draws its importance from the fact that in Jordan many cities and villages have been established over an intensive faulted land. Also, our study has considerable implications for the future radon mapping. Moreover, radon gas is proved to be a good tool for fault zones detection.     

Processing of radon time series in underground environments: Implications for volcanic surveillance in the island of Tenerife,Canary Islands,Spain

The analysis of temporal and spatial variations in the flux of soil gases across the soil–air interface is a useful tool to study geo-dynamical processes associated with volcanic and/or seismic activity. However, many of these variations are induced by external variables, such as temperature, barometric pressure, rainfall and other meteorological variables. In an attempt to filter out non-endogenous variations in the emissions of gases, the optimal choice of the monitoring sites with numerical filtering techniques based on multi-variate and frequency domain analysis of the time series for gaseous emissions were combined, in the case of radon (²²²Rn). Monitoring sites are located in underground galleries in the volcanic island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Since the effect of wind, rainfall and temperature variations are very small inside galleries, a first natural filtering process of external parameters in the emissions of gases was achieved. This new approach has been successfully tested and as a result, the background level for radon emissions at various locations has been defined, by which correlations between gaseous emissions and the volcanic and/or seismic activity could be carried out.