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RESEARCH PROGRAM

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Research Units
Similar research programs:
Scientific and education field classification
International Patent Classification
  • HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
      • PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR TOILET PURPOSES (bringing into special physical form A61J [N: mechanical aspects]; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; compounds per se C01, C07, C08, C12N; soap compositions C11D; micro-organisms per se C12N) [C0203]
  • PHYSICS
    • MEASURING (counting G06M); TESTING
      • INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (separating components of materials in general B01D, B01J, B03, B07; apparatus fully provided for in a single other subclass, see the relevant subclass e.g. B01L; measuring or testing processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or micro-organisms C12M, C12Q; investigation of foundation soil in situ E02D1/00; sensing humidity changes for compensating measurements of other variables or for compensating readings of instruments for variations in humidity, see G01D or the relevant subclass for the variable measured; testing or determining the properties of structures G01M; measuring or investigating electric or magnetic properties of materials G01R; systems or methods in general, using reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; determining sensivity, graininess, or density of photographic materials G03C5/02; testing component parts of nuclear reactors G21C17/00; [N: controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; measuring degree of ionisation of ionised gases, i.e. plasma H05H1/00A; testing electrographic developer properties G03G15/08H6])
Geographical classification
Keywords
ASCENT OF MAGMA; ERUPTION MECHANISM; VESUVIUS; STROMBOLI; ETNA; COLLI ALBANI

Ascent of magmas and eruptive dynamics

Università degli Studi Roma Tre
Abstract
The project "Magma ascent and eruptive dynamics" aims to examine in detail the petrochemical character of the erupted products of the major italian volcanoes in the attempt of understanding the major controlling factors of the style of activity. The study is integrated with experimental petrology measures of critical parameters of the magmas under study and a physical modelling of ascent mechanism of magmas above the exsolution depth of major volatiles.
The project is organized in different steps including the collection and analysis of samples of eruption products regarding specified eruptions of Vesuvius, Stromboli and Etna and the comparison with erupted products of similar "analogue" volcanoes like Laacher See and Nysiros.
The mentioned volcanoes have a remarcable variability in the style of activity comprising both mild effusive eruptions and more violent explosive ones. These changes are controlled both by the different composition of erupted magmas and the variable condition during the ascent to the surface favouring a variable gas loss from the magma. A relevant aspect of the project takes into account the experimental measures of solubility and molar volume of H2O under controlled temperature and pressure for samples simulating the magmas erupted at Vesuvius and Colli Albani. At the same time the kinetics of bubble growth will be experimentally measured under variable decompression rates.
These data will be utilyzed for the modelling of magma >>>

Principal Investigator
Roberto SCANDONE Università degli Studi ROMA TRE
Research Objectives
The interdisciplinary research project aims at examining in major detail the character of eruptive activity of the major italian volcanoes like ETNA, VESUVIO, STROMBOLI, and COLLI ALBANI, to gather a better understanding of the causes determing the variability of the eruptive style and to understand if the variability is due only to a change of the chemistry of the magma feeding the eruptions, or may also be connected with different ascent conditons affecting the amount of degassing and crystallization before eruptions. At the same time we will develop new physical models based on the observation and analysis of recent, well monitored, eruptions elsewhere in the world, which may serve as analogues of explosive eruptions not observed in Italy since the development of modern monitoring techniques.
The intermediate objective of the project are:
1 – a better knowledge of most important italian volcanoes both for the composition of erupted products and the style of activity;
2 – an experimental evaluation of H2O solubility in K-rich magmas still presently unavailble in the recent literature as well as an evaluation of its molar volume under controlled values of pressure and temperature.
3 – the development of physical models of magma ascent which take into account both the effect of the stress field, and the gas loss from magma.
We consider as particularly important the close relatinship between the composition of erupted magmas and the style >>>

Timescale
24 months
National and international background
Most active volcanoes of continental Europe are localyzed in Italy. The re-awakening of a quiescent volcano, or the occurrence of a major magnitude eruption at one of those in permanent activity could cause relevant economic damage and life loss.
The eruptive style is the result of a complex process which begins at depth and ends with the arrival at the earth surface of a magma with a variable amount of volatiles. The amount of gas, magma composition, and eruption rate are the main factors controlling the character either effusive or explosive of an eruption.
Presently, there are different schools of thought about the open or closed degassing behavior with respect to the ascent of magma to the surface. According to a traditional view, the ascent of magma is generally too rapid to allow an appreciable diffusion of gas to the wall so that the eruptive style is entirely related with the original gas content of magma. More recently, Eichelberger et al, (1986) proposed an open degassing behavior during the ascent, such to control entirely the eruptive style. A relevant degassing during the ascent favours a non-explosive eruptive style, even during the eruption of sialic magmas. A corollary of this assumption is the possibility that the velocity of ascent of magma may be responsible for the eruptive style: a slow ascent may favour the degassing of magma thus permitting effusive activity.
One, or more magma chambers, may be present below most of the volcanoes >>>