The research represents a significant step forward in understanding the hydrogeochemical processes of the Campi Flegrei caldera, a volcanic system located northwest of the city of Naples.
The study “Chemical and isotopic characterization of groundwater and thermal waters from the Campi Flegrei caldera (southern Italy)”, edited by a team of the, In collaboration with the (UniPA-DISTeM), the (DiSTAR) and the .
"The work represents the first comprehensive study on the geochemistry of the Phlegraean aquifer since 2005, the date of the beginning of the current bradyseismic crisis, and has allowed us to recognize the complex processes that control the different characteristics of the waters, including the addition of volcanic-hydrothermal gases and their degassing processes, contributing to the definition of the geochemical model of the system," explains Stefano Caliro, Director Technologist responsible for the geochemical monitoring of the Campania volcanoes at INGV-OV, underlining how understanding these processes is crucial for monitoring volcanic activity.
"Among the most interesting results is the integration of the conceptual model with the numerical physical model of the system, which predicts a gas rise in the Solfatara-Pisciarelli area, and the identification of the interaction between volcanic fluids and aquifers based on the characteristics of the water. This area is confirmed as the heart of the hydrothermal activity of the caldera", underlines Giovanni Chiodini, Associate Research Manager at INGV.
The identified geochemical processes are closely related, but each dominates in specific regions of the hydrothermal system, thus causing the great variability in the composition of the groundwater within the caldera. In the Campi Flegrei, in fact, there coexist cold waters of meteoric origin, thermal bicarbonate waters originating from the interaction with gases in the peripheral areas of the system, chlorinated waters derived from high-temperature saline solutions, and, finally, groundwaters of the Solfatara-Pisciarelli area, where the condensation of sulfur-rich steam plays a decisive role.
"The investigation therefore aimed to better understand the chemical processes that influence the composition of groundwater. Through the analysis of 114 samples collected in an extensive measurement campaign between 2013 and 2014, we developed a geochemical model that allowed us to describe the evolution of the interaction of meteoric water with hydrothermal saline solutions and volcanic gases during its underground journey", adds Alessandro Aiuppa, Professor at the University of Palermo.
The data collected have therefore allowed us to develop an advanced conceptual model useful for highlighting and interpreting any future changes in the chemistry of groundwater and in the dynamics of processes. “The results of this study have allowed us to design and implement a permanent multi-parameter network for monitoring water in the caldera, active since 2018 and continuously evolving, which represents an essential tool for detecting changes in the system and recognizing any signs of the resumption of volcanic activity", concludes Mauro A. Di Vito, Director of INGV-OV.
Link to the study
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