Giuseppe Giovanni Salerno, BSc

PhD student

Volcanic degassing at Mt. Etna and Stromboli (Italy): high time resolution measurements and models

Biography

Following his first degree in Earth Sciences, Giuseppe qualified as a Chartered Geologist and then completed a certificate course in Remote Sensing and GIS at the University of Naples. In 2001, he took a research position with the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) in Catania (Italy), joining the Geochemistry Remote Sensing Group. From 2002 to 2004 he was supported by scholarships from the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and INGV, as part of the FASA European Project. In 2002 he followed a graduate course in Volcanology at the University of Catania and, in 2005, the International Training Program in volcanology on Hawai'i with CSAV (University of Hawai'i - Hilo) and USGS (United States Geological Survey).

Giuseppe's doctoral research focuses on: (i) differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) of SO₂ emissions from Stromboli and Etna using ultraviolet remote sensing methods; (ii) interpretation of magma dynamics from integrated geochemical and geophysical observations; (iii) development and installation of new remote sensing tools for monitoring of active volcanoes.

Since 2001, when he joined INGV, he has been very closely involved in the monitoring and emergency response to volcaninc crisis of Mt. Etna and the 2002 eruption of Stromboli.

Career

Since October 2005, PhD Student at University of Cambridge, Department of Geography - United Kingdom.
20^th May 2005 - 1^st July 2005: Scholarship of University of Hilo, Hawai'i - USA.
1^st November 2005 - 1^st November 2006: Scholarship of MIUR (Ministero dell'Istruzione Università e Ricerca, Italy) and I.N.G.V. (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Catania section);
1^st November 2004 - 1^st November 2005: Scholarship of MIUR (Ministero dell'Istruzione Università e Ricerca, Italy) and I.N.G.V. (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Catania section);
10^th August 2004 - 10^th January 2005: Research Contract with I.N.G.V. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia - Catania Section, Italy.
1^st July 2003 - 1^st July 2004: Scholarship from Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Roma Section - A.S.I. Agenzia Spaziale Italiana.
1^st July 2002 - 1^st Juy 2003: Scholarship from Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia Roma Section - A.S.I. Agenzia Spaziale Italiana;
15^th March 2001 - 30^th June 2002: Collaboration with INGV Catania, Italy;

Qualifications

Expected 2008: Ph.D., Darwin College, Cambridge, U.K., funded by (MIUR) Ministero dell'Istruzione Università e Ricerca and (INGV) Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Catania, Italy.
2005: Postgraduate International Training Program in Volcano hazards Monitoring. CSAV Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes - University of Hawai'i, Hilo and U.S. Geological Survey, United States of America.
April 2004: Qualification of Preliminary Programming in IDL, Department of Engineering, University of Salerno, Researcher System Inc.
2003: Summer School in Volcanology, Department of Geological Science, University of Catania, Italy.
2001: Certificate in "Remote Sensing and GIS applications". European Social Fund, University of Naples and CeSis S.p.A, Italy.
2000: Title of Italian Chartered Geologist Status, University of Potenza, Italy.
1999: BSc Earth Sciences Studies, University of Catania, Italy.

Research

Supervisors: Clive Oppenheimer and Dr. Mike Burton of Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Catania, (Italy).

Observations of volcanic gas emissions are essential to improving our understanding of magma dynamics and the style of eruptions. Active volcanoes are a major source for many gas species, and their emissions play important roles in atmospheric and climatic processes, and can also adversely impact public health in downwind communities. For example, approximately 10% of the global flux of SO₂ injected into the atmosphere has been attributed to volcanic activity [Bluth et al. 1993]. Sulphur dioxide is one of the three most abundant magmatic gases (after H₂O and CO₂). SO₂ fluxes are directly linked to magma supply rates because this gas species is exsolved during the decompression of magma upon ascent. Knowledge of the sulphur content of undegassed magma and the final sulphur concentration in erupted products permits estimates of magma supply rates from observed SO₂ emission rates (Allard et al., Nature; Francis et al., Nature).

Measurement of SO₂ fluxes from volcanoes has been carried out using ultraviolet remote sensing techniques for over 30 years and has become a standard practice in volcano surveillance. Recent technological advances have led to the availability of lightweight UV spectrometers suitable for measuring SO₂ emissions from volcanoes [e.g. Galle et al, 2003; McGonigle et al, 2004]. The availability of these instruments provides the opportunity for intensive measurements of SO₂ fluxes at high temporal resolution using fixed arrays of scanning spectrometers [Edmonds et al. 2003]. In 2004 the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) Section based in Catania (Italy) designed, built and installed a network of UV scanners on Stromboli (Aeolian Islands) and Mt Etna in order to perform real-time, high temporal resolution measurements of SO₂ flux. Two anemometers were installed near the summit of both volcanoes in order to provide wind speed data for the SO₂ flux calculations. These high temporal resolution geochemical data represent an important step forward in volcanic surveillance providing real-time information with a time step approaching that of other geophysical datastreams. Furthermore, real-time, daylight volcanic plume scanning provides a method for assessment of volcanic ash-cloud hazard, critical for aviation safety. The key aim of my project is to analyse two-years of SO₂ flux data from the new UV scanning arrays on Mt Etna and on Stromboli. This study will enable a critical evaluation of the errors and limits of the detection system, and will provide the basis to determine short-term and long-term variations in magma supply rates at both volcanoes and the relationships between SO₂ flux, geophysical parameters, and eruptive style.

Publications

Spampinato, L., Salerno, G.G., Martin, R., Sawyer G.M., Ramirez C., Oppenheimer C., and Lyinskaya, E., The March 2009 thermal imaging and gas measurement survey. La revista Geologica de America Central (in press).
Aiuppa, A., M. Burton, Caltabiano, T., G., Giudice, S. Gurrieri, M., Liuzzo, F., Murè, G. Salerno, (2010), Excess precursory magmatic CO2 gas emissions trigger paraxysmal basaltic explosions, Geoph. Res. Lett., 37,doi:10.1029/2010GL043837.
Martin, R.S., G.M. Sawyer, L. Spampinato, G.G. Salerno, C. Ramirez, E. Ilyinskaya, M.L.I. Witt, T.A. Mather, I.M. Watson, J.C. Phillips and C. Oppenheimer.(2010) A total volatile inventory for Masaya volcano, Nicaragua. . Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2010JB007480,
Campion R., G.G. Salerno, P-F. Coheur, D. Hurtmans, L. Clarisse, K. Kazahaya, M. Burton, T. Caltabiano, C. Clerbaux, A. Bernard (2010), Measuring volcanic degassing of SO2 in the lower troposphere with ASTER band ratios, J. Volcanol. Geot Res., 194, 42–54
Steffke, A., Harris, A.J.L., Burton, M.R., Caltabiano, T., Salerno, G.G. Coupled Use of COSPEC and Satellite Measurements to define the Volumetric Balance During Effusive Eruptions at Mt. Etna, Italy. J. Volcanol. Geot Res. 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2010.06.004

La Spina, A., M. Burton, and G.G. Salerno, Unravelling the processes controlling gas emissions from the central and northeast craters of Mt. Etna doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2010.09.018, J. Volcanol. Geot Res.
Salerno, G.G., M., Burton, C., Oppenheimer, T., Caltabiano, D., Randazzo, N., Bruno, (2009). Three-years of SO2 flux measurements of Mt. Etna using an automated UV scanner array: comparison with conventional traverses and uncertainties in flux retrieval J. Volcanol. Geot Res. 183, 76-83. doi:10/1016j.jvolgeores.2009.02.013
Salerno, G.G. , M.R. Burton, C. Oppenheimer, T. Caltabiano, V. Tsanev, and N. Bruno, (2009). Novel retrieval of volcanic SO₂ abundance from ultraviolet spectra. J. Volcanol. Geot Res. 181,141-153. doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2009.01.009
Burton, M.R., T. Caltabiano, F. Murè; G.G. Salerno and D. Randazzo, (2008). SO2 flux from Stromboli during the 2007 eruption: Results from the FLAME network and traverse measurements. J. Volcanol. Geot Res.18, 214-220. doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2008.11.025
Aiuppa, A., Giudice, G., Gurrieri, S., Liuzzo, M., Burton M., Caltabiano, T., McGonigle A.J.S., Salerno, G., Shinohara, H., and Valenza, M., (2008). The Total volatile flux from Mount Etna. Geophys. Res. Lett. 35, L24302, doi:10.1029/2008GL035871
Allard, P., A. Aiuppa, M., Burton, T., Caltabiano, C., Federico, G., Salerno, A., La Spina, (2008). Crater Gas Emissions and the magma feeding system of Stromboli volcano, in: The Stromboli Volcano, An integrated study of the 2002-2003 eruption. Eds: S. Calvari, S. Inguaggiato, G. Puglisi, M. Ripepe, M. Rosi, American Geophysical Union, Geophysical Monography Series, 182, 139.
Marchetti, M., Ripepe, M., Uliveri, G., Burton, M., Caltabiano, T., and Salerno, G, (2008). Gas flux rate migration of the magma column. in: The Stromboli Volcano, An integrated study of the 2002-2003 eruption. Eds: S. Calvari, S. Inguaggiato, G. Puglisi, M. Ripepe, M. Rosi, American Geophysical Union, Geophysical Monography Series, 182, 339.
Buongiorno, M.F., Amici, S., Colini, L., Distefano G., Doumaz, F., Lombardo, V., Musacchio, M., Merucci, L., Pannaccione, M.I.A., Spinetti, C., Caltabinao, T., Behncke, B., Burton, M., Bruno, N., Giammanco S., Longo, V., Mure', F., Neri, M., Salerno, G., Badalamenti, B., Diliberto, I.S., Liotta, M., Madonia, P., Silvestri, M., Pugnaghi, S., Corradini, St., Guerrieri, L., Lombroso, L., Teggi, S., Remitti, M., Gobbi, G.P., Barnaba, F., Sgavetti, M., Pompilio, L., Tramutoli, V., Lanorte, V., Pergola, N., Marchese, F., Di bello, G., Candela, O., Lindermeir, E., Haschberger, P., Tank, V., Oertel, D., Kick, H., Santantonio, N., Mannarella, M., Bogliolo, M.P. (2008), Etna 2003 Field Campaign: Calibartion and Validation of Spaceborne and Airborne Instruments for Volcanic Applications - ASI Projects: I/R/157/02,Quaderni di Geofisica, 56
Ripepe M., E. Marchetti, G. Ulivieri, A. Harris, J. Dehn, M. Burton, T. Caltabiano, and G. Salerno (2005), The Effusive to Explosive Transition During the 2002 Eruption of Stromboli Volcano, Geology, 33, 273-276.
Burton M.R., M. Neri, D. Andronico, S. Branca, T. Caltabiano, S. Calvari, R.A. Corsaro, P. Del Carlo, G. Lanzafame, L. Lodato, L. Miraglia, G. Salerno, and L. Spampinato (2005), Etna 2004-2005: An Archetype for geodynamically-controlled effusive eruption. Geophys. Res. Lett. 32, L09303, doi:10.1029/2005GL022527.
Andronico D., S. Branca, S. Calvari, M.R. Burton, T. Caltabiano, R.A. Corsaro, P. Del Carlo, G. Garfì, L. Lodato, L. Miraglia, F. Muré, M. Neri, E. Pecora, M. Pompilio, G. Salerno, and L. Spampinato (2005), A multi-disciplinary study of the 2002-03 Etna eruption: insights for a complex plumbing system. Bull. Volcanol. 67, 314-330, doi:10.1007/s00445-004-0372-8.
Calvari S., P. Del Carlo, S. Branca, D. Andronico, N. Bruno, M.R. Burton, T. Caltabiano, M. Cascone, M. Coltelli, D. Condarelli, R.A. Corsaro, A. Cristaldi, E. De Beni, G. Garfì, G. Lanzafame, L. Lodato, V. Longo, S. Mangiagli, L. Messina, L. Miraglia, F. Morabito, F. Muré, M. Neri, E. Pecora, M. Pompilio, G. Salerno, G. Sawyer, S. Scollo, and L. Spampinato (2004), The first period of the 2002 Etna eruption (27 October-5 November): preliminary results, Quaderni di Geofisica 32, 1-10
Badalamenti B., N. Bruno, T. Caltabiano, F. Di Gangi, S. Giammanco, and G. Salerno (2004), Continuous soil CO2 and discrete plume SO2 measurements at Mt. Etna (Italy) during 1997-2000: A contribution to volcano monitoring, Bull. Volcanol., 66, 80 - 89. doi:10.1007/s00445-003-0305-y.
McGonigle A.J.S., C. Oppenheimer, A. Hayes, B. Galle, M. Edmonds, T. Caltabiano, G. Salerno, and M. Burton (2003), Volcanic sulphur dioxide fluxes from Etna, Vulcano and Stromboli measured with an automated scanning ultraviolet spectrometer, J. of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 108 (B9), 2455, doi:10.1029/2002JB002261.

Publications submitted/review

Burton, M.R., T. Caltabiano, G.G. Salerno, N. Bruno and V. Longo. Constraints on past and future eruptive activity at Mt Etna from SO2 flux measurements. Journal Geophysical Research - Solid Earth, in review.
Sawyer G.M., Salerno G.G., Spampinato L., Martin R.S., Le Blonde J., Roberts T., Oppenheimer C., Multidisciplinary campaign at Villarrica volcano (Chile), J. Volcanol. Geot Res. in review

Publications in preparation

Aloisi, M., Andronico, D., Salerno, G.G., Formation of polyphased cones in the S-flank of Etna during the 2002-03 eruption.

External activities

Project and external activities:

Projecy INGV - Department of Civil Protection: FlanK
Projecy INGV - Department of Civil Protection: Paroxysm
Programma di sorveglianza sismica e vulcanica della Sicilia, 'Estensione e Potenziamento dei Sistemi di MonitoraggioVulcanico e Sismico Della Sicilia'. Task Geochemistry
Project FLAMES: SO₂ Flux Automatic Measurements on Stromboli. M. Burton, T. Caltabiano, G. Salerno and F. Murè. May 2003.
Project USE-FLAME: Ultraviolet Spectrometers on Etna - Flux Automatic Measurements; M. Burton, T. Caltabiano, G. Salerno, F. Murè, N. Bruno, E. Longo and M. Condarelli. May 2004.
Project: INGV- DPC, Etna V6
Project: INGV- DPC, Researcher, V4,
Member of American Geophysical Union (AGU);
Member of Cambridge Philosophical Society;
Member of the Italian Society of Geologists (Ordini dei Geologi d'Italia);
Member of International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI).
Spider Network (Science & Policy Interfaces for Disaster Reduction)