Journal
LANDSLIDES
Volume 16, Issue 5, Pages 921-935Publisher
SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
DOI: 10.1007/s10346-019-01149-z
Keywords
Hydraulic conductivity; Hydrothermal alteration; Shallow landslides; Rainfall; Volcano island
Funding
- postgraduate specialisation course La ricerca geofisica e vulcanologica per il monitoraggio dei rischi naturali e ambientali e per la tutela e la fruizione delle risorse del territorio (VULCAMED) (Quadro Strategico Nazionale 2007-2013 per le Regioni dell [PON a3_00278]
- INGV-DPC project GNV-Pr.15 years 2000-2003
- INGV-DPC project V3 years 2005-20006
- INGV-DPC project 2012-2015
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Several shallow landslides occurred at La Fossa cone (Vulcano Island, Aeolian Archipelago, Italy) in the last 30years, during both unrests and periods of quiet volcanic activity. The main event occurred in 1988, during a volcanic unrest, when a landslide collapsed into the sea from the NE flank of La Fossa cone, producing a small tsunami. Hydrothermal activity has been suggested as a potential trigger for landslide generation in this area. However, no specific investigations were carried out to test this hypothesis. With the aim of filling this gap, we studied the mineralogy and hydraulic conductivity of La Fossa cone deposits, the relationships between shallow hydrothermal circulation and rainfall dynamics and their role in triggering slope failures. We also measured rainfall rate, volumetric soil moisture content and soil suction at two automated stations installed in areas with and without active hydrothermal circulation. We found that hydrothermally altered low-conductivity materials show higher background water contents and lower soil suctions than pristine deposits, and their water content is modulated by impulsive increments following rainfalls. This behaviour is due to the combination of lower permeability and direct condensation of hydrothermal vapour. We conclude that shallow hydrothermal circulation produces conditions for slope failures following transients in soil moisture content caused by rainfall infiltration. These considerations allow to identify the areas immediately NW and SE of the 1988 landslide as the most prone to future mass movements.
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