The Thermal Plumbing System of Stromboli Volcano, Aeolian Islands (Italy) Inferred From Electrical Conductivity and Induced Polarization Tomography

We performed the first 3D island-scale tomography of the electrical conductivity of Stromboli volcano (Aeolian Islands, Italy) using 2D acquisition lines (37.2 km) and a total of 18,880 measurements and 2,402 unique electrode locations. This 3D data set was inverted using a Gauss-Newton algorithm, parallel-processing on an unstructured tetrahedral mesh containing 678,420 finite-element nodes and 3,580,145 elements to account for the topography of the volcanic island. The tomogram exhibits a conductive body (10(-2)-1.0 S m(-1)) consistent with the location of CO2 and temperature anomalies observed at the ground surface. It corresponds to the hydrothermal system with high electrical conductivity associated with alteration. In order to confirm this interpretation, a 2.5D large-scale induced polarization tomography was performed crossing the volcano. The joint interpretation of the conductivity and normalized chargeability is done with a petrophysical model previously tested and verified at both shield- and strato-volcanoes. This model implies that alteration (through the effect of the cation exchange capacity associated with clay minerals and zeolites) plays a strong role in both controlling the electrical conductivity and normalized chargeability at Stromboli volcano. A temperature tomogram, derived from the geoelectrical measurements, is consistent with surface temperature anomalies and the Very Long Period (VLP) seismicity related to the mild-explosive activity. This survey displays at 600 m a.s.l. a lateral shift in the highest temperature location, also corresponding to the source of VLP seismicity. Structural boundaries have a major role in the hottest hydrothermal fluids rising below the active crater terrace of Stromboli volcano.

Automated summary

We conducted the first 3D island-scale tomography of Stromboli volcano in Italy, using 2D acquisition lines and a large number of measurements and electrode locations. The results show a conductive body consistent with CO2 and temperature anomalies at the surface, indicating the presence of a hydrothermal system. A petrophysical model suggests that alteration plays a significant role in controlling the conductivity and chargeability at the volcano. The temperature tomogram derived from geoelectrical measurements aligns with surface temperature anomalies and seismic activity.