title: Geochemical survey of Levante Bay, Vulcano Island (Italy), a natural laboratory for the study of ocean acidification.
abstract: Shallow submarine gas vents in Levante Bay, Vulcano Island (Italy), emit around 3.6t CO2 per day providing a natural laboratory for the study of biogeochemical processes related to seabed CO2 leaks and ocean acidification. The main physico-chemical parameters (T, pH and Eh) were measured at more than 70 stations with 40 seawater samples were collected for chemical analyses. The main gas vent area had high concentrations of dissolved hydrothermal gases, low pH and negative redox values all of which returned to normal seawater values at distances of about 400m from the main vents. Much of the bay around the vents is corrosive to calcium carbonate; the north shore has a gradient in seawater carbonate chemistry that is well suited to studies of the effects of long-term increases in CO2 levels. This shoreline lacks toxic compounds (such as H2S) and has a gradient in carbonate saturation states.
authors: DiSTeM University of Palermo, CoNISMa, via Archirafi, 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Boatta
authors: W
authors: W
authors: D'Alessandro
authors: A L
authors: AL
authors: Gagliano
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Liotta
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Milazzo
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Rodolfo-Metalpa
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Hall-Spencer
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Parello
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays / Q000737:chemistry; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000032:analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002254:Carbonates / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007558:Italy; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002254:Carbonates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002119:Calcium Carbonate
keywords: Carbon capture and storage; Carbon dioxide; Carbonate saturation state; Marine geochemistry; Ocean acidification; Volcanic vents