Geophysical investigations at Stromboli volcano, Italy. Implications for ground water flow and paroxysmal activity.

International audienceStromboli volcano (Italy) is characterized by a permanent mild explosive activity disrupted by major and paroxysmal eruptions. These strong eruptions could be triggered by phreato-magmatic processes. With the aim of obtaining a better understanding of ground water flow in the vicinity of the active vents, we carried out a set of geophysical measurements along two profiles crossing the Fossa area (through the Pizzo, the Large and the Small Fossa craters). These measurements include electrical resistivity, induced polarization, self-potential, temper-ature and CO2 ground concentration. These methods are used in order to delineate the crater boundaries, which act as preferential fluid flow pathways for the upflow of hydrothermal fluids. The absence of fumarolic activity in the Fossa area and the ground temperature close to 100 ◦C at a depth of 30 cm indicate that the hydrothermal fluids condense close to the ground surface. Part of this condensed water forms a shallow drainage network (