Global-scale control of extensional tectonics on CO2 earth degassing

Earth degassing of CO 2 -rich fluids has been proven to contribute significantly to the global carbon budget. The presence of ubiquitous outgassing reveals some degree of permeability of the crust that often coincides with seismically active zones. In this study, we took advantage of the most recent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature communications 2018-11, Vol.9 (1), p.1-9, Article 4608
Main Authors: Tamburello, Giancarlo, Pondrelli, Silvia, Chiodini, Giovanni, Rouwet, Dmitri
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
704/2151/209
704/2151/210
704/2151/598
704/445/562
Carbon dioxide
Degassing
Earth crust
Earth surface
Gas discharges
Gases
Humanities and Social Sciences
multidisciplinary
Outgassing
Pattern analysis
Permeability
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Tectonics
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Summary:Earth degassing of CO 2 -rich fluids has been proven to contribute significantly to the global carbon budget. The presence of ubiquitous outgassing reveals some degree of permeability of the crust that often coincides with seismically active zones. In this study, we took advantage of the most recent global geological datasets to better understand earth degassing and how it correlates with tectonic regimes. Here we use an ad hoc point pattern analysis to show that there is a spatial correlation between CO 2 discharges and the presence of active fault systems, in particular with those characterized by a normal slip type. Seismic data demonstrate the existence of a positive spatial correlation between gas discharges and extensional tectonic regimes and confirms that such processes would play a key role in creating pathways for the rising gases at micro- and macro-scales, increasing the rock permeability and connecting the deep crust to the earth surface. Earth degassing of CO 2 -rich fluids contributes significantly to the global carbon budget but its link to tectonic regimes remains unclear. Here, the authors use global geological datasets to show that there is a positive spatial correlation between CO 2 discharges and extensional tectonic regimes.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-018-07087-z