Ascent velocity and dynamics of the Fiumicino mud eruption, Rome, Italy

In August 2013 drilling triggered the eruption of mud near the international airport of Fiumicino (Rome, Italy). We monitored the evolution of the eruption and collected samples for laboratory characterization of physicochemical and rheological properties. Over time, muds show a progressive dilution...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical research letters 2015-08, Vol.42 (15), p.6244-6252
Main Authors: Vona, A., Giordano, G., De Benedetti, A. A., D'Ambrosio, R., Romano, C., Manga, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Airports
Analogies
Ascent
ascent velocity
Computational fluid dynamics
Density
Dilution
Discharge
Drilling
Drilling muds
Dynamics
Ejection
Eruptions
Evolution
Fiumicino
Fluid flow
Fluids
Fragmentation
Fragments
Freshwater
Geological hazards
Grain size
Hazard assessment
History
In situ measurement
Mud
Mud volcanoes
Properties
Pseudoplasticity
Rheological properties
Rheology
Size distribution
Stratigraphy
Stresses
Velocity
Volcanoes
Yield strength
Yield stress
Yields
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Summary:In August 2013 drilling triggered the eruption of mud near the international airport of Fiumicino (Rome, Italy). We monitored the evolution of the eruption and collected samples for laboratory characterization of physicochemical and rheological properties. Over time, muds show a progressive dilution with water; the rheology is typical of pseudoplastic fluids, with a small yield stress that decreases as mud density decreases. The eruption, while not naturally triggered, shares several similarities with natural mud volcanoes, including mud componentry, grain‐size distribution, gas discharge, and mud rheology. We use the size of large ballistic fragments ejected from the vent along with mud rheology to compute a minimum ascent velocity of the mud. Computed values are consistent with in situ measurements of gas phase velocities, confirming that the stratigraphic record of mud eruptions can be quantitatively used to infer eruption history and ascent rates and hence to assess (or reassess) mud eruption hazards. Key Points We characterized physicochemical and rheological properties of the Fiumicino mud eruption Muds are pseudoplastic fluids with a small yield stress that decreases with dilution Mud rheology is used to compute a minimum ascent velocity of the mud
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007
DOI:10.1002/2015GL064571