Study of the environmental effects of submarine CO<SUB>2</SUB>-rich emissions by means of scientific diving techniques (Panarea Island – Italy)

Abstract

To study the effects of anomalous concentrations of CO2 in the sea a volcanic area was identified in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, where submarine CO2-rich discharges occur in shallow water producing underwater gas plumes. Specific fluid sampling and water-chemistry measuring techniques were developed to be used by scientific divers in order to identify the chemical composition of the gas emissions and their effect on the marine surroundings. Laboratory experiments were conducted to identify the main features of the physical interaction of a gas plume with the surrounding liquid environment.