Relationship Between Geothermal Activity and Gravity Anomalies on Vulcano Island, Italy

Abstract

This study investigated the usefulness of gravity data in deducing information about the near-surface geological structures which may be controlling geothermal activity on the island of Vulcano. Gravity measurements were carried out along several profiles taken across and around the Fossa crater. A quantitative gravimetric interpretation was carried out along the profiles and a good fit model was obtained for a simple two layer model including a dense rectangular prism. The dense material beneath the crater may be the self-sealed volcanics under which geothermal fluids circulate, as inferred by other geophysical studies.