Linosa Island represents the emergent tip of a mostly submarine, much wider volcanic edifice, with at least 96% of its areal extent lying below sea level. Marine geological surveys carried out in 2016 and 2017 allowed to reconstruct the submarine portions of Linosa and to characterize the main volcanic features, providing new, unexpected insights on the evolution of this little-explored volcanic complex. In particular, the submarine setting of the NW offshore is represented by a ~10-km long volcanic belt punctuated by a number of small eruptive cones, appearing more recent with respect to the assumed Mid/Late-Quaternary age of volcanism on the island. This evidence suggests that the growth of the volcanic edifice has likely been more complex than that claimed on the base of subaerial volcanism only, and supports a north-westward migration of the activity over time. The submarine southern flank of the volcanic edifice is also characterized by eccentric eruptive cones, but mostly without evidences of recent activity. The main processes responsible for the growth and evolution of Linosa volcano and their possible relative chronology are discussed in the framework of what previously known on the base of the limited subaerial portions, with implications on the potential hazard of the volcanic edifice (considered as not-active in recent times). Similarity with the Pantelleria volcano, located in the NW Sicily Channel, are also evidenced, especially for what regards the distribution and morphometric characteristics of eruptive cones occurring in the submarine portions of both islands.

New insights on the evolution of the Linosa volcano (Sicily Channel) from the study of its submarine portions

Romagnoli C.
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
2020

Abstract

Linosa Island represents the emergent tip of a mostly submarine, much wider volcanic edifice, with at least 96% of its areal extent lying below sea level. Marine geological surveys carried out in 2016 and 2017 allowed to reconstruct the submarine portions of Linosa and to characterize the main volcanic features, providing new, unexpected insights on the evolution of this little-explored volcanic complex. In particular, the submarine setting of the NW offshore is represented by a ~10-km long volcanic belt punctuated by a number of small eruptive cones, appearing more recent with respect to the assumed Mid/Late-Quaternary age of volcanism on the island. This evidence suggests that the growth of the volcanic edifice has likely been more complex than that claimed on the base of subaerial volcanism only, and supports a north-westward migration of the activity over time. The submarine southern flank of the volcanic edifice is also characterized by eccentric eruptive cones, but mostly without evidences of recent activity. The main processes responsible for the growth and evolution of Linosa volcano and their possible relative chronology are discussed in the framework of what previously known on the base of the limited subaerial portions, with implications on the potential hazard of the volcanic edifice (considered as not-active in recent times). Similarity with the Pantelleria volcano, located in the NW Sicily Channel, are also evidenced, especially for what regards the distribution and morphometric characteristics of eruptive cones occurring in the submarine portions of both islands.
2020
Romagnoli C.; Belvisi V.; Innangi S.; Di Martino G.; Tonielli R.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/713570
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