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The species treated as Holopyga gogorzae Trautmann, 1926 by Linsenmaier (1959) and subsequent authors was found to be misidentified. The first available name for this West Mediterranean species, thus the valid one, is Holopyga calida Linsenmaier, 1951, herewith raised to specific rank. Surprisingly enough, the true H. gogorzae Trautmann, whose female is still unknown, does not belong to the H. miranda group; it conversely belongs to the H. fervida group, and is most closely related to H. rubra Linsenmaier, 1999 according to genital capsule and tarsal claws. A key to the species of the H. miranda group, and relevant illustrations, are here provided. During this study, Hedychridium planatum Bischoff, 1910 and H. planatum var. auratum Bischoff, 1910 both proved Holopyga, not Hedychridium, most likely synonyms of H. fervida (Fabricius, 1781). The name Holopyga amoenula group is here proposed to replace the name Holopyga gloriosa group given by Linsenmaier (1959), because the name gloriosa Fabricius, 1793 has been suppressed by the ICZN - International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1998) and is therefore invalid.

In this work we report the ongoing characterization of the Sos Enattos former mine (Sardinia, Italy), one of the two candidate sites for the Einstein Telescope (ET), the European third-generation underground interferometric detector of Gravitational Waves. The Sos Enattos site lies on a crystalline basement, made of rocks with good geomechanical properties, characterized by negligible groundwater. In addition, the site has a very low seismic background noise due to the absence of active tectonics involving Sardinia. Finally, the area has a low population density, resulting in a reduced anthropic noise even at the ground level. This location was already studied in 2012-2014 as a promising site for an underground detector. More recently, in March 2019, we deployed a new network of surface and underground seismometers at the site, that is currently monitoring the local seismic noise. Most of the energy carried by the seismic waves is due to the microseisms below 1 Hz, showing a significant correlation with the waves of the west Mediterranean sea. Above 1 Hz the seismic noise in the underground levels of the mine approaches the Peterson’s low noise model. Exploiting mine blasting works into the former mine, we were also able to perform active seismic measurements to evaluate the seismic waves propagation across the area. In conclusion we also give a first assessment about the acoustic and magnetic noise in this underground site.

Studies on Paleontological heritage of Majorca (Balearic archipelago, West Mediterranean) allow to divide the post-tectonic Miocene into depositional cycles separated by sedimentary discontinuities. In this work these sequences are ordered according to Mediterranean glacio-eustatic oscillations. The Tortonian marine cycle end with a restricted lagoon record with grey sapropelic marls and an erosive surface (T/M episode). The marine Messinian transgression starts with a new marine-tidal cycle (entry of Globorotalia mediterranea. MI Synthem-Fm. Calizas de Santanyí) with four diverse records (infralittoral, mangrove-low coastal lagoon etc.) depending on the influence of the emerged relief. The last Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) is characterized with a new restricted record and a singular Lagomare fauna (MII-Fm. Calizas Pont d’Inca; MIII-Fm. Margas y conglomerados de Rafal-Son Seguí) The resulting paleoenvironmental diversity supports the proposed stratigraphic interpretation. This work thus proposes the differentiation of a tidal marine messinian cycle for the last Miocene of Mallorca, between two restricted episodes. The Majorcan messinian record documents the distension experienced by the Balearic arc according to the influence of relief, which can provide new perspectives regarding the MSC-Lagomare and the settlement of the archipelago in the Messinian age. Los estudios en el patrimonio paleontológico de Mallorca (archipiélago Balear, Mediterráneo occidental) posibilitan dividir el Mioceno postectónico de la isla en secuencias deposicionales separadas por discontinuidades sedimentarias. Estas se han ordenado de acuerdo con las oscilaciones glacio-eustáticas mediterráneas. El finitortoniense documentado comprende margas lagunares y superficie erosiva (T/M). La transgresión marina posterior se inicia con un nuevo ciclo litoral/mareal (entrada de Globorotalia mediterranea. Messiniense I-MI-Fm. Calizas de Santanyí) y con hasta 4 registros sedimentarios distintos según influencia del relieve emergido. La crisis finimessiniense se manifiesta con nuevos registros restringidos y nuevo ciclo litoral con fauna marina brackish-Lagomare (Sintema MII-Fm. Calizas Pont d’Inca; Sintema MIII-Fm. Margas y conglomerados de Rafal-Son Seguí). La ordenación estratigráfica propuesta se refuerza con una primera interpretación paleoambiental. Para el finimioceno de Mallorca este estudio ha supuesto la diferenciación de un ciclo litoral mareal messiniense entre dos episodios restringidos. El registro messiniense estudiado documenta la distensión del relieve emergido y aporta nuevas perspectivas para interpretar la crisis de salinidad mediterránea (registro de cuenca marginal) y el poblamiento finimioceno del archipiélago.

Ammonites, bivalves and calpionellids of the late Berriasian-early Valanginian from southern Mexico are poorly known; those here described are from the Sabinal Formation at Santa Catarina Ticua, Oaxaca state. Samples were collected and analyzed bed-by-bed. Ammonite assemblages correlate to the West Mediterranean late Berriasian Subthurmannia boissieri and early Valanginian Thurmanniceras pertransiens and Neocomites neocomiensiformis zones and contain taxa, which are majorly endemic, although a few European species are also identified. The bivalve Arctotis cretacea (Felix, 1891) is common in several horizons throughout the section. Calpionellids are present in the upper part of the Santa Catarina Ticua section and are indicative of the middle Berriasian Remaniella cadischiana Subzone, the late Berriasian Calpionellopsis Zone (including the Calpionellopsis simplex and Cs. oblonga subzones) and the early Valanginian Calpionellites darderi Subzone. Our data indicate that biogeographic correlation of faunal and environmental changes is possible across the Berriasian–Valanginian boundary between southern Mexico and faunal realms of the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and the western Tethys, and thus throughout the western hemisphere.

This study explores obsidian consumption during the Early/Middle Neolithic Stentinello period (ca. 5600–4000 cal B.C.) on the Italian island of Sicily through the analysis of 622 obsidian artifacts from eight sites in eastern Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. By combining obsidian sourcing by means of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry with techno-typological characterization, it is shown that distinctively wide Lipari blades were the primary artifact type used during this period. Our data suggest that the primary reduction of these materials occurred at the source area by local populations, with obsidian being transported from Lipari to eastern Sicily and Calabria in the form of preformed cores. Despite similarities between Sicily and southern Italy in the initial procurement of Lipari obsidian, there are distinct differences in how these materials were subsequently reduced.

Scholars typically argue that cultural interaction between the West Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Corsica and the European mainland took place through the Tuscan Archipelago, via such intermediary islands as Elba and Pianosa. This path is posited as the prime route in and out of these islands for both people and objects throughout prehistory largely due to the belief that early—pre-sail—seafarers would have wished to avoid more treacherous open-sea voyages. This article tests this hypothesis using social network analysis (SNA) to identify the strengths of inter-site relationships through time based on the relative proportions of West Mediterranean obsidian raw materials at 79 Neolithic sites dating from the sixth to fourth millennia BC. We argue that similar patterns of obsidian consumption reflect similar procurement mechanisms and the likelihood of more frequent interactions between the people of these communities. As such, it becomes possible to reconstruct the relationships that mediat...

International audience; he aim of this paper is to describe the mafic rocks that crop out in the central-western Mesorif Zone (External Rif Belt), and discuss their geodynamic signification. Basalt flows, olistoliths and breccias occur in Oxfordian-Berriasian deposits of Mesorif units ascribed to the distal part of the African paleomargin. The climax of volcanic activity is observed at the northern border of a Kimmeridgian carbonate platform progressively dismembered during the Tithonian-Berriasian. In spite of the alteration of the basalts, their petrological and geochemical characters point to E-MORB affinities. The studied gabbro massifs (Bou Adel, Kef el Rhar west and north) occur as restricted slivers or klippes within the Senhadja nappe or melange of the internal Mesorif, which overlies the basalt-bearing units and other, more external Mesorif units. The compositions range from troctolitic olivine gabbro to ferrogabbro with frequent ortho- to heteradcumulate textures; they display typical tholeiitic affinity. The gabbro massifs are crosscut by trondjhemite dykes and overlain by metabasalts, fault-scarp breccias, ophicalcites, marbles and radiolarites. Composition featuring initial near liquid composition, display multi elements patterns close to those of E-MORB, with a weak Eu negative anomaly and evidence of slight crustal contamination. These gabbro massifs were regarded as Jurassic-Cretaceous intrusions, locally dated (K-Ar) at 166 +/- 3 Ma. Conversely, we assume they represent discrete samples of a Jurassic-Cretaceous oceanic basement (ophiolites), emplaced tectonically in the Senhadja nappe (melange) of the central Mesorif. The correlation of both these types of mafic rock associations (paleomargin basalts and ophiolite klippes) with the serpentinites of the eastern Mesorif (Beni Malek) and Oran mountains (Algeria) is then briefly discussed. We conclude that the previous hypothesis of an intramargin "Mesorif suture zone" must be reconsidered, being challenged by that of a major, syn-collisional "Oran-Mesorif Strike-Slip Fault". In the latter hypothesis, the newly described Mesorif oceanic klippes would represent allochthonous remnants of the Ligurian-Maghrebian (Tethyan) oceanic domain.

The present study aims to analyze the effects of different submerged bars nourishment strategies using a 2DV process-based morphodynamical model. A two-barred beach profile typical of the French Mediterranean micro-tidal storm-dominated coastline is chosen as a reference profile. Two different kinds of modified beach profiles are considered. (i) Only the outer bar is nourished, the inner bar being unchanged (ii) both bars are nourished. Three typical wave forcing regimes are considered. The behavior of the natural profile is first investigated under the 3 wave forcing regimes. Then the behavior of the various nourished profiles is analyzed in terms of wave dynamics and bars behavior. On the basis of the model results, the outer bar only nourishment strategy appears to be preferable.

Ash fallout collected during 4 days of sampling at Stromboli confirms that a crystal-rich (HP) degassed magma erupts during the Strombolian explosions that are characteristic of the normal activity of this volcano. We identified 3 different types of juvenile ash fragments (fluidal, spongy and dense), which formed through different mechanisms of fragmentation of the low-viscosity, physically heterogeneous (in terms of the size and spatial distribution of bubbles) shoshonitic magma. A small amount (less than 3 vol%) of volatile-rich magma with low porphyricity (LP), erupted as highly vesicular ash fragments, has been collected, together with the HP magma, during normal strombolian explosions. Laboratory experiments and the morphological, textural and compositional investigations of ash fragments reveal that the LP ash is fresh and not recycled from the last paroxysm (15 March 2007). We suggest that small droplets of LP magma are dragged to the surface by the time-variable but persistent supply of deep derived CO2-rich gas bubbles. This coupled ascent of bubbles and LP melts is transient and does not perturb the dynamics of the HP magma within the shallow reservoir. This finding provides a new perspective on how the Stromboli volcano works and has important implications for monitoring strategies.

In comparison with those of the west Mediterranean, the Aegean, and Anatolia, the numerous obsidian sources in the southern Caucasus have begun to receive archaeological attention only recently. The least research has been directed to the southernmost of these sources, in the province of Syunik in southern Armenia. These sources lie close to the border with Azerbaijan, in remote mountainous uplands reaching elevations above 3200 m and under snow for more than half the year. The flows around the volcanic domes at Bazenk, Satanakar, and Sevkar provide abundant, high-quality obsidian which, although geologically well documented, has been neither adequately characterized in terms of geochemical variability, nor assessed archaeologically with regard to its past utilization. Research at the Syunik obsidian sources has been undertaken since 2005 as one part of the Armenian-American Vorotan Project. The purpose of the fieldwork and analyses presented here was to characterize the flows by means of large-s...

The Region–Time–Length (RTL) algorithm has been applied to different instrumental catalogues to detect seismic quiescence before medium-to-large earthquakes in Italy in the last two decades. RTL performances are sensitive to the choice of spatial and temporal parameters. The method for automatic parameters selection developed by Chen and Wu has been applied to twelve Italian earthquakes with magnitude greater than 5. The limits of the method in constructing maps of seismic quiescence before the earthquake are demonstrated, and a simple improvement is proposed. Then a new technique, namely RTLsurv, is proposed for routine surveys of the Italian seismicity. RTLsurv has been applied to all the earthquakes with magnitude greater than 4 in the Italian area in the time interval 1994–2004; four different sub-areas have been identified, with different characteristics in the level of recorded seismicity. One subarea—Tyrrhenian Sea—was characterized by a too low level of recorded seismicity for the application of the method. In the other three subareas a seismic quiescence was detected before at least the 66% of the earthquakes with magnitude greater or equal to 4 and all the earthquakes with magnitude greater than 5.

Avec l’augmentation recente de la population mondiale et des infrastructures en domaine littoral, les tempetes et les cyclones sont devenus un des risques majeurs a l’echelle globale. La Mediterranee, et plus particulierement le Golfe du Lion, ne sont pas epargnes par ces phenomenes. La tempete de 1982 par exemple, de categorie 2 sur l’echelle de Saffir-Simpson est responsable du deces de quinze personnes et de plus de 400 millions d’euros de pertes economiques. La prevision de ces evenements a partir de modeles climatiques est devenue primordiale. Le probleme majeur dans cette approche est le manque de recul dans le temps pour calibrer ces modeles. Notre approche a donc ete de reconstituer ces tempetes du passe a partir de l’etude d’archives sedimentaires (paleotempestologie). Les lagunes du littoral languedocien sont les receptacles de materiels terrigenes provenant des bassins versants en periode de crues, mais aussi de sables transportes par la mer en periode de tempetes. L’etude des archives sedimentaires dans l’etang de Pierre Blanche nous a permis d’identifier et de reconstituer l’alternance des evenements les plus extremes au cours des 2000 dernieres annees. La frequence de ces tempetes semble varier dans le temps et une augmentation significative est constatee durant la fin du Petit Âge Glaciaire.

Cet article est une synthèse des résultats géomorphologiques et paléoenvironnementaux obtenus sur cinq paléochenaux reconnus sur la partie occidentale du delta rhodanien (Rey, 2006). L’historiographie et la chronologie des chenaux abandonnés sont succinctement présentées, l’accent est mis sur les modalités d’avulsion des chenaux, lesquels régissent en partie l’évolution de la plaine deltaïque. Le remplissage sédimentaire des chenaux après recoupement évoque des fluctuations hydro-sédimentaires et l’influence des processus littoraux (morphologie du rivage, dynamiques des passes, variations du biseau salé…). La stratigraphie des colmatages alluviaux révèle aussi la modification du milieu fluvial initial en un milieu aquatique plus ou moins saumâtre favorable à l’installation d’un écosystème lagunaire et marin. Enfin, la configuration des rivages et les dynamiques marines au droit des embouchures au moment où se sont écoulés les chenaux puis au cours de leur colmatage ont grandement influencé les modes de sédimentation à l’intérieur de ceux-ci (engorgement sableux à l’embouchure, passe fermée, diminution du gradient hydraulique…). Les enregistrements sédimentaires évoquent surtout des ambiances locales, et en contexte deltaïque où les effets de site paraissent majeurs, toute la difficulté réside alors dans la corrélation des données à l’échelle de la plaine deltaïque. This paper points out the results of geomorphologic and palaeoenvironmental researchs obtained on the sedimentary fill of five paleochannels recognized on the western part of the Rhone Delta (Rey, 2006). The historiography and the chronology of the abandoned channels are briefly presented, the accent is put on the modalities of the channel avulsions which govern partially the evolution of the deltaic plain. The sedimentary filling of paleochannels shows hydro-sedimentary fluctuations and influence of the littoral processes (morphology of the littoral, dynamics of the pass, variations of the salty bevel…). The stratigraphy of the sedimentary fillings also reveals the modification of the initial river environment in a more or less brackish aquatic environment favorable to the installation of a laguno-marine ecosystem. At least, the configuration of the coast and the marine dynamics largely influenced the modes of sedimentation inside these (sandy deposits in the mouth, the closed mouth, decrease of the hydraulic gradient…). The sedimentary recordings present especially local atmospheres and in context deltaic where the effects of site seem major, all the difficulty lies then in the correlation of the data on the scale of the deltaic plain.

Le systeme lagunaire de l’Etang de Thau est actif des 7050 BP (5580-5255 BC) mais la mise en place du systeme littoral couplant cordon littoral et lagune est probablement anterieure. Ce systeme appartient a un morphosysteme domine par les vagues dans un contexte sedimentaire pauvre en sources sedimentaires. Son erosion actuelle fait echo a une dynamique ancienne montrant apres 6500 BP (5068-4660 BC) un recul du lido joignant le Mont Saint-Clair au Pioch (volcan d’Agde). La palynologie du sondage SETIF rend compte de cette instabilite dynamique et permet d’esquisser l’evolution de la vegetation cotiere. La sequence temoigne a la fois du rechauffement global et des transformations paleoecologiques et paleogeographiques propres a ce secteur du littoral. Le caractere localement thermophile des conditions de vie liees au Mont Saint-Clair, la perception de la creation du cordon, les fluctuations des milieux instables (lido, berges de la lagune) et les differentes etapes d’enregistrement de l’activite humaine depuis le Neolithique ancien en sont les apports principaux. Les observations relatives au niveau marin relatif local sont coherentes avec les donnees regionales mais presentent quelques singularites comme un caractere probablement perche de la nappe oligohaline a mesohaline formant le paleo-etang de Thau jusqu’a 6540 ± 40 BP (5068-4660 BC).

La synthese des datations radiocarbone obtenues dans cinq sondages carottes de l’agglomeration nicoise permet d’apprehender l’evolution holocene des taux de sedimentation en differents points du profil longitudinal du petit fleuve cotier du Brancolar. Les carottages etudies montrent tous une nette augmentation des taux de sedimentation entre 5500 et 3500 ans av. J.-C. Cette periode correspond a une occupation des fonds de vallon et des versants par les communautes du Neolithique et de l’Âge du Bronze. Nous montrons que, pour cette periode et dans ce contexte de basse plaine alluviale, l’influence des hommes sur la morphogenese fluviatile reste un phenomene imperceptible comparativement a des parametres plus pregnants tels que l’eustatisme, la geomorphologie du bassin et surtout l’organisation geometrique et la morphologie des corps sedimentaires progradants.

Aim of this paper is to identify variations in Very-Long-Period (VLP) source associated with eruptive style changes at Stromboli volcano (Italy) and to retrieve information about the shallow plumbing system that sustains the eruptive activity. We have considered a dataset of 74493 VLP events recorded during the period from January through August 2007, when an effusive eruption occurred (February 27–April 2). We performed a polarization analysis of the entire dataset and divided the considered period into four sub-periods on the basis of polarization characteristics. We then located the events and selected a subset of these events by applying a location quality threshold. The high quality locations demonstrate that during the effusive eruption the VLP sources first moved downward and then moved southwestward. To retrieve information about the geometry of the structures where the source processes take place, we further consider a subset of events and estimate their source mechanisms by using a moment tensor source function (MTSF) inversion technique. Inversion of the waveforms of the VLP events that occurred on February 27 allows us to obtain information about the dynamics of different source centroids distributed along different portions of the shallow magmatic conduits. The structure defined by the locations and source mechanisms shows a greater complexity compared with previous studies and their time variations give an insight into the kinematics of the eruption.

Projects: (i)FIRB-MIUR "Simulazione dei flussi lavici con gli automi cellulari" N. RBAU01RMZ4_002, (ii) “Sviluppo di sistemi di monitoraggio’ funded by Dipartimento di Protezione Civile della Regione Sicilia, INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, sezione di catania - Italy), (iii) EU-funded Sixth Framework Programme project 18354 “NOVAC, (iv)Leverhulme Trust fellowship.

The winters 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 were characterised by the formation in the north-western Mediterranean Sea of dense waters, which were significantly warmer and saltier than previously. The temperature-salinity diagrams show the presence of three different deep water types, a resident one and two newly formed ones. In order to quantitatively evaluate the filling of the deep Western Mediterranean Sea with these three different water masses from their formation region, an extended optimum multiparametric analysis (eOMP) has been performed, which permitted the estimation of the mixing fractions of the deep water masses in the area. The paper presents a comparison between the distributions of the three deep water types in 2005 and in 2006, in order to assess the spreading of the newly formed waters from their formation region.

Catchment-scale land-use changes and erosion-control works have geomorphic consequences as can be seen in the morphological evolution of river channels. An analysis of the consequences of check dams and reforestation works that took place in the 1970s on the channel morphology in the Rogativa catchment (53 km2) in SE Spain is conducted. A land-use change detection analysis of the catchment between 1956, 1981, and 1997 was performed. River channel changes were mapped between 1956 and 1997. Furthermore, morphological field mapping of river reaches, location of all check dams, and characterization of the areas upstream and downstream of them were carried out. Sediment sampling along 10.5 km of the channel and analysis of time series precipitation data were performed. A slight decreasing tendency of the annual precipitation and erosivity of rainfall since the 1940s has been detected. In addition, vegetation cover has increased enormously in the catchment since the 1950s. The dense forest has increased fivefold and the dryland farming areas have been reduced by a 57%. Of all 58 check dams, 72% are silted and 81% of them show erosion features downstream. The active channel has narrowed and many of the lateral bars have been colonized by vegetation. A lateral displacement of the active channel is also observed. Sediment supply has decreased because of the reduction of non-point sources of sediment (i.e., decrease in dryland farming areas and pasture land) and sediment retention behind check dams. Water flow with an increased transport capacity started erosion locally downstream of check dams. The decrease of sediment supply has caused a general armoring of channels. Currently, most of the check dams have lost much of their trap efficiency, erosion of the alluvial wedges upstream of dams is starting, degrading their structure and mobilizing the sediments retained during the past 30 years. Although seemingly clear that land-use changes, reforestation, and correction works affect the channel responses and sediment dynamics, the relative importance of each of these factors with respect to the morphological channel dynamics remains unclear, which is proposed for further research., This work has been financially supported by the project “Respuesta Hidrológica y Geomorfológica de los Sistemas Fluvio-Torrenciales afectados por proyectos de Restauración Hidrológico-Forestal en cuencas semiáridas del Sureste Peninsular” of the Fundación Instituto Euromediterráneo de Hidrotecnia (CE). The first author was financially supported by an I3P postdoc contract CSIC-CE and a “Ramón y Cajal” contract from the Education and Science Ministry (Spain). Gonzalo G. Barberá also was supported by I3P postdoc contract.

The present work assesses non-Gaussianity and asymmetry within the statistical response of the monthly winter (December–February) precipitation to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) over the North Atlantic–European region (NAE). To evaluate asymmetry, data are split through the median of the NAO index and side correlations are computed for each regime [negative and positive phases of the NAO (NAO− and NAO+, respectively)]. The following statistically significant differences between these correlations are found: (a) near the central North Atlantic, around 40°N, 20°W, and southeast of Iceland, with much stronger correlations in the wet-favorable regime: NAO− in the first location and NAO+ in the second location; (b) around 42°N, 48°W in the west North Atlantic; and (c) south of Greenland and in the west Mediterranean near 36°N, where, in both cases, the correlation is only relevant for the dry-favorable NAO+ regime. Based on the above decomposition, a map of a statistical test of asymmetry, applicable for every bivariate distribution, is shown. To evaluate redundancy and non-Gaussianity, the mutual information (MI) is computed from information theory. Its positive contributions resulting from the linear correlation, a purely Gaussian term, and non-Gaussianity, which vanishes in pure Gaussian cases, are studied. The MI is estimated through two methods: 1) the truncated Edgeworth expansion of the bivariate probability density function in terms of Hermite polynomials and cumulants, and 2) the maximum entropy method. This method is quite general, while the first one is only applicable for small deviations from Gaussianity. The map of non-Gaussian MI over the NAE domain reveals some coherent regions, where the nonlinear component of the response of monthly winter precipitation to the NAO is more important. The MI is evaluated both for the original pair of variables and for that pair after being subjected to Gaussian anamorphosis in order to prevent the influence of marginal outliers and keep the applicability of the Edgeworth method.

The COMET project aimed at studying the development of an integrated CO2 transport and storage infrastructure for Morocco, Portugal and Spain, and included the assessment of existing storage opportunities and capacities. Those countries have, jointly, enough capacity to store almost 200 years of their current CO2 emissions, but defining a cost-effective infrastructure implies establishing the storage costs at each potential site. This article describes the methodology pursued and the results of that cost assessment, including the estimates made for the annual injection rate and number of admissible wells at each site. Several analytical solutions describing the pressure build-up with CO2 injection were applied and a total injection rate of 558 MtCO2/a was found for the study area, although many potential sites are uneconomical due to presenting a very low injection rate. The storage costs spread over a very broad spectrum of values, but around 50 % of the injection sites show storage costs below 10 €/tCO2. Of the 43 storage clusters defined in the study area, about 11–15 are cost-effective, depending on the emission mitigation scenario, and should be the focus of future research.

This case study reviews the workflow and the results achieved in terms of updated development drilling plans from a 1500-km2 prestack inversion project over a West Mediterranean Deep Marine Concession in the Nile Delta. Four successful exploration and one appraisal well have been drilled to date on this concession. Figure 1 shows the location of the concession (red box) in the offshore Nile Delta, and indicates the locations and field names of the discoveries to date. The 3D survey over this concession was recorded using long offsets (6000 m). Information contained in these offsets has been used to try and obtain rock property estimates that may help distinguish lithology and fluid types in order to high grade drilling locations and help build more reliable reservoir models.

Resurgent blocks are uplifted parts of volcanoes where most of the deformation (uplift) is accommodated along peripheral faults. The island of Ischia (Italy) has an active resurgent block uplifted ~1000 m in the last ~30 ka and thus permits to investigate the deformation associated with a strong uplift in volcanic areas. Remote sensing interpretation was matched with field work (1:5000 scale mapping and structural analysis) throughout the resurgent block. These results have been matched with a review of the seismic and hydrothermal activity at Ischia. The results show that the block has a polygonal shape in map view and is characterized by a trapdoor uplift, which results in a ~15° tilt towards SE. The northern, most uplifted part, is bordered by E-W and NE-SW trending faults, arranged in parallel segments over an area ~1.5 km wide. I0 ≥ 5 MCS degree shallow (1-2 km depth) earthquakes focused in correspondence with the outermost set of faults on the northernmost part of the block. Here systematic variations in the hydrothermal activity have been observed during seismic events. Previously performed analogue models show that resurgent blocks are bordered by inward dipping high angle reverse faults (outermost fault system) and outward dipping normal faults (innermost fault system). We propose a model of trapdoor uplift of a block which induces reverse faulting, responsible for seismicity and hydrothermal variations along the most uplifted part. Outward dipping normal faults, in the innermost part, form due to the gravitational sliding of the volumes bordered by the reverse faults. The further reactivation of the outermost reverse faults triggers a new cycle new cycle of intermittent trapdoor uplift of the block.

Resume L'etude mineralogique des argiles de la serie stratigraphique du Paleozoique au Neogene a travers les bassins sedimentaires de la marge tunisienne a ete realisee dans differents domaines paleogeographiques. Ce travail a pour objectif de percevoir la relation entre la repartition des argiles dans le temps et dans l'espace et les evenements geodynamiques et eustatiques. Les corteges argileux contemporains des regressions marines, accompagnees d'une intensification de l'erosion, sont ainsi a predominance d'illite, alors que ceux relatifs aux transgressions suivies de climat chaud et sec sont accompagnes de smectite. Le minimum de niveau marin coincide avec l'abondance de palygorskite. On tentera de relier les variations observees dans la nature et la teneur des mineraux argileux aux evenements tectoniques de soulevement et d'erosion et a ceux de rifting et de subsidence.

The Tell-Rif (Tell in Algeria and Tunisia; Rif in Morocco) is the orogenic system fringing to the south the West Mediterranean basins. This system comprises three major tectonic-palaeogeographic zones from north to south: (1) the internal zones (AlKaPeCa for Alboran, Kabylies, Peloritan, Calabria) originating from the former northern European margin of the Maghrebian Tethys, (2) the “Flyschs zone” regarded as the former cover of the oceanic domain and (3) the external zones, forming the former southern Maghrebian Tethys margin more or less inverted. The Tell-Rif is interpreted as the direct result of the progressive closure of the Maghrebian Tethys until the collision between AlKaPeCa and Africa and, subsequently, the propagation of the deformation within Africa. This gives a consistent explanation for the offshore Neogene geodynamics and most authors share this simple scenario. Nevertheless, the current geodynamic models do not completely integrate the Tell-Rif geology. Based on the analysis of surface and sub-surface data, we propose a reappraisal of its present-day geometry in terms of geodynamic evolution. We highlight its non-cylindrical nature resulting from both the Mesozoic inheritance and the conditions of the tectonic inversion. During the Early Jurassic, we emphasize the development of NE-SW basins preceding the establishment of an E-W transform corridor connecting the Central Atlantic Ocean with the Ligurian Tethys. The Maghrebian Tethys developed just after, as the result of the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous left-lateral spreading between Africa and Iberia. By the Late Cretaceous, the occurrence of several tectonic events is related to the progressive convergence convergence between the two continents. A major pre-Oligocene (pre-35 Ma) compressional event is recorded in the Tell-Rif system. The existence of HP-LT metamorphic rocks associated with fragments of mantle in the External Metamorphic Massifs of the Eastern Rif and Western Tell shows that, at that time, the western part of the North-African margin was involved in a subduction below a deep basin belonging to the Maghrebian Tethys. At the same time, the closure of the West Ligurian Tethys through east-verging subduction led to a shift of the subduction, which jumped to the other side of AlKaPeCa involving both East Ligurian and Maghrebian Tethys. Slab rollback led to the development of the Oligo-Miocene back-arc basins of the West-Mediterranean, reworking the previous West Ligurian Tethys suture. The docking of AlKaPeCa against Africa occurred during the Late Burdigalian (17 Ma). Subsequently, the slab tearing triggered westward and eastward lateral movements that are responsible for the formation of the Gibraltar and Tyrrhenian Arcs respectively. The exhumation of the External Metamorphic Massifs occurred through tectonic underplating during the westward translation of the Alboran Domain. It resulted in the formation of both foredeep and wedge-top basins younger and younger westward. The lack of these elements in the eastern part of the systems signs a different evolution dominated by frontal accretion. In the discussion, we precisely address the origin of the non-cylindrical behavior of the orogenic system and question the mechanisms explaining at large scale the phases of coupling/uncoupling between the major plates.

The problem of tsunami-risk for the French coast of the Mediterraneanis discussed. Historical data of tsunami manifestation on the French coast are described and analysed.Numerical simulation of potential tsunamis in the Ligurian Sea is done and the tsunami wave heightdistribution along the French coast is calculated. For the earthquake magnitude 6.8 (typical value forMediterranean) the tsunami phenomenon has a very local character. It is shown that the tsunami tide-gaugerecords in the vicinity of Cannes–Imperia present irregularoscillations with characteristic periodof 20–30 min and total duration of 10–20h.Tsunami propagating from the Ligurian sea to the west coastof France have significantly lesser amplitudes and they are more low-frequency (period of 40–50min).The effect of far tsunamis generated in the southern Italy and Algerian coast is studied also, thedistribution of the amplitudes along the French coast for far tsunamis is more uniform.

Ophiolite slivers have been described recently in the core of the External zones of the Central Rif belt. The present work aims at illustrating new ophiolite slivers further east and discussing the structural position and tectonic emplacement of all these oceanic floor remnants. Their basement consists of gabbros previously dated at 166±3 Ma and their cover includes mafic breccias, micrites and radiolarites. These oceanic slivers are located within the Mesorif nappe stack at the bottom of the Senhadja nappe that roots beneath the Intrarif Ketama unit and was thrust over the more external Mesorif and Prerif units during the Cenozoic inversion of the North African paleomargin. These oceanic crust (OC) slivers belong to the same Mesorif suture zone as the Beni Malek serpentinites and Ait Amrâne metabasites from eastern Rif that also include marbles with ophiolitic clasts and derive from an ocean-continent transition (OCT) domain. After examination of the varied hypotheses that have been suggested to account for the emplacement of these units in the External Rif, we propose that obduction sampled an oceanic corridor opened between the Mesorif and Intrarif domains at the emplacement of the Rif Triassic evaporite basin. The Intrarif block should have been then separated from the African passive margin and connected with the Flysch domain south of the passive margin of the Alboran domain. The pre-collision structure of the Rif transect would involve two hyper-extended passive margins separated by a narrow oceanic transform fault corridor. Therefore the Tethys suture in the western Maghrebides would be split by the Intrarif block and would involve the Flysch zone in the north and the ophiolite bearing Mesorif suture zone in the south.

Data regarding the frequency andoccurrence of sea storms in the Adriatic Sea and theWestern Mediterranean during the last millennium havebeen extracted from historical written sources. TheAdriatic Sea shows two anomalous periods of high stormfrequency: the first half of the 1500s and the secondhalf of the 1700s. In the 1500s the storms were morefrequent in autumn, while in the late 1700s theyoccurred at high frequency in winter. In the WesternMediterranean, storms had a higher frequency in thefirst half of the 1600s, with two lesser periods ofhigh frequency in the 1400s and at the end of the1700s. Although both records show a maximum frequencyof sea storms during the Sporer Minimum(1416–1534) of solar activity, sunspot series yieldno, or poor, correlation during the other periods oflowest activity, i.e., Oort Minimum (1010–1090), WolfMinimum (1282–1342), and Maunder Minimum (1645–1715),suggesting that a teleconnection between sea stormsand sunspots is improbable or masked in this region.No teleconnection was found either between the ElNino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and surgesflooding Venice or the Western Mediterranean storms orbetween Venice surges and the Northern AtlanticOscillation (NAO).

The detailed analysis of the Cd distribution coupled with 137Cs measurements have been conducted in a core recovered from a flood-tidal dock of the Bordeaux harbour. They enabled reconstruction and dating of the record of industrial contamination which has developed over recent decades. The cadmium distribution accurately reflects the different stages of activity of a foundry at Vivies-Decazeville. The 137Cs curve likely records the fallout of the nuclear tests performed between 1950 and 1970, and probably also the Chernobyl fallout, that has never been mentioned in the Southwest of France until now.

There is an alluvial formation representing the transition with the Quaternary terraces, in front of the Pliocene delta of the Var. A microbiostratigraphical analysis was made for a section through almost all this formation. The base of the formation belongs to the G. inflata zone while the upper part shows the first appearance of//, balthica (1,3 My). The Plio-Pleistocene progradation is continuous except for a short regressive event at about 1,65 My. The paleomagnetic analysis indicates that the first cut-and-filled terrace occured towards 1,1 My. Given the geodynamic pattern of the Alpine border and of the Provence foreland, we were able to reconstruct the variations in sea-level during the 2-1 My interval. During this period, the eustatic level remains high, although it lowers twice, first at about 1,65 My and a second time near 1,1 My. This result correspond well to Haddad and Vail's «Glacial Eustasy» curve (1992). H. balthica appears during a highstand, in temperate conditions, just as what was also described in Italy (Raffi, 1986)., En avant du delta pliocène du Var, et emboîté dans celui-ci, existe un système alluvial faisant transition avec les terrasses quaternaires. Un transect recoupant la quasi-totalité de ce système a permis une analyse stratigraphique microfaunistique. La base de la coupe appartient à la zone à Globorotalia inflata (2,03-1,7 Ma) tandis que l'apparition de Hyalinea balthica vers le tiers supérieur de la coupe dans un contexte de bathymétrie stable apporte un repère stratigraphique (1,3 Ma) permettant l'interprétation de la série. La transition Pliocène supérieur- Pléistocène basal se fait en continu, hormis un épisode régressif vers 1,65 Ma. L'analyse paléomagnétique permet de préciser que c'est un peu avant 1,1 Ma que se forme le premier niveau de terrasse emboîtée. Etant donné le contexte géodynamique de ce secteur de bordure de l'arc de Nice, nous avons pu retracer les grands traits de l'histoire du niveau marin pour l'intervalle 2-1 Ma. Globalement le niveau eustatique reste en position haute mais chute à deux reprises, une première fois vers 1,65 Ma, la deuxième vers 1,1 Ma. Ce scénario est tout à fait cohérent avec la courbe «Glacial Eustasy» de Haddad et Vail (1992). L'apparition de H. balthica se fait en période de haut-niveau dans un contexte climatique tempéré, à l'image de ce qui a été aussi décrit en Italie (Raffi, 1986)., Dubar Michel, Gauthron Michel, Gagnepain Jean, Semah François. Le dispositif de transition Pliocène supérieur-Pléistocène inférieur du delta du Var (Alpes-Maritimes) ; nouvelles données microbiostratigraphiques et paléomagnétiques [The plio-pleistocene depositionnal system of the Var delta (Alpes-Maritimes, France) ; new biostratigraphical and paleomagnetic data]. In: Quaternaire, vol. 10, n°2-3, 1999. pp. 73-82.

The recent evolution of the offshore beach on the eastern part of the Rhone delta (Napoléon beach and La Gracieuse spit) is analysed using bathymétrie measurements realized between 1962 and 1995. The mouth area and the tip of La Gracieuse spit, considered as storage zones, are characterised by an important sediment supply; the intermediate sectors correspond to the zones of transit. The closure depth corresponding to the limit of the offshore beach changes is reached at -6 m, these changes are essentially related to the longshore sediment transport. A first sediment budget is proposed for the whole period 1962-95; it shows the important role played by the exceptional flood events for the coastal sediment supply., Resume L'évolution récente des fonds marins dans le secteur oriental du delta du Rhône (plage Napoléon et flèche de la Gracieuse) est analysée à partir de levés bathymétriques effectués entre 1962 et 1995. Les secteurs de l'embouchure et de l'extrémité de la flèche de la Gracieuse, considérés comme zones de stockage, enregistrent un apport sédimentaire important ; les secteurs intermédiaires correspondent à des zones de transit. La limite de mobilité du profil vertical se situe à 6 m de profondeur ; ces changements sont principalement liés aux transports sédimentaires longitudinaux. Un premier bilan sédimentaire est proposé pour l'ensemble de la période 1962-1995 ; il montre le rôle essentiel des crues exceptionnelles dans l'alimentation du littoral., Suanez Serge, Bruzzi Carole, Arnoux-Chiavassa Sandrine. Données récentes sur l'évolution des fonds marins dans le secteur oriental du delta du Rhône (plage Napoléon et flèche de la Gracieuse) /Recent data about the evolution of the offshore beach on the eastern part of the Rhone delta (Napoléon beach and La Gracieuse spit). In: Géomorphologie : relief, processus, environnement, décembre 1998, vol. 4, n°4. pp. 291-311.

The Agrio Formation of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina, contains an extensive sequence of ammonite faunas, most of which are monogeneric. Detailed collecting through 15 sections across the basin has facilitated a major revision of the ammonite zonation. Formerly embracing four broad zones, the Agrio Formation is now divided into nine zones, the lowest four of which are divided into a total of 11 subzones. The new zonation provides a standard against which other South American faunas can be compared. The degree of subdivision now achieved is comparable to that for the ‘standard’ sequences of the West Mediterranean region. Although it is not possible to correlate the two regions in detail, the occurrence of some widely distributed genera (Olcostephanus, Karakaschiceras, Oosterella, Spitidiscus and Crioceratites) at well-defined levels in the Neuquén Basin provides some crucial links. Thus the approximate positions of the Lower/Upper Valanginian, Valanginian/Hauterivian and Lower/Upper Hauterivian boundaries can be determined.

In March 1994, soil gases were sampled in the area of Vulcano Porto, on the island of Vulcano, using a grid of about 200 points/km 2 . Analysed gases were CO 2 , He and 222 Rn and, over a smaller area, H 2 S. Some of the samples were also analysed for the isotope composition of CO 2 C. Three anomalous CO 2 degassing areas were identified: Grotta dei Palizzi, the area near the Telephone Exchange, and the area near the beach fumaroles. The behaviour of He and 222 Rn is different in these 3 areas. The concentration of He is much lower than that of atmospheric He (down to −3950 ppb) in the isthmus, and only in the area near Grotta dei Palizzi does it have values significantly higher than atmospheric ones (up to 1900 ppb). The activity of 222 Rn, always significantly positively related to CO 2 concentrations, peaked in the 2 fumarole areas (isthmus, Telephone Exchange).

Resume A l'embouchure de la basse vallee du Var (Mediterranee, France), l'aquifere contenu dans les alluvions recentes devient captif en passant sous les formations impermeables d'un petit delta cotier. Dans le cadre de l'etude hydrogeologique de cet aquifere, nous avons voulu mettre en oevure une methode de localisation et de quantification in situ du debit des resurgences en mer. Des profils verticaux de salinite et de temperature couples avec des analyses chimiques systematiques de l'eau de mer ont ete menes au niveaud d'une quarantine de stations disposees sur deux trajets en demi-cercles concentriques reliant les bordures est et ouest de l'embouchure. Des anomalies apparaissent aux memes stations sur les deux trajets. A ces endroits, les profils presentent une augmentation de temperature de 0,1 a 0,2°C et une diminution de salinite de 0,05 a 0,1 PSU par rapport a la moyenne, entre les profondeurs de −20 et −60 m (PSU est un single pour ‘Practical Scale Unit’ defini par le SCORE-UNESCO comme nouvelle unite de salinite; elle correspond a du ‰ ou 1 g de sel par 1 kg d'eau de mer). de plus, les teneurs en ions Mg2+, Ca2+ et K+ des eaux de mer relativement plus faibles que la moyenne et les teneurs en silice, element localement marqueur des eaux douces, plus fortes confirment la presence des resurgences de la nappe alluviale. Leur localisation se fait dans les zones de plus faible epaisseur et/ou d'inexistence de la chape impermeable des sediments deltaiques. Un essai de calcul du debit est mene par estimation du flux de sel par diffusion dynamique sur toute la zone de sortie d'eaux douces. La valeur obtenue se situe entre 0,18 et 0,40 m3 s−1, ecart tout a fait coherent avec les estimations deduites indirectement du bilan hydrique. L'incertitude importante sur le mesure provient du choix du coefficient de diffusion dynamique (entre 10 et 20 m2 jour−1); des approximations sur les variations de salinite (entre 0,05 et 0,1 PSU) et d'epaisseur de la zone de sortie (entre 20 et 40 m).

Stromboli's 5 April 2003 explosion sent an ash plume to 4 km and blocks to 2 km, representing one of the most powerful events over the past 100 years. A thermal sensor 450 m east of the vent and a helicopter-flown thermal camera captured the event dynamics allowing detailed reconstruction. This review links previous studies providing a complete collation and clarification of the actual event chronology, while showing how relatively inexpensive thermal sensors can be used to provide great insight into processes that cannot be observed from locations outside the eruption cloud. The eruption progressed through four phases, comprised 29 discrete explosions, and lasted 373 s. The opening phase (phase 1) comprised ∼30 s of precursory ash emission, with stronger emission beginning after 17 s. This was abruptly terminated by the main blast of phase 2 that comprised emission of a rapidly expanding ash cloud followed, after 0.4 s, by a powerful jet with velocities of up to 320 m/s. A second explosive phase (phase 3) began 38 s later and involved ascent of a phoenix cloud and explosive emission above a lateral vent lasting 75 s. This was followed by a 175-s-long phase of weaker, pulsed emission. The eruption was terminated by a series of three explosions (phase 4) sending ash to ∼600 m at velocities of 27―45 m/s and lasting 87 s. Together, these results have shown that a low-energy opening phase was followed by the highest-energy phase. Each phase itself comprised groups of discrete explosions, with energy of the explosions diminishing during the two final phases.

Les recherches géoarchéologiques développées autour du port protohistorique de Lattara (Lattes, Hérault, France) ont permis la mise en évidence d’une paléogéographie fluvio-lagunaire particulière. La ville, construite dans la plaine deltaïque du Lez, est environnée d’eau dès sa fondation au VIe s. av. J.-C., la faisant apparaître comme une presqu’île lagunaire, encadrée par deux bras du fleuve singulièrement actifs. Le contexte géomorphologique de cette plaine pouvait pourtant laisser supposer une implantation dans d’autres secteurs, apparemment aussi attractifs et affranchis du risque alluvial. La cité est, en effet, soumise pendant plusieurs siècles à des problèmes récurrents d’engorgement des sols d’habitats, voire d’alluvionnements massifs colmatant l’étang et bouchant l’accès au port, véritable poumon économique de la cité. S’il peut évidemment être en partie imputé à certaines opportunités locales, ce système d’installation clairement itératif n’échappe pas pour autant à une initiative plus générale s’inscrivant parfaitement dans le schéma emporique de la Méditerranée archaïque. De plus, la répartition spatiale des établissements côtiers du Midi de la France révèle une certaine logique, traduite par un espacement régulier sur tout le littoral, appelant la comparaison avec ce que l’on connaît ailleurs en Méditerranée pour la même époque. En arrière-plan de ce modèle se posent alors de nombreux questionnements liés à la fois aux modalités de fondation de ces comptoirs littoraux, et parallèlement, aux relations établies avec les populations indigènes. Ces problématiques, bien que relevant d’un discours purement archéologique, sont incontournables tant elles interviennent dans la compréhension globale d’un phénomène perçu géographiquement. Autrement dit, et c’est tout l’enjeu de cette approche, il est essentiel d’appréhender au plus près la dialectique opérée entre les facteurs locaux (indigènes) et ceux participant d’une échelle plus globale (situation économique en Méditerranée) dans la mise en place des établissements littoraux, en regard également des contraintes du milieu fluvio-lagunaire. The geo-archaeological research conducted around the protohistoric port of Lattara (Lattes, Hérault, France) revealed a specific river-lagoon paleo-geography. The town, built on the delta of the Lez plain, was surrounded by water since its foundation during the 6th century B.C. giving it the appearance of a lagoon peninsula, framed by two active branches of the river. The geo-morphological context of this plain could nevertheless suggest an installation in other areas, apparently equally attractive and exempt of the alluvial risks. For several centuries the city suffered recurrent clogging of the habitat grounds, and was subject to massive alluviation, sealing the lagoon and blocking access to the harbour, a vital part of the economy of the city. If it can of course be related to local opportunities, this installation system clearly iterative does not escape a more general initiative, perfectly inscribed in the emporia scheme of the archaic Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, the spatial distribution of southern France coastal habitats is quite logical, shown by regular spacing along the entire littoral, which can be compared to what exists in other parts of the Mediterranean Sea during the same period. Behind this model there are many underlying questions linked to the method used in the foundation of these littoral settlements and to the relations established with the indigenous populations. These problematics, although related to purely archaeological reasoning, appear to be inescapable as they intervene in the global comprehension of a phenomenon perceived geographically. In other words, and this is what is at stake in this approach, it is essential to closely apprehend the dialectic operated between the local factors (indigenes) and those related to a more global scale (economic situation in the Mediterranean Sea) in the establishment of these littoral settlements, and also in the constraints of a river-lagoon environment.

Within the framework of a research project carried out in the coastal zone of Valencia, Spain, the study of new profiles has confirmed most of the hypotheses presented in previous studies. The profiles cover a sedimentary record on the Valencian alluvial plain, near the present coastline. They are composed of lagoonal peaty sediments with dune and beach formations and include abundant remains of arborean vegetation. These littoral faciès have been related to the last transgressive Holocene phase observed in coastal stratigraphie sections. These facies provide evidence showing that the littoral environments were eroded and buried by an accumulation of sand, silt and clay of fluvial origin during an historically long period (Ibenc through Roman to Mediaeval times) - a process which it has been possible to anahze with respect to the geo- archaeological record of the City of Valencia Pollen analysis of samples from this record permitted the vegetation in the Subatlantic penod to be described (2.700 BP. Chronology of Blytt and Sernander)., Dans le cadre d'un projet de recherche concernant la zone côtière de Valence (Espagne), l'étude d'une nouvelle coupe stratigraphique a confirmé la plupart des hypothèses présentées dans des travaux antérieurs. Les différentes sections de la coupe offrent une séquence sedimentaire de la plaine alluviale valencienne, proche de la ligne de rivage. Elle est formée de sédiments lagunaires tourbeux, avec des formations dunaires et de plage qui contiennent d'abondants restes de végétation arboréenne. Ce faciès littoral a été attribué à la dernière phase transgressive holocène observée dans les sections stratigraphiques de la côte. Il montre que les dépôts côtiers furent érodés, puis enterrés sous une accumulation de sable, limon et argile d'origine fluviale pendant une longue période historique (de la culture ibérique puis romaine jusqu'au Moyen Age). Ce phénomène a pu être mis au jour grâce aux séquences géoarchéologiques de la ville de Valence. L'analyse pollinique d'échantillons de cette coupe a permis de mieux connaître la végétation subatlantique dans la région (2.700 BP, selon la chronologie de Blytt et Sernander)., Carmona Pilar, Dupré Michèle, Belluomini Giorgio. Coastal changes in the Gulf of Valencia (Spain) during the subatlantic period. [ Variations de la ligne de rivage dans le Golfe de Valence (Espagne) pendant la période subatlantlique.]. In: Quaternaire, vol. 5, n°2, 1994. pp. 49-57.

[1] The low-intensity activity of basaltic volcanoes is occasionally interrupted by short-lived but energetic explosions which, whilst frequently observed, are amongst the most enigmatic volcanic events in Nature. The combination of poorly understood and deep, challenging to measure, source processes make such events currently impossible to forecast. Here we report increases in quiescent degassing CO2 emissions (>10,000 t/day) prior to a powerful explosive event on Stromboli volcano on 15 March 2007. We interpret such large CO2 flux as being sourced by passive gas leakage from a deeply (>4 km) stored magma, whose depressurization, possibly caused by the onset of an effusive eruption on 28 February 2007, was the explosion trigger. Our observations suggest that continuous CO2 flux monitoring may allow anomalously large explosions to be accurately forecast at basaltic volcanoes.

The basic kinematic evolution leading to the present tectonic setting of the Northern Adriatic zone is here synthetically outlined. The Adriatic domain is the structural area progressively invaded by neighboring orogenic chains. The evolution of the Southern Alps and of the Northern Apennines from the beginning of the Neogene time onward is here summarized. Orogenic processes due to plate convergence or to orogenic and magmatic arc evolution are here compared and discussed in the frame of Western Mediterranean genesis.

The investigation of the time dynamics of volcanic tremor recorded at Stromboli volcano before the paroxysm occurred on April 5, 2003 was performed, on the base of a new approach, the Fisher Information Measure (FIM), which allows to detect changes in the dynamical behavior of a complex system. The particular observed pattern suggests that the signal varies between sets of disordered states (small FIM) and sets of ordered states (large FIM). Significant precursory changes in the temporal variation of the FIM were revealed at least 42 h before the paroxysm and lasting about 17 h. The timescales highlighted are compatible to those found by other authors and could qualify the FIM as a good detector of regime changes and possible precursors of anomalous volcanic activity.

6 pages, 5 figures, The northern Alboran Ridge margin depicts fault-bounded, structural blocks tilted downward to the basins. Post-Messinian sequences fill depressions on these blocks with thick depositional wedges thinning basinward. A change in the stress field after the Early Pliocene produced structural inversions and generalized uplifting of the Alboran Ridge from the Late Pliocene to Recent time. © 1992 Springer-Verlag New York Inc

[1] A selection of ASAR images have been analyzed, together with instantaneous images of surface chlorophyll recorded with MERIS and MODIS, in order to study the relationship between the physical and biological processes associated with internal waves in the Strait of Gibraltar and Alboran Sea. The images show peak levels of chlorophyll at the coastal edges to the north and south of the Camarinal Sill (CS) during the generation of internal waves, and peak levels of chlorophyll associated with the wave fronts as they travel into the Alboran Sea. The images have been compared with in-situ data. The results seem to indicate that, during the generation of the internal waves, a suction process takes place by which coastal waters rich in chlorophyll are drawn towards the center of the channel and then accompany the internal waves as they move towards the Alboran Sea.

The wreck U Pezzo, excavated within the Saint Florent Gulf in northern Corsica was identified as the pink, Saint Etienne, a merchant ship which sank on January 31, 1769. In order to determine the composition of organic materials used to coat the hull or to waterproof different parts of the pink, a study of several samples, using molecular biomarker and carbon isotopic analysis, was initiated. The results revealed that the remarkable yellow coat, covering the outside planks of the ship’s bottom under the water line, is composed of sulfur, tallow (of ox and not of cetacean origin) and black pitch which corresponds to a mixture called “couroi” or “stuff”. Onboard ropes had been submitted to a tarring treatment with pitch. Hairs mixed with pitch were identified in samples collected between the two layers of the hull or under the sheathing planking. The study also provides a key model for weathering of pitch, as different degrees of degradation were found between the surface and the heart of several samples. Accordingly, molecular parameters for alteration were proposed. Furthermore novel mixed esters between terpenic and diterpenic alcohols and the free major fatty acids (C 14:0 , C 16:0 , C 18:0 ) were detected in the yellow coat.