Abstract
On August 24, 2016, a Ml=6.0 earthquake occurred in Central Apennines, Italy, between the towns of Norcia and Amatrice, causing severe destruction and casualties in a wide area around the epicenter. We present a preliminary analysis of continuous radon concentration data collected from the second half of 2012 to the day after the earthquake by a long term radon monitoring station, installed at Cittareale (Rieti, Italy), about 11 km south-west of the epicenter. We combine the field data analysis with the outcome of dedicated laboratory experiments, aimed to study real time radon emission dynamics from rock samples subject to normal and shear stress loads in absence of fluid transport and migration phenomena. Our results suggest the possibility of a minor role played by phenomena related to fluid migration for the Amatrice seismic event with respect to other recent Apennine earthquakes.
Highlights
Current research on soil radon emanation in terms of analyses of long time series has revealed its potential informative power regarding the link between temporal variation of this noble gas concentration and seismogenic processes [Stefansson(2011), Piersanti et al(2016)]
We present the preliminary results obtained limiting the impact of meteorological effects on the measured radon time series and combining them with the results of a series of laboratory experiments to study radon concentration variations in connection with a process of gradual deformation in shear
We have presented the results of an analysis of radon concentration data acquired at CTTR station from 2013 to the day after the Ml=6.0
Summary
Current research on soil radon emanation in terms of analyses of long time series has revealed its potential informative power regarding the link between temporal variation of this noble gas concentration and seismogenic processes [Stefansson(2011), Piersanti et al(2016)]. The radioactive nature of radon makes it a potentially efficient marker to study and monitor fluid flows. New laboratory experiments gave unambiguous evidence of the link between the rock state of stress and variations in the radon emanation properties [Tuccimei et al(2010), Mollo et al(2011)]. We had the possibility of analyzing a three-years long time series of radon concentration acquired by a monitoring station installed at about 11 km south-west of the 24 August, 2016, Ml=6.0 Amatrice earthquake epicenter. We present the preliminary results obtained limiting the impact of meteorological effects on the measured radon time series and combining them with the results of a series of laboratory experiments to study radon concentration variations in connection with a process of gradual deformation in shear
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