"Hidden” degassing from streams: estimation of the CO2 release from the thermal springs of Sperchios Basin, Greece

Areas located at plate boundaries are characterized by the presence of seismic, volcanic, and geothermal activity, as well as ore deposition. Such processes are enhanced by the circulation of hydrothermal fluids in the crust transporting volatiles from either the deep crust or the mantle to the surface. Intense geodynamic activity is also taking place in Greece giving rise to: (i) the highest seismicity in Europe, (ii) the presence of an active volcanic arc and numerous areas of anomalously high geothermal gradient, and (iii) a widespread occurrence of thermal springs. Elevated heat flow values are concentrated in Sperchios basin, an area characterised by a system of deeply rooted extensional faults and quaternary volcanic activity. This regime favoured the formation of hydrothermal systems, the surface expression of which are thermal springs with intense bubbling of CO2-rich gases. Flux measurements in the bubbling pools were made with the floating chamber method. The highest bubbling CO2 output is found in Thermopyles and Psoroneria (1 and 2 t/d, respectively). The outgoing channels of these springs have an elevated flow (>250 l/s) of gas-charged water (>15 mmol/l of CO2). Although no bubbling is noticed along the stream, the CO2 content decreases by an order of magnitude after few hundreds of metres, indicating an intense degassing from the water. Taking into account the water flow and the amount of CO2 lost to the atmosphere, the CO2 output of the outgoing channels is quantified in >10 t/d for Thermopyles and 9 t/d for Psoroneria. An estimation is also made at Ypati, Kamena Vourla, Koniavitis and Edipsos, where the mean values reach 1 t/d of CO2 for each spring. The obtained values are always higher respect to the estimated outputs from visible bubbling, suggesting that most of the degassing is “hidden”. Furthermore, the loss of CO2 from the water determines a shift in dissolved carbonate species as demonstrated by the pH increase along the channel that leads eventually to an oversaturation in carbonate minerals and therefore travertine deposition. To sum up, the total CO2 output of the study area is estimated at 30 t/d, with the major contribution deriving from the degassing along the outflow channels of the thermal springs. Such output is comparable to that of the single active volcanic systems along the South Aegean Volcanic Arc (Sousaki, Methana, Milos, Santorini, Kos and Nisyros) and highlights the importance of “hidden” degassing along CO2-oversaturated streams

On the Commutative Equivalence of Context-Free Languages

The problem of the commutative equivalence of context-free and regular languages is studied. In particular conditions ensuring that a context-free language of exponential growth is commutatively equivalent with a regular language are investigated

A Micro-glitch in the Millisecond Pulsar B1821-24 in M28

We report on the observation of a very small glitch observed for the first time in a millisecond pulsar, PSR B1821-24 located in the globular cluster M28. Timing observations were mainly conducted with the Nancay radiotelescope (France) and confirmation comes from the 140ft radiotelescope at Green Bank and the new Green Bank Telescope data. This event is characterized by a rotation frequency step of 3 nHz, or 10^-11 in fractional frequency change along with a short duration limited to a few days or a week. A marginally significant frequency derivative step was also found. This glitch follows the main characteristics of those in the slow period pulsars, but is two orders of magnitude smaller than the smallest ever recorded. Such an event must be very rare for millisecond pulsars since no other glitches have been detected when the cumulated number of years of millisecond pulsar timing observations up to 2001 is around 500 for all these objects. However, pulsar PSR B1821-24 is one of the youngest among the old recycled ones and there is likely a correlation between age, or a related parameter, and timing noise. While this event happens on a much smaller scale, the required adjustment of the star to a new equilibrium figure as it spins down is a likely common cause for all glitches.Comment: Accepted by ApJ Letters, 5 pages, 2 figures, LaTex (uses emulateapj.sty

A geochemical traverse along the “Sperchios Basin e Evoikos Gulf” graben (Central Greece): Origin and evolution of the emitted fluids

The studied area is a 130 km long fast spreading graben in Central Greece. Its complex geodynamical setting includes both the presence of a subduction slab at depth responsible for the recent (Quaternary) volcanic activity in the area and the western termination of a tectonic lineament of regional importance (the North-Anatolian fault). A high geothermal gradient is made evident by the presence of many thermal springs with temperatures from 19 to 82 C, that discharge along the normal faults bordering the graben. In the period 2004e2012, 58 gas and 69 water samples were collected and their chemical and isotopic analysis revealed a wide range of compositions. Two main groups of thermal waters can be distinguished on the basis of their chemical composition. The first, represented by dilute waters (E.C. <0.6 mS/cm) of the westernmost sites, is characterised by the presence of CH4-rich and mixed N2eCH4 gases. The second displays higher salinities (E.C. from 12 to 56 mS/cm) due to mixing with a modified marine component. Reservoir temperatures of 150e160 C were estimated with cationic geothermometers at the easternmost sites. Along the graben, from west to east, the gas composition changes from CH4- to CO2-dominated through mixed N2eCH4 and N2eCO2 compositions, while at the same time the He isotopic composi- tion goes from typical crustal values (<0.1 R/RA) up to 0.87 R/RA, showing in the easternmost sites a small (3e11%) but significant mantle input. The d13C values of the CO2-rich samples suggest a mixed origin (mantle and marine carbonates)

The fluids’ geochemistry along the "Sperchios Basin - Northern Evoikos Gulf" Graben, a geodynamically complex area of Central Greece

The study area is a 130 km long fast spreading graben in Central Greece. Its complex geodynamical setting includes both the presence at depth of a subduction slab responsible for the recent (Quaternary) volcanic activity in the area and the western termination of a tectonic lineament of regional importance (the North-Anatolian fault). Its high geothermal gradient is evidenced by the presence of many thermal springs with temperatures from 19 to 82 C, issuing along the normal faults bordering the graben. In the period 2004-2012 about 50 gas and water samples have been collected and their chemical and isotopic analysis revealed a wide range of compositions. Going from west to east the gas composition changes from CH4- to CO2-dominated passing through mixed N2- CH4 and N2-CO2 compositions, while at the same time the He isotopic composition goes from typical crustal values (0.05 R/Ra) up to 0.87 R/Ra (corrected for air contamination), showing in the easternmost sites a small but significant mantle input. Isotopic composition of CH4-C indicates a thermogenic origin for the CH4-rich samples and hydrothermal origin for the remaining samples. Positive 15N values indicate a contribution of crustal derived nitrogen for the N2-rich samples. The 13C values of most the CO2-enriched samples show a mixed origin (mantle and marine carbonates). Also the chemical composition of the waters shows differences along the graben and two main groups can be separated. The first, represented by dilute waters (E.C. < 600 S/cm), is found in the westernmost sites characterised by the presence of CH4-rich and mixed N2-CH4 gases. The remaining waters display higher salinities (E.C. from 12 to 56 mS/cm) due to the mixing with a modified marine component. Only the water composition of easternmost sites in the Giggenbach’s cation triangular graph plots in the field of the partially equilibrated waters giving estimated temperatures at depth of 150-160 C.PublishedVienna, Austria4.5. Studi sul degassamento naturale e sui gas petroliferiope

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF NATURAL GAS MANIFESTATIONS IN GREECE

The Greek region is characterized by intense geodynamic activity with widespread volcanic, geothermal and seismic activity. Its complex geology is reflected in the large variety of chemical and isotopic composition of its gas manifestations. Basing on their chemical composition the gases can be subdivided in three groups, respectively CO2, CH4 or N2-dominated. On oxygen-free basis these three gases make up more than 97% of the total composition. The only exceptions are fumarolic gases of Nisyros that contain substantial amounts of H2S (up to more than 20%) and one sample of Milos that contains 15% of H2. CO2-dominated gases with clear mantle contribution in their He isotopic composition (R/Ra corrected for air contamination ranging from 0.5 to 5.7) are found along the subduction-related south Aegean active volcanic arc and on the Greek mainland close to recent (upper Miocene to Pleistocene) volcanic centers. These areas are generally characterized by active or recent extensive tectonic activity and high geothermal gradients. On the contrary, gases sampled in the more external nappes of the Hellenide orogen have generally a CH4- or N2-rich compositions and helium isotope composition with a dominant crustal contribution (R/Ra corr < 0.2). The chemical and isotopic characteristics of the emitted gas display therefore a clear relationshipwith the different geodynamic sectors of the region. Gas geochemistry of the area contributes to a better definition of the crust-mantle setting of the Hellenic region

Search complexity and resource scaling for the quantum optimal control of unitary transformations

The optimal control of unitary transformations is a fundamental problem in quantum control theory and quantum information processing. The feasibility of performing such optimizations is determined by the computational and control resources required, particularly for systems with large Hilbert spaces. Prior work on unitary transformation control indicates that (i) for controllable systems, local extrema in the search landscape for optimal control of quantum gates have null measure, facilitating the convergence of local search algorithms; but (ii) the required time for convergence to optimal controls can scale exponentially with Hilbert space dimension. Depending on the control system Hamiltonian, the landscape structure and scaling may vary. This work introduces methods for quantifying Hamiltonian-dependent and kinematic effects on control optimization dynamics in order to classify quantum systems according to the search effort and control resources required to implement arbitrary unitary transformations

Mental, Social and Visual Alienation in D’Alessandro’s Photography

This chapter analyzes the first of several photobooks that illustrated the reform of psychiatric health care in Italy in the 1960s and 1970s: Luciano D’Alessandro’s 1969 Gli esclusi. In 1967, D’Alessandro was invited by the director of the asylum of Nocera Superiore, Sergio Piro, to document through photography the abysmal conditions of the “total institution” that was the pre-reform mental hospital. D’Alessandro first published a small selection of photos, in Popular Photography Italiana (1967), which he then expanded in Gli esclusi. This chapter claims that, in the evolution between the two publications, we can read the complex and multilayered notion of alienation that informed the work of reform, especially that of one of the most famous figures associated with it, Franco Basaglia. By analyzing D’Alessandro’s Gli esclusi through the notion of alienation, this chapter lets what Sekula calls the conditions of “readability” of the photographic message emerge

The Crustal Rigidity of a Neutron Star, and Implications for PSR 1828-11 and other Precession Candidates

We calculate the crustal rigidity parameter, b, of a neutron star (NS), and show that b is a factor 40 smaller than the standard estimate due to Baym & Pines (1971). For a NS with a relaxed crust, the NS's free-precession frequency is directly proportional to b. We apply our result for b to PSR 1828-11, a 2.5 Hz pulsar that appears to be precessing with period 511 d. Assuming this 511-d period is set by crustal rigidity, we show that this NS's crust is not relaxed, and that its reference spin (roughly, the spin for which the crust is most relaxed) is 40 Hz, and that the average spindown strain in the crust is 5 \times 10^{-5}. We also briefly describe the implications of our b calculation for other well-known precession candidates.Comment: 44 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Ap