[1] Total CO 2 output from fumaroles, soil gas, bubbling gas discharges and water dissolved gases discharged from the island, was estimated for Vulcano island, Italy. The CO 2 emission from fumaroles from the La Fossa summit crater was estimated from the SO 2 crater output, while CO 2 discharged through diffuse soil emission was quantified on the basis of 730 measurements of CO 2 fluxes from the soil of the island, performed by using the accumulation chamber method. The results indicate an overall output of ≅500 t day À1 of CO 2 from the island. The main contribution to the total CO 2 output comes from the summit area of the La Fossa cone (453 t day À1 ), with 362 t day À1 from crater fumaroles and 91 t day À1 from crater soil degassing. The release of CO 2 from peripheral areas is ≅20 t day À1 by soil degassing (Palizzi and Istmo areas mainly), an amount comparable to both the contribution of water dissolved CO 2 (6 t day À1 ), as well as to seawater bubbling CO 2 (4 t day À1 measured in the Istmo area). Presented data (September 2007) refer to a period of moderate solphataric activity, when the fumaroles temperature were 450°C and gas/water molar ratio of fumaroles was up to 0.16. The calculated total CO 2 emission allows the estimation of the mass release and related thermal energy from the volcanic-hydrothermal system.

On 27 February 2007, a new eruption occurred on Stromboli which lasted until 2 April. It was characterized by effusive activity on the Sciara del Fuoco and by a paroxysmal event (15 March). This crisis represented an opportunity for us to refine the model that had been developed previously (2002-2003 eruption) and to improve our understanding of the relationship between the magmatic dynamics of the volcano and the geochemical variations in the fluids. In particular, the evaluation of the dynamic equilibrium between the volatiles (CO 2 and SO 2 ) released from the magma and the corresponding fluids discharged from the summit area allowed us to evaluate the level of criticality of the volcanic activity. One of the major accomplishments of this study is a 4-year database of summit soil CO 2 flux on the basis of which we define the thresholds (low-medium-high) for this parameter that are empirically based on the natural volcanological evolution of Stromboli. The SO 2 fluxes of the degassing plume and the CO 2 fluxes emitted from the soil at Pizzo Sopra la Fossa are also presented. It is noteworthy that geochemical signals of volcanic unrest have been clearly identified before, during and after the effusive activity. These signals were found almost simultaneously in the degassing plume (SO 2 flux) and in soil degassing (CO 2 flux) at the summit, although the two degassing processes are shown to be clearly different. The interpretation of the results will be useful for future volcanic surveillance at Stromboli.

A new eruption started at Stromboli on 6 August 2014, which had been preceded by 2 months of increased Strombolian activity and several lava overflows from the craters. The eruption was characterized by a lava effusion in Sciara del Fuoco from a fracture at 650 m above sea level that lasted until 13-17 November. Here we present the first geochemical observations of this eruption, based on the soil CO 2 flux in the summit area and on 3 He/ 4 He ratios in the thermal waters near Stromboli village. We infer that this eruption was triggered by the gradual replenishment of the feeding system by a CO 2 -and 3 He-rich magma at the end of 2013 and after June 2014, suggested by the increase in 3 He/ 4 He ratio before eruption, which reached its highest value since 2007. We thus infer that this eruption was unusual, and we finally speculate on the evolutionary scenario of posteruption.

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