Dr Walter D'Alessandro

Researcher

Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia
Sezione di Palermo
via U. La Malfa, 153
90146 Palermo
Italy

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Research Expertise

1. Fluid geochemistry in volcanic activity monitoring
   • Soil gas surveys (CO2, He, Rn)
   • Cold and thermal groundwater surveys
   • Periodical sampling of cold gas manifestations and soil gases
   • Periodical sampling of groundwaters
2. Isotope hydrology (O, H, T, C)
   • Rainwater
   • Groundwater
3. Environmental effects of volcanic activity
   • Water quality of volcanic aquifers
   • Rainwater chemistry
   • Ash leachates
   • Volcanic gas survey through passive (diffusive) samplers
   • Atmospheric deposition and interaction with soils
   • Effects of volcanic-derived chemicals on vegetation

Main research areas: volcanoes of southern Italy (Etna, Vulcano, Pantelleria, Stromboli, Ischia, Phlegrean Fields) and volcanic systems of the south Aegean volcanic arc in Greece (Sousaki, Methana, Milos, Santorini and Nisyros).

Relevant Publications

Bagnato, E., Aiuppa, A., Parello, F., D’Alessandro, W., Allard, P., Calabrese, S. 2009. Mercury concentration, speciation and budget in volcanic aquifers: Italy and Guadeloupe (Lesser Antilles). Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 179, 96-106 - doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2008.10.005.

D’Alessandro, W., Brusca, L., Kyriakopoulos, K., Michas, G., Papadakis, G. 2009. Hydrogen sulphide as a natural air contaminant in volcanic/geothermal areas: the case of Sousaki, Corinthia (Greece). Environmental Geology 57:1723-1728.

Aiuppa, A., Franco, A., von Glasow, R., Allen, A.G., D’Alessandro, W., Mather, T.A., Pyle, D.M., and Valenza, M. 2007. The tropospheric processing of acidic gases and hydrogen sulphide in volcanic gas plumes as inferred from field and model investigations. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 7, 1441–1450.

Bellomo, S., Aiuppa, A., D’Alessandro, W., Parello, F. 2007. Environmental impact of magmatic fluorine emission in the Mt. Etna area. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 165, 87-101.

Bagnato, E., Aiuppa, A., Parello, F., Calabrese, S., D’Alessandro, W., Mather, T.A., McGonigle, A.J.S., Pyle, D.M., Wängberg, I. 2007. Degassing of gaseous (elemental and reactive) and particulate mercury from Mount Etna volcano (Southern Italy). Atmospheric Environment 41 (35), 7377-7388.

D’Alessandro, W. 2006. Gas hazard: an often neglected natural risk in volcanic areas. In: Geo-Environment & Landscape Evolution II (Martin-Duque J.F., Brebbia C.A., Emmanouloudis D.E, Mander U. Eds.) WIT Press Southampton, UK, 369-378. http://www.earth-prints.org/handle/2122/2589.

D’Alessandro, W. 2006. Human fluorosis related to volcanic activity: a review. In: Environmental Toxicology (Kungolos A.G., Brebbia C.A., Samaras C.P., Popov V. Eds.) WIT Press Southampton, UK, 21-30. http://www.earth-prints.org/handle/2122/2590.

Aiuppa, A., Bellomo, S., Brusca, L., D'Alessandro, W., Di Paola, R., Longo, M. 2006. Major-ion bulk deposition around an active volcano (Mt. Etna, Italy). Bulletin of Volcanology, 68, 255-265.

Aiuppa, A., Avino, R., Brusca, L., Caliro, S., Chiodini, G., D'Alessandro, W., Favara, R., Federico, C., Ginevra, W., Inguaggiato, S., Longo, M., Pecoraino, G., Valenza, M. 2006. Mineral control of arsenic content in thermal waters from volcano-hosted hydrothermal systems: Insights from island of Ischia and Phlegrean Fields (Campanian Volcanic Province, Italy). Chemical Geology 229, 313–330.

Aiuppa, A., D’Alessandro, W., Federico, C., Ferm, M., Valenza, M. 2004. Volcanic plume monitoring at Mount Etna by diffusive (passive) sampling. Journal of Geophysical Research, 109/D21, D21308.

Bellomo S., D'Alessandro W., Longo M. (2003). Volcanogenic fluorine in rainwater around active degassing volcanoes: Mt. Etna and Stromboli island, Italy. Sci. Total Environ. 301, 175-185

D'Alessandro W. & Vita F. (2003). Groundwater radon measurements in the Mt. Etna area. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 65/2, 187 - 201

Aiuppa A., Bellomo S., Brusca L., D'Alessandro W., Federico C. (2003). Natural and anthropogenic factors affecting groundwater quality of an active volcano (Mt. Etna, Italy). Appl. Geochem. 18, 863-882

Aiuppa A., D'Alessandro W., Federico C., Palumbo B., Valenza M. (2003). The aquatic geochemistry of arsenic in volcanic groundwaters from southern Italy. Applied Geochemistry 18(9), 1283-1296.

Aiuppa A., Bonfanti P., D'Alessandro W. (2003). The chemistry of rainwater in the Mt. Etna area (Italy): natural and anthropogenic sources of major species. J. Atmosph. Chem. 46, 89-102.

Aiuppa A., Bellomo S., D'Alessandro W., Ferm M., Valenza M. (2003). Influence of volcanic passive degassing on air quality in the Mt. Etna area. In: Air Pollution XI (Brebbia C.A. & Patania F. Eds.) 263-271.

D'Alessandro W., Aiuppa A., Bellomo S., Hauser S., Palumbo B. (2002). Sources and sinks of fluorine in the atmosphere and hydrosphere of the active volcanic area of Mt. Etna (Italy). Abstract volume of the 6th International Symposium on the Geochemistry of the Earth's Surface GES-6, Honolulu, Hawaii, 20-24 May 2002, pp. 309-314.

Aiuppa A., Bonfanti P., Brusca L., D'Alessandro W., Federico C., Parello F. (2001). Quantifying the environmental impact of volcanic emissions: insights from the chemistry of rainwater in the Mt. Etna area (Sicily). Appl. Geochem. 16 (7-8), 985-1000.