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High-enthalpy Larderello geothermal system, Italy, powered by thousands of cubic kilometres of mid-crustal magma - Communications Earth & Environment
- New seismic imaging reveals thousands of cubic kilometers of magma in the middle crust beneath Tuscany.
- The detected melt volumes are comparable to reservoirs beneath major calderas, challenging assumptions about eruptive history in the region.
- Researchers link high heat flow and shallow fluids to the stability of large mid-crust melts, with implications for geothermal energy.
- The TEMPEST seismic network and ambient-noise tomography were used to model the crustal velocity structure down to 15 km.
- The study identifies low-velocity zones that coincide with Larderello and Amiata geothermal fields, suggesting widespread middle-crust anomalies.
- The authors estimate around 3,000 cubic kilometers of partial melt and 5,000 cubic kilometers of crystal mush below Larderello.
- Melt presence may explain the high heat flux and hydrothermal activity observed in the Larderello area.
- The work draws parallels between Tuscany’s system and famous calderas like Yellowstone and Taupo in scale, though without a volcanic eruption history.
- The study emphasizes the need for additional data to constrain melt fractions and resolve model uncertainties.
- Data used in the study are available via European data archives, supporting transparency and reproducibility.
- The research team is led by Matteo Lupi and collaborators from Geneva, ANU, INGV, and other institutions.
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