McGinnis, Daniel, Beaubien, S. E., Bigalke, Nikolaus, Bryant, Lee D., Celussi, M., Comici, C., De Vittor, C., Feldens, Peter, Giani, M., Karuza, A. and Schneider von Deimling, Jens (2011) The Panarea natural CO2 seeps: fate and impact of the leaking gas (PaCO2) ; R/V URANIA, Cruise No. U10/2011, 27 July – 01 August 2011, Naples (Italy) – Naples (Italy). . EUROFLEETS Cruise Summary Report . IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel, 55 pp. DOI 10.3289/CR_ECO2_19835.

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Abstract

Carbon capture and storage (CCS), both on- and offshore, is expected to be an important
technique to mitigate anthropogenic effects on global climate by isolating man-made
carbon dioxide (CO2) in deep geological formations. In marine environments, however,
the potential impacts of CO2 leakage, appropriate detection methods, and risk and
pathways of atmospheric emissions are poorly defined.
The natural CO2 gas seeps that occur in the relatively shallow waters off the coast of
Panarea Island (Aeolian Islands, Italy) can be studied as a large-scale, real-world
analogue of what might occur at a leaking offshore CCS site and what tools can be used
to study it.
The oceanographic survey PaCO2 was performed aboard R/V Urania from 27 July – 01
August 2011 (Naples – Naples). The project’s ship-time was funded by Eurofleets, with
work being performed as a sub-project of the Seventh Framework Programme projects
“ECO2” and “RISCS”, which provided subsidiary funding. Large amounts of data and
samples were collected during the cruise which will be interpreted in the coming months,
with preliminary results detailed here. Of particular importance was the discovery of
much larger areas showing gas seepage than previously reported.
Interdisciplinary measurements were performed at the Panarea seepage site. The
international team of scientists onboard R/V Urania performed complementary sampling
and measurements for biological, chemical, and physical parameters throughout the area.
Together with the dedication of R/V Urania’s Captain and crew, and the eagerness and
cooperation of the scientific crew, we were able to obtain excellent scientific results
during this six-day cruise.

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