Geomicrobiology of fluid venting structures at the Salse di Nirano mud volcano area in the Northern Apennines (Italy)

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that geological sources of methane like onshore and marine seeps, micro-seepage and mud volcanoes are an important source of this greenhouse gas (Etiope 2004). They represent the second most important natural emission after wetlands. New estimations indicate a global emission of methane from mud volcanoes in a range of 6-9 Tg year-1 (Etiope and Ciccioli 2009). © 2011 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.