Representivity of incompletely sampled fall deposits in estimating eruption source parameters: a test using the 12–13 January 2011 lava fountain deposit from Mt. Etna volcano, Italy

We used a one-year long SO2 flux record, which was obtained using a novel algorithm for real-time automatic processing of ultraviolet (UV) camera data, to characterize changes in degassing dynamics at the Mt. Etna volcano in 2016. These SO2 flux records, when combined with independent thermal and seismic evidence, allowed for capturing switches in activity from paroxysmal explosive eruptions to quiescent degassing. We found SO2 fluxes 1.5–2 times higher than the 2016 average (1588 tons/day) during the Etna’s May 16–25 eruptive paroxysmal activity, and mild but detectable SO2 flux increases more than one month before its onset. The SO2 flux typically peaked during a lava fountain. Here, the average SO2 degassing rate was ~158 kg/s, the peak emission was ~260 kg/s, and the total released SO2 mass was ~1700 tons (in 3 h on 18 May, 2016). Comparison between our data and prior (2014–2015) results revealed systematic SO2 emission patterns prior to, during, and after an Etna’s paroxysmal phases, which allows us to tentatively identify thresholds between pre-eruptive, syn-eruptive, and post-eruptive degassing regimes.

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Attenuation and Source Parameters of Shallow Microearthquakes at Mt. Etna Volcano, Italy

Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America ◽

10.1785/0120050252 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 97 (1B) ◽

pp. 184-197 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

E. Giampiccolo ◽

S. D'Amico ◽

D. Patane ◽

S. Gresta

Keyword(s):

Source Parameters ◽

Etna Volcano ◽

Mt Etna

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Anatomy of a Paroxysmal Lava Fountain at Etna Volcano: The Case of the 12 March 2021, Episode

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13153052 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 3052

Author(s):

Sonia Calvari ◽

Alessandro Bonaccorso ◽

Gaetana Ganci

Keyword(s):

Lava Flow ◽

Ground Deformation ◽

Monitoring Network ◽

Lava Flows ◽

Etna Volcano ◽

Lava Fountain ◽

Eruptive Episode ◽

Lava Fountains ◽

Borehole Strainmeter ◽

Ash Plume

On 13 December 2020, Etna volcano entered a new eruptive phase, giving rise to a number of paroxysmal episodes involving increased Strombolian activity from the summit craters, lava fountains feeding several-km high eruptive columns and ash plumes, as well as lava flows. As of 2 August 2021, 57 such episodes have occurred in 2021, all of them from the New Southeast Crater (NSEC). Each paroxysmal episode lasted a few hours and was sometimes preceded (but more often followed) by lava flow output from the crater rim lasting a few hours. In this paper, we use remote sensing data from the ground and satellite, integrated with ground deformation data recorded by a high precision borehole strainmeter to characterize the 12 March 2021 eruptive episode, which was one of the most powerful (and best recorded) among that occurred since 13 December 2020. We describe the formation and growth of the lava fountains, and the way they feed the eruptive column and the ash plume, using data gathered from the INGV visible and thermal camera monitoring network, compared with satellite images. We show the growth of the lava flow field associated with the explosive phase obtained from a fixed thermal monitoring camera. We estimate the erupted volume of pyroclasts from the heights of the lava fountains measured by the cameras, and the erupted lava flow volume from the satellite-derived radiant heat flux. We compare all erupted volumes (pyroclasts plus lava flows) with the total erupted volume inferred from the volcano deflation recorded by the borehole strainmeter, obtaining a total erupted volume of ~3 × 106 m3 of magma constrained by the strainmeter. This volume comprises ~1.6 × 106 m3 of pyroclasts erupted during the lava fountain and 2.4 × 106 m3 of lava flow, with ~30% of the erupted pyroclasts being remobilized as rootless lava to feed the lava flows. The episode lasted 130 min and resulted in an eruption rate of ~385 m3 s−1 and caused the formation of an ash plume rising from the margins of the lava fountain that rose up to 12.6 km a.s.l. in ~1 h. The maximum elevation of the ash plume was well constrained by an empirical formula that can be used for prompt hazard assessment.

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Corrigendum to: ‘Constraints on the Nature and Evolution of the Magma Plumbing System of Mt. Etna Volcano (1991–2008) from a Combined Thermodynamic and Kinetic Modelling of the Compositional Record of Minerals’

Journal of Petrology ◽

10.1093/petrology/egw012 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 57 (3) ◽

pp. 621-622 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Maren Kahl ◽

Sumit Chakraborty ◽

Massimo Pompilio ◽

Fidel Costa

Keyword(s):

Kinetic Modelling ◽

Etna Volcano ◽

Plumbing System ◽

Magma Plumbing System ◽

Mt Etna ◽

Magma Plumbing

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Finite element analysis of ground deformation due to dike intrusion with applications to Mt. Etna volcano

Annals of Geophysics ◽

10.4401/ag-3357 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 47 (5) ◽

Author(s):

A. Occhipinti Amato ◽

M. Elia ◽

A. Bonaccorso ◽

G. La Rosa

Keyword(s):

Ground Deformation ◽

Near Field ◽

Elastic Half Space ◽

Etna Volcano ◽

Element Analysis ◽

Dike Intrusion ◽

Dislocation Models ◽

Mt Etna ◽

Realistic Topography ◽

2001 Eruption

A 2D finite elements study was carried out to analyse the effects caused by dike intrusion inside a heterogeneous medium and with a realistic topography of Mt. Etna volcano. Firstly, the method (dimension domain, elements type) was calibrated using plane strain models in elastic half-spaces; the results were compared with those obtained from analytical dislocation models. Then the effects caused both by the topographic variations and the presence of multi-layered medium on the surface, were studied. In particular, an application was then considered to Mt. Etna by taking into account the real topography and the stratification deduced from seismic tomography. In these conditions, the effects expected by the dike, employed to model the 2001 eruption under simple elastic half-space medium conditions, were computed, showing that topography is extremely important, at least in the near field.

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Relationship between seismicity and eruptive activity at Mt. Etna volcano (Italy) as inferred from historical record analysis: the 1883 and 1971 case histories

Annals of Geophysics ◽

10.4401/ag-3981 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

Author(s):

R. Azzaro ◽

M. S. Barbano

Keyword(s):

Seismic Activity ◽

Historical Record ◽

Effusion Rate ◽

Etna Volcano ◽

Case Histories ◽

Seismic Behaviour ◽

Volcanic System ◽

Prolonged Duration ◽

Mt Etna ◽

A Minor

In this paper historical and recent seismological data are analysed in order to investigate the relationship between seismicity and eruptive phenomena at Mt. Etna volcano. The 1883 and 1971 case histories have been proposed because they are significant events in the recent history of the volcano regarding volcanic hazard and show very different evolutions of associated seismic activity and eruption dynamics. The first (1883) represents flank eruptions characterised by high seismic release, short duration and moderate effusion rate whereas the second (1971) can be ascribed to eruptions starting as summit or subterminal events and thereafter developing on the flanks with a minor level of seismicity, higher effusion rate and prolonged duration. The pattern of seismic activity during 1883 and 1971, as inferred from historical record analysis, and the different associated type of eruption may be a result of diverse stress conditions acting on the volcanic system. The interpretation of the seismic behaviour by considering historical eruptions in a systematic fashion will contribute to a clearer understanding of volcanic phenomena at Mt. Etna.

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Isochronal maps at Mt. Etna volcano (Italy): a simple and reliable tool for investigating large-scale heterogeneities

Annals of Geophysics ◽

10.4401/ag-3874 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 40 (5) ◽

Author(s):

G. Patanè ◽

C. Centamore ◽

S. La Delfa

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Volcanic Edifice ◽

P Wave ◽

Etna Volcano ◽

Low Velocity ◽

Seismic Stations ◽

Arrival Times ◽

Mt Etna ◽

Wave Arrival ◽

Feeding Systems

This paper analyses twelve etnean earthquakes which occurred at various depths and recorded at least by eleven stations. The seismic stations span a wide part of the volcanic edifice; therefore each set of direct P-wave arrival times at these stations can be considered appropriate for tracing isochronal curves. Using this simple methodology and the results obtained by previous studies the authors make a reconstruction of the geometry of the bodies inside the crust beneath Mt. Etna. These bodies are interpreted as a set of cooled magmatic masses, delimited by low-velocity discontinuities which can be considered, at present, the major feeding systems of the volcano.

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The geodynamics of Mt. Etna volcano during and after the 1984 eruption

Annals of Geophysics ◽

10.4401/ag-3739 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

Author(s):

S. La Delfa ◽

G. Patanè ◽

C. Centamore

Keyword(s):

Complex Stress ◽

Focal Mechanisms ◽

Combined Effects ◽

Etna Volcano ◽

Locking Mechanism ◽

Mt Etna ◽

Complex Stress Field ◽

Seismic Networks ◽

Tectonic Forces ◽

The University

Data concerning M > 2.5 earthquakes that occurred at Mt. Etna volcano (Sicily, Italy) during the period April 15th - October 29th, 1984 are here presented and discussed. Only those events with reliable focal mechanisms (at least eight polarities) have been considered. Instrumental information comes from local seismic networks run by the University of Catania and the CNRS (Grenoble, France). The results obtained support the hypothesis that the seismicity and the volcanic activity at Mt. Etna are related to a complex stress field, due to the combined effects of the tectonics associated with the interaction between the African and Eurasian plates and the movement of magma into the crust. In particular, we hypothesize that the tectonic forces caused the end of the 1984 eruption, by means of a "locking mechanism".

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