Publication Date:
2020-02-24
Description:
On July 17,2001, lava began pouring down the
slopes of Mt. Etna in Sicily signaling the start of
the volcano's first flank eruption in nearly 10
years. Etna typically experiences long periods of
explosive and effusive activity at the summit,
which lies 3350 m a.s.l., interspersed with shorter
flank eruptions. During the latter, large volumes
of lava can threaten local populations.
The Catania Section of the Istituto Nazionale
di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) routinely
monitors the volcano with an array of integrated
multidisciplinary techniques. During the 2001
flank eruption, researchers obtained the deepest
insight yet into the mechanisms that control
this fascinating volcano. In particular, by studying
ground deformation, seismicity, gravity
changes, and geomagnetism, researchers were
able to forecast 3 to 4 days in advance the
intrusion of a new feeder dike in the upper part
of the volcano and follow the propagation of
dike emplacement and fissure opening, as
well as estimate the volume of the intrusion.
During the eruption, volcanology gas geochemistry
and petrology were used to distinguish two
different magmas erupting at the same time
from both this new feeder dike and the summit
feeding system, which has been active since
January 2001. Effusion rate measurements
and thermal mapping of the flow field provided
insight into the maximum length the lava
flow could reach from the lower vent, and
researchers were able to follow the process
of tube formation along this flow.
The previous flank eruption on Etna occurred
between 1991 and 1993, when 235 million
of lava poured from within the Valle del Bove
(VDB) and formed a lava flow field over 8.5 km
long that threatened the town of Zafferana. Since
then, eruptive activity at Etna has been restricted
to the summit area. A progressive increase in
the activity occurred between June 1998 and
February 1999, with a succession of 21 paroxysmal
episodes from the Southeast Cone (SEC).
Then, on February 1999, a fire fountain episode
from the SEC indicated the start of the 1999
summit eruption, which produced two lava
flow fields. During 2000, there were 66 fire
fountain events from the SEC accompanied
by small lava flows. Lava flow emission started
again from the north base of the SEC in January
2001, and on May 9,2001, small fire fountaining
episodes were observed on the summit
and northern flank of the SEC.This activity
gradually increased in frequency and intensity
before the 2001 flank eruption.
Description:
Published
Description:
653-656
Description:
3V. Dinamiche e scenari eruttivi
Description:
N/A or not JCR
Description:
restricted
Keywords:
Etna eruption
;
volcano monitoring
;
04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.06. Volcano monitoring
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
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