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  • Mt. Etna  (24)
  • Elsevier  (23)
  • Editrice Compositori  (1)
  • Blackwell Publishing Ltd
  • Nature Publishing Group
  • 2005-2009  (24)
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Year
  • 11
    Publication Date: 2017-04-04
    Description: The sustained and uninterrupted plume degassing at Mount Etna volcano, Southern Italy, represents the troposphere’s most prominent natural source of fluorine. Of the ~ 200 Mg of fluorine (as HFg) emitted daily by the volcano, 1.6±2.7 Mg are deposited by wet and dry deposition. Fluorine-deposition via volcanic ash, here characterised for the first time, can be quite significant during volcanic eruptions (i.e. 60 Mg of fluorine were deposited during the 2001 eruption through volcanic ash, corresponding to ~ 85% of the total fluorine deposition). Despite the fact that these depositions are huge, the fate of the deposited fluorine and its impact on the environment are poorly understood. We herein present original data on fluorine abundance in vegetation (Castanea Sativa and Pinus Nigra) and andosoils from the volcano’s flank, in the attempt to reveal the potential impact of volcanogenic fluorine emissions. Fluorine contents in chestnut leaves and pine needles are in the range 1.8-35 µg/g and 2.1-74 µg/g respectively; they exceed the typical background concentrations in plants growing in rural areas, but fall within the lower range of typical concentrations in plants growing near high fluorine anthropogenic emission sources. The rare plume fumigations on the lower flanks of Mt Etna (distance 〉 4 km from summit craters) are probably the cause of the “undisturbed” nature of Etnean vegetation: climatic conditions, which limit the growth of vegetation on the upper regione deserta, are a natural limit to the development of more severe impacts. High fluorine contents, associated with visible symptoms, were only measured in pine needles at three sites, located near recently-active (2001 to 2003) lateral eruptive fractures. Total fluorine contents (FTOT) in the Etnean soils have a range of 112-341 µg/g, and fall within the typical range of undisturbed soils; fluorine extracted with distilled water (FH2O) have a range of 5.1 to 61 µg/g and accounts for 2-40 % of FTOT. FH2O is higher in topsoils from the eastern flank (downwind), while it decreases with depth in soil profiles and on increasing soil grain size (thereby testifying to its association with clay-mineral-rich, fine soil fractions). The fluorine adsorption capacity of the andosoils acts as a natural barrier that protects the groundwater system.
    Description: Published
    Description: 87-101
    Description: 1.2. TTC - Sorveglianza geochimica delle aree vulcaniche attive
    Description: 4.5. Degassamento naturale
    Description: JCR Journal
    Description: reserved
    Keywords: Mt. Etna ; Fluorine ; environmental volcanology ; impact of volcanic F ; soils ; vegetation ; volcanic ash ; 01. Atmosphere::01.01. Atmosphere::01.01.07. Volcanic effects ; 03. Hydrosphere::03.03. Physical::03.03.01. Air/water/earth interactions ; 04. Solid Earth::04.02. Exploration geophysics::04.02.01. Geochemical exploration ; 04. Solid Earth::04.04. Geology::04.04.12. Fluid Geochemistry ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.01. Gases ; 05. General::05.08. Risk::05.08.01. Environmental risk
    Repository Name: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
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  • 12
    Publication Date: 2017-04-04
    Description: Tephra fallout represented a major source of hazard for eastern Sicily during the 2001 eruption of Mt. Etna (Italy) between 19 July and 6 August. Long-lasting explosive activity was generated from the 2570 m vent, producing a volcanic plume up to 5 km high above sea level. The eruption caused copious lapilli and ash fallout over the volcano flanks for several days. Flight operations were cancelled at the Catania and Reggio Calabria airports; health risk and economic damage put communities living close to this active volcano on the alert. The explosive activity at the 2570 m vent had three main phases characterized by phreatomagmatic, magmatic and vulcanian explosions. In this paper, we analyze the first explosive phase between 19 and 24 July that formed a tephra deposit on the volcano's south-east flanks. Immediately after the first phase of the eruption, numerous tephra samples were collected in order to draw an isomass map, calculate physical parameters for the eruption and analyze the plume dispersion on the basis of deposit geometry. The tephra deposit shows a bilobate shape due to the change with time of both the vigour of the eruption and the wind direction and velocity that caused a higher rate of particle accumulation along two dispersal axes (SE and SSE). The total mass of tephra erupted was calculated with two different fitting methods: exponential line segments and a power law fit on the semi-logarithmic plot of mass per unit area versus , resulting in values of 1.02 109 kg and 2.31 109 kg, respectively. The whole deposit grain-size was calculated applying the Voronoi tessellation method, it shows a mode of 2 and thus indicates a high degree of magma fragmentation during the first phase of the eruption. Plume dispersal was investigated by an advection–diffusion model to reconstruct the tephra deposit. In the modelling, we took into account the variations of wind direction and velocity, and eruption intensity by dividing the explosive phase into sixteen sub-eruptions and considering the final deposit as the sum of the mass computed for each sub-eruption. Using best fit procedures, we find that the optimal agreement between computed values and field data is obtained by using the total mass calculated with the power law fit and a terminal settling velocity distribution with a particle aggregation model. The computed tephra dispersal was able to reproduce the bilobate shape of the real deposit. This work proves that advection–diffusion models can describe sedimentation processes of weak, i.e., bent-over, long-lasting plumes if the variations of wind direction and velocity, and eruptive intensity are included.
    Description: Published
    Description: 147-164
    Description: 3.6. Fisica del vulcanismo
    Description: JCR Journal
    Description: reserved
    Keywords: Mt. Etna ; basaltic explosive activity ; violent strombolian eruption ; tephra deposit ; dispersal modelling ; 05. General::05.02. Data dissemination::05.02.03. Volcanic eruptions
    Repository Name: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
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  • 13
    Publication Date: 2017-04-04
    Description: During an eruption at the Bocca Nuova, one of the summit craters of Mt. Etna, in October-November 1999 a part of the crater floor near its WNW rim was uplifted to form a dome-shaped feature that consisted of older lava and pyroclastics filling the crater. This endogenous dome grew rapidly over the crater rim, thus being perched precariously over the steep outer slope of the Bocca Nuova, and near-continuous collapse of its steep flanks generated swiftly moving pyroclastic avalanches over a period of several hours. These avalanches advanced at speeds of 10-20 m s-1 and extended up to 0.7 km from their source on top of lavas emplaced immediately before. Their deposits were subsequently covered by lava flows that issued from vents below the front of the dome and from the Bocca Nuova itself. Growth of the dome was caused by the vertical intrusion of magma in the marginal W part of the crater, which deformed and uplifted previously emplaced, still hot and plastically deformable eruptive products filling the crater. The resulting avalanches had all characteristics of pyroclastic flows spawned by collapse of unstable flanks of lava domes, but in this case the magma involved was of mafic (hawaiitic) composition and would have, under normal circumstances, produced fluid lava flows. The formation of the dome and the generation of the pyroclastic avalanches owe their occurrence to the rheological properties of the eruptive products filling the crater, which were transformed into the dome, and to the morphological configuration of the Bocca Nuova and its surroundings. The density contrast between successive erupted products may also have played a role. Although events of this type are to be considered exceptional at Etna, their recurrence might represent a serious hazard to visitors to the summit area.
    Description: Published
    Description: 115-128
    Description: 1.5. TTC - Sorveglianza dell'attività eruttiva dei vulcani
    Description: JCR Journal
    Description: reserved
    Keywords: Mt. Etna ; Bocca Nuova ; endogenous lava dome ; pyroclastic avalanches ; magma ascent ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.99. General or miscellaneous ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.03. Magmas ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.06. Volcano monitoring ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.08. Volcanic risk ; 05. General::05.02. Data dissemination::05.02.03. Volcanic eruptions ; 05. General::05.08. Risk::05.08.99. General or miscellaneous
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  • 14
    Publication Date: 2017-04-03
    Description: Remarkable changes in the local magnetic field were associated with the onset of the 2002–2003 flank eruption at Mt. Etna. After differential magnetic field measurements were filtered from the external noise by using adaptive filters, we recognized two stages in the total intensity changes, which are closely related to different volcanic events: (a) rapid variations of about 4–5 nT associated with October 26 seismic swarm recorded beneath the summit craters; (b) step-like variations of 9–10 nT coincident with October 27 eruptive fissures opening up in the north flank. These observations are generally consistent with those calculated from simple magnetic models of these volcanic processes, in which the magnetic changes are generated by stress redistribution due to magmatic intrusions at different depth. The magnetic data not only allow the timing of the intrusive event to be described in greater detail but also, together with other volcanological and geophysical evidences, permit some constraints to be set on the characteristics of propagation of a shallow dike. Firstly, at around midnight on 26 October magma was rapidly injected to a depth of 3–4 km just below the summit craters. Secondly, after 1:00 on 27 October, continued intrusion magma occurred upward and culminated a few hundred meters below the free surface fractured along a N–E direction. Thirdly, at about 2:28, magma gave rise to an explosive fissural vent at the northern base of the NE crater near 3000 m a.s.l. Finally, at about 5:00, the first eruptive fissure became active along the eastern border of the NE rift at 2500 m a.s.l. The rate of growth of the magnetic anomalies, moreover, leads to the interpretation that the magmatic intrusion travelled northward from base of the NE crater to the NE rift at approximately 14 m/min.
    Description: Published
    Description: 1-14
    Description: partially_open
    Keywords: eruptions ; monitoring ; magnetic methods ; volcanomagnetic modeling ; Mt. Etna ; 04. Solid Earth::04.05. Geomagnetism::04.05.04. Magnetic anomalies ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.06. Volcano monitoring
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  • 15
    Publication Date: 2017-04-04
    Description: Since the early 1970s enhanced eruptive activity of Mount Etna has been accompanied by selective geochemical changes in erupted lavas, among which a gradual increase of alkalis whose origin is still debated. Here we provide further insight into the origin of this recent evolution, based on a detailed study of the chemistry and dissolved volatile content of melt inclusions trapped in olivine crystals of unusual plagioclase-poor primitive basalt that was extruded during a highly explosive flank eruption in July–August 2001. Two types of lava were erupted simultaneously along a N–S fracture system. Trachybasalts from the upper vents (2950–2700 m) were simply drained out by fracturing of the central volcanic conduit. They are identical to summit crater lavas and contain Mg-poor olivines (Fo70–72) with evolved and volatile-poor melt inclusions that represent late-stage crystallisation during shallow open conduit degassing. In contrast, plagioclase-poor basalt (80% of total) extruded through the lower vents (2550–2100 m) derived from lateral dyke intrusion of a more primitive and volatile-rich magma across the sedimentary basement. This primitive melt is best preserved in rare Fo82.4–80.5 skeletal olivines present in lapilli deposits from the most powerful activities at the 2550 m vent. Its high dissolved contents of H2 O (3.4 wt.%), CO2 (0.11 to 0.41 wt.%), S (0.32 wt.%), Cl (0.16 wt.%) and F (0.094 wt.%) point to its closed system ascent from ∼400 to 250 MPa (∼12 to 6.5 km depth b.s.l.). However, the predominance of euhedral olivine phenocrysts with common reverse zoning (cores Fo76–78 and rims Fo78–80) and decrepited inclusions shows that most of the erupted basalt derived from a slightly more evolved, crystallizing body of the same magma that was invaded by the uprising primitive melt prior to erupting. The few preserved inclusions in these olivines indicate pre-eruptive storage of that magma body at about 5 km depth b.s.l., in coherence with seismic data. We propose that the 2001 flank eruption resulted from gradual overpressuring of Etna's shallow plumbing system due to the influx of volatile-rich primitive basalt that may have begun several months in advance. We find that this basalt is much richer in alkalis (2.0 wt.% K2 O) and has higher S/Cl (2.0) but lower Cl/K and Cl/F ratios than all pre-1970s Etnean lavas (1.4 wt.% K2 O, S/Cl=1.5), as further exemplified by melt inclusions in entrained olivine xenocrysts. Combining these new observations with previously published data, we argue that the 2001 basalt represents a new alkali-rich basic end-member feeding Mt. Etna, only few amount of which had previously been extruded during a 1974 peripheral eruption and, more recently, during brief paroxysmal summit events. Over the last three decades this new magma has progressively mixed with and replaced the former K-poorer trachybasalts filling the plumbing system, leading to extrusion of gradually more primitive and alkali-richer lavas. Its geochemical singularities cannot result from shallow crustal contaminations. Instead, they suggest the involvement of an alkali-richer but Cl-poorer arc-type component during recent magma genesis beneath Etna.
    Description: Published
    Description: 1-17
    Description: partially_open
    Keywords: Mt. Etna ; volatiles ; degassing ; eruptive mechanism ; magma geochemistry ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.01. Gases ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.03. Magmas ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.06. Volcano monitoring ; 05. General::05.02. Data dissemination::05.02.01. Geochemical data
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  • 16
    Publication Date: 2017-04-04
    Description: Mount Etna produced two significant eruptions in 2001 and 2002–2003, which we have analysed using geological, seismic and deformation data. These eruptions showed some similarities, such as the activating of two magmatic plumbing systems (central–lateral and eccentric), but they differed in their triggering mechanisms. While the 2001 eruption was largely the result of the emplacement of a N–S eccentric dike (independent from the central conduits) consistent with E–W regional extension, the 2002–2003 eruption occurred in response to a major flank slip on the eastern and southeastern sides of the volcano. This is demonstrated by the spatial and temporal distribution of seismicity and deformation preceding and accompanying the two eruptions. During the months prior to the 2001 eruption, most epicenters were concentrated on the southern flank, at depths of 5–15 km below sea level. During the 4 days before the eruption, earthquake hypocenters migrated to shallower levels (from 5 km bsl. upward) indicating the emplacement of the eccentric dike. This is confirmed by the patterns of ground fracturing observed in the field and deformation documented by electronic distance measurements (EDM). In contrast, the months before the 2002–2003 eruption were characterised by shallower seismicity, mainly concentrated along the active faults bordering the slipping flank sector. Flank slip accelerated in September 2002 and a second, more vigorous acceleration of flank slip occurred on 26–27 October 2002, accompanying the opening of eruptive vents. The very short (2 h) seismic crisis preceding the onset of eruptive activity stands in neat contrast with the 4 days of intense seismicity before the 2001 eruption. Subsequently, flank slip-deformation extended all over the eastern and southeastern flanks of the volcano, causing serious damage in this sector. The events of 2001–2003 can be seen as a continuous chain of intimately interacting processes including regional tectonics, magma accumulation and eruption, and flank instability. In this scenario the 2001 eruption led to increased flank instability that subsequently accelerated and culminated with the massive flank slip, which in turn facilitated the 2002–2003 eruption. This sequence of events points to a long-term feedback mechanism between magmatism and flank instability at Etna.
    Description: Published
    Description: 235-255
    Description: partially_open
    Keywords: eruption triggering ; central–lateral vs. eccentric eruptions ; flank instability and slip ; volcano-tectonics ; Mt. Etna ; instrumental monitoring ; 04. Solid Earth::04.07. Tectonophysics::04.07.07. Tectonics ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.06. Volcano monitoring ; 05. General::05.02. Data dissemination::05.02.03. Volcanic eruptions ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.08. Volcanic risk
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  • 17
    Publication Date: 2017-04-04
    Description: We investigated the relationships between modelled strain produced by explosive activity through a volcanic conduit, observed paroxystic episodes on Mt. Etna, and high-precision continuous tilt signals recorded during such events from the tilt monitoring network. The tilt changes detected during two different explosive episodes were compared with those calculated from analytical models of ground deformation in order to constrain source properties. The July 22, 1998 subplinian explosion from Voragine crater produced small tilt changes (order of 0.5–1.5 μrad) recorded over the entire volcano edifice, implying a small storage at nearly 2.5 km below sea level. The 1998–2000 period was characterized by tens of spectacular lava fountains from the South-East crater. Very small tilt change (∼ 0.1 μrad) was recorded by a single station on the high north-eastern flank of Mt. Etna and indicated the action of a limited and shallow conduit with 1.5–1.9 km depth. These results provide a contribution to better infer the shallow plumbing system beneath Mt. Etna.
    Description: Published
    Description: 221–234
    Description: reserved
    Keywords: explosive activity ; tilt data ; volcano source modeling ; Mt. Etna ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.06. Volcano monitoring ; 05. General::05.02. Data dissemination::05.02.03. Volcanic eruptions
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  • 18
    Publication Date: 2017-04-04
    Description: Travertine deposits outcropping in the lower SW flank of Mt. Etna were studied for their mapping, as well as for their chemical, mineralogical and isotopic compositions. These deposits are dated to about 24 to 5 ka in the Adrano area, located at the western limit of the study area. In this area travertines show high Mg contents and are composed mostly of dolomite, thus apparently ruling out any primary deposition in favour of a diagenetic origin. Travertines outcropping near Paternò, in the east part of the study area, should be younger than 18 ka. Those located to the SSW of Paternò (Paternò–Diga) show high Sr contents and aragonite as dominant mineralogical phase, thus suggesting primary deposition. Those located to the Wof Paternò (Paternò Simeto–Stazione) are instead poor both in Mg and in Sr and show calcite as dominant phase. Carbon isotope composition of travertines indicates a magmatic origin of CO2 that formed them. Based on the estimated volume of travertines, between 10 and 20 Gg/a of CO2 were involved in their formation. The time-span of travertine formation coincided with the eruptive cycles of Ellittico and the first part of Mongibello, which were probably characterised by a greater amount of CO2 transported through groundwater circulation. Widespread travertine deposition probably ceased after the opening of the Valle del Bove depression that modified the volcanologic and hydrologic conditions in the summit crater area.
    Description: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia
    Description: Published
    Description: 64–70
    Description: 4.5. Degassamento naturale
    Description: JCR Journal
    Description: open
    Keywords: Mt. Etna ; travertine deposits ; carbon isotope composition ; mineralogical composition ; chemical composition ; CO2 budget ; 03. Hydrosphere::03.04. Chemical and biological::03.04.02. Carbon cycling
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  • 19
    Publication Date: 2017-04-04
    Description: The 2001 eruption represents one of the most studied events both from volcanological and geophysical point of view on Mt. Etna. This eruption was a crucial event in the recent dynamics of the volcano, marking the passage from a period (March 1993–June 2001) of moderate stability with slow, continuous flank sliding and contemporaneous summit eruptions, to a period (July 2001 to present) of dramatically increased flank deformations and flank eruptions. We show new GPS data and high precision relocation of seismicity in order to demonstrate the role of the 2001 intrusive phase in this change of the dynamic regime of the volcano. GPS data consist of two kinematic surveys carried out on 12 July, a few hours before the beginning of the seismic swarm, and on 17 July, just after the onset of eruptive activity. A picture of the spatial distribution of the sin-eruptive seismicity has been obtained using the HypoDD relocation algorithm based on the double-difference (DD) technique. Modeling of GPS measurements reveals a southward motion of the upper southern part of the volcano, driven by a NNW–SSE structure showing mainly left-lateral kinematics. Precise hypocenter location evidences an aseismic zone at about sea level, where the magma upraise was characterized by a much higher velocity and an abrupt westward shift, revealing the existence of a weakened or ductile zone. These results reveal how an intrusion of a dike can severely modify the shallow stress field, triggering significant flank failure. In 2001, the intrusion was driven by a weakened surface, which might correspond to a decollement plane of the portion of the volcano affected by flank instability, inducing an additional stress testified by GPS measurements and seismic data, which led to an acceleration of the sliding flanks.
    Description: This work was funded by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia and by the Dipartimento per la Protezione Civile (Italy).
    Description: Published
    Description: 78–86
    Description: 1.3. TTC - Sorveglianza geodetica delle aree vulcaniche attive
    Description: 1.4. TTC - Sorveglianza sismologica delle aree vulcaniche attive
    Description: 1.5. TTC - Sorveglianza dell'attività eruttiva dei vulcani
    Description: 3.2. Tettonica attiva
    Description: 3.6. Fisica del vulcanismo
    Description: 4.3. TTC - Scenari di pericolosità vulcanica
    Description: JCR Journal
    Description: reserved
    Keywords: stress release ; dike ; volcano-tectonics ; flank instability ; Mt. Etna ; instrumental monitoring ; 04. Solid Earth::04.01. Earth Interior::04.01.99. General or miscellaneous ; 04. Solid Earth::04.01. Earth Interior::04.01.02. Geological and geophysical evidences of deep processes ; 04. Solid Earth::04.02. Exploration geophysics::04.02.99. General or miscellaneous ; 04. Solid Earth::04.03. Geodesy::04.03.99. General or miscellaneous ; 04. Solid Earth::04.03. Geodesy::04.03.07. Satellite geodesy ; 04. Solid Earth::04.04. Geology::04.04.99. General or miscellaneous ; 04. Solid Earth::04.04. Geology::04.04.09. Structural geology ; 04. Solid Earth::04.06. Seismology::04.06.99. General or miscellaneous ; 04. Solid Earth::04.06. Seismology::04.06.08. Volcano seismology ; 04. Solid Earth::04.07. Tectonophysics::04.07.99. General or miscellaneous ; 04. Solid Earth::04.07. Tectonophysics::04.07.05. Stress ; 04. Solid Earth::04.07. Tectonophysics::04.07.07. Tectonics ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.99. General or miscellaneous ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.03. Magmas ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.06. Volcano monitoring ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.08. Volcanic risk ; 05. General::05.02. Data dissemination::05.02.99. General or miscellaneous ; 05. General::05.02. Data dissemination::05.02.02. Seismological data ; 05. General::05.02. Data dissemination::05.02.03. Volcanic eruptions
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  • 20
    Publication Date: 2017-04-04
    Description: Two strong flank eruptions occurred in July–August 2001 and from late October 2002 to late January 2003 at Mt. Etna volcano. The two eruptions mainly involved the upper southern flank of the volcano, a particularly active area during the last 30 years, damaging several tourist facilities and threatening some villages. The composite eruptive activity on the upper southern flank of Mt. Etna during 2001–2003 has confirmed “a posteriori” the results of a multidisciplinary study, started well before its occurrence by combining geological, seismic and geochemical data gathered in this part of the volcano. We were able, in fact, to highlight fractured zones likely to be re-activated in the near future in this area, where the largest majority of eruptive fissures in the recent past opened along N120° to N180° ranging directions. The spatial distribution of earthquake epicentres during the period June 30th 2000–June 30th 2001 showed the greatest frequency in a sector compatible with both the direction of the main fissures of the pre-2001 period and that of the 2001 and 2002 lateral eruptions. Soil CO2 and soil temperature surveys carried out in the studied area during the last 3 years have revealed anomalous release of magmatic fluids (mainly CO2 and water vapour) along some NNW–SSE-trending volcano-tectonic structures of the area even during inter-eruptive periods, indicating persistent convective hydrothermal systems at shallow depth connected with the main feeder conduits of Etna. The temporal changes in both seismic and geochemical data from June 30th, 2000 to June 30th, 2001 were compared with the evolution of volcanic activity. The comparison allowed to recognize at least two sequences of anomalous signals (August to December 2000 and April to June 2001), likely related to episodes of step-like magma ascent towards the surface, as indicated by the following eruptive episodes. The N120° to N180° structural directions are in accord with one of the main structural lines affecting eastern Sicily; they would be important pathways for magma uprise to the surface that will keep on feeding the eruptive activity of Etna in the near future. This study also pointed out the high instability of the southern slope of Etna, a sector where the potential hazard by lava flow invasion will remain high also in the near future.
    Description: Published
    Description: 20
    Description: partially_open
    Keywords: Mt. Etna ; fault detection ; soil gas ; historical eruptive fissures ; eruptive activity ; local seismicity ; 04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.03. Magmas
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