EtnaUpdater @EtnaUpdater@qoto.org
Volcanophilic nerd & #volcano hiker blogging about Mt #Etna since 2004. Find tweets about Etna and also my backyard geology, the #Vogelsberg area.
Joined Nov 2022
July 2010 - Mt Etna, Sicily
The view goes down from the northwestern rim of the Central Crater cone to the vent of the Voragine. Behind it, you can see the strongly eroded boundary wall to Bocca Nuova, another summit crater of Etna. A lot of gas rises here.
March 2007 - Turrialba, Costa Rica
This volcano is the second highest volcano of Costa Rica with 3325 m height. The view goes from the central crater to the southwest. Behind the wall is the active crater, which showed first signs of awakening during my visit.
#LaPalma - #CanaryIslands 01/2004
View from the Cumbre Vieja to the Pico Bejenado and the Caldera de Taburiente.
Today my time travel on #throwbackthursday goes back to June 2008. I am on the island of Vulcano on the terrace of the Hotel Eolien and enjoy the sunset over the bay of Porto Ponente with antipasti and white wine. Simply dreamlike!
Etna update, 17/02/2023
During the past week, Mt Etna remained relatively quiet, with the usual gas releases from Bocca Nuova and the Southeast Crater complex. Deep-seated explosions probably occurred in Bocca Nuova. The tremor still remained somewhat elevated. Seismic activity, however, was low.
Last week, initially very bad weather with large amounts of snow and storms prevented the observation of Etna by webcams. Even after an improvement in the weather from 14 February, many cameras were still down. The available webcams showed that lava was still not being produced at the New Southeast Crater. There was continued emission of gas and steam in the summit area of the cone. During the nights, faint glow smoke was visible just below the northern rim of the crater. A fumarole field is located here, as well as fractures and a former vent that was active during the May/June 2022 eruption.
Otherwise, Bocca Nuova continued to release gas vigorously and in pulses. During the night of 16 February, faint glow was sporadically visible above the summit crater by means of light-sensitive webcams. Last night, the glow intensified and became more frequent. Probably deep-seated explosions occurred. I was still unable to detect any significant gas emission from the northeast crater and Voragine.
The evaluation of the data from the GPS stations showed no significant changes for the period between 06 and 12 February [1].
The clinometric data did not show any significant changes in the slope of the volcano building between 06 and 12 February [1].
The measurement of infrasound activity at the summit craters was strongly disturbed by very bad weather in the period from 06 to 12 February. Overall, there was a slight decrease in infrasound activity. The source of the events was Bocca Nuova [1].
Sulphur dioxide emissions at the summit craters increased somewhat in the period between 06.02. and 12.02. and were at a medium level.
Ground carbon dioxide emissions (ETNAGAS station) increased slightly between 06.02. and 12.02. and reached near-medium levels [1].
The online seismograms of station ECNE showed only single weak signals last week, after initial interruption due to bad weather [2].
The tremor fluctuated on the border between low and medium level during the past week [2].
On 13.02., a quake of magnitude 1.9 was measured south of Monte San Leo (southern flank) [3].
My interpretation of the data and speculations about the further development:
So now the effusive activity at the northeastern base of New Southeast Crater, which started at the end of November 2022, has come to an end again. This was already indicated from mid-January, when the production rate began to show greater fluctuations. A total of about 6 million m3 of lava was produced, which is a relatively small amount in comparison. Analyses of the lava produced in December showed that it was more highly developed material, which was also evident from the low explosive activity. The magma had probably been stored in the mountain for some time and was able to degas via the summit craters. Then it found an outlet at the end of November and an eruption occurred. Probably also because the mountain slowly expanded due to the rising magma and probably more magma rose than could be stored within the volcanic structure. The still high readings for the helium 4 isotope show, in my opinion, that there is still plenty of fresh magma flowing in under the mountain. A small part of it will probably continue to rise in the mountain and sooner or later lead to new eruptive activity. It is not yet possible to say what this will look like. It is quite possible that the quiet eruptive activity of last winter will be repeated in a few months. However, if more gas is involved or if this has no possibility of degassing, there may also be strombolian explosions at the Southeast Crater complex. A new phase of paroxysmal eruptions cannot be completely ruled out either. So let's just be surprised what the old lady has in store for us this time!
1 - INGV-Sezione di Catania. 2023. Etna - BOLLETTINO SETTIMANALE - SETTIMANA DI RIFERIMENTO 06/02/2023 - 12/02/2023
2 - INGV-Sezione di Catania. 2023. Home. TREMORE VULCANICO. ECNE
3 - INGV. Osservatorio Etneo. Sorveglianza e Monitoraggio. DATABASE TERREMOTI. Localizzazioni di sala operativa. 2023.
#Etna #eruption #volcano #lava
Photo by INGV Catania
Today, my time travel on #throwbackthursday takes me back to 2008, to a holiday I spent on the Aeolian Islands, north of Sicily. The photo shows the crater "Grand Cratere" on the island of Vulcano. In the background you can see the northern part of the island with the cone of Vulcanello. Behind it are the islands of Lipari and Salina.
At the eruptive fissure of 2008, Mt Etna May 2009
Once again, I look back at an interesting stay on Mt Etna on #throwbackthursday. On the afternoon of 01 August 2012, I climbed the summit craters, where strombolian explosions had been occurring in the Bocca Nuova since the beginning of July. I stayed until nightfall and was able to take great photos of the activity.
Ice and ash, Mt Etna May 2009
Today, once again a photo for #VolcanoMonday :
It shows the 3432 m high Irazu in Costa Rica. It contains an acid lake and is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the country. It is one of Costa Rica's "drive in volcanoes", as a well-built road leads up to its summit. I took the photo in March 2007.
Etna update, 30/12/2022:
During the past week, effusive activity continued at the northeastern base of the New Southeast Crater. Several partial flows poured over the fan-shaped lava field in a northeasterly direction, crossed the Valle del Leone and reached the edge of the Valle del Bove. There they moved as several tongues in an easterly direction down the steep slope and formed an ever-widening lava field. The fronts of the tongues stagnated at 2100 - 2300 m altitude in the area southwest of Monte Simone.
Furthermore, I could not observe any explosive activity in the area of the effusive vents or in the summit area of New Southeast Crater.
At Bocca Nuova, pulsating gas emission continued. No significant gas emission was visible at Voragine and Northeast Crater.
As INGV reports, the front of the lava flow reached 2150 m high terrain on 25 December. Using MODIS/VIIRS satellite data, the volume of lava released so far could be estimated at 1,200,000 - 2,400,000 m3. The data also show that the production rate has increased from about 20 December, rising from about 1 m3/s initially to about 2 - 2.5 m3/s [1].
Analysis of the data from the GPS stations showed no significant changes between 19 and 25 December [1].
The clinometric data showed no significant changes between 19 and 25 December [1].
Infrasound activity at the summit craters was low during the period from 19 to 25 December. The source of the activity was Bocca Nuova [1].
Sulphur dioxide emissions at the summit craters decreased in the period between 19 and 25 December and reached medium levels.
Ground carbon dioxide emissions (ETNAGAS station) remained at a medium level between 19 and 25 December.
The concentration of helium isotopes (3He/4He - ratio) in the Etna area, which was last determined on 15 December, was higher than in the last measurements with a value of 0.64. High levels have now been reached again [1].
The online seismograms of station ECNE continued to be overlaid by noise caused by the persistently elevated tremor last week [2].
The tremor decreased somewhat on 24 December, but continued to hover at medium levels [2].
The source of the tremor between 19 and 25 December was in the area between Southeast Crater and Bocca Nuova at an altitude between 2500 and 2800 m [1].
On 23.12. a quake with a magnitude of 1.6 occurred in the area southeast of Case del Vescovo (southeast flank). On 23.12. a quake with a magnitude of 1.8 was measured on Monte Scorsone (east flank). On 25.12., a quake of magnitude 1.6 occurred southeast of Fiumefreddo di Sicilia (eastern flank) [3].
1 - INGV-Sezione di Catania. 2022. Etna - BOLLETTINO SETTIMANALE - SETTIMANA DI RIFERIMENTO 19/12/2022 - 25/12/2022
2 - INGV-Sezione di Catania. 2022. Home. TREMORE VULCANICO. ECNE
3 - INGV. Osservatorio Etneo. Sorveglianza e Monitoraggio. DATABASE TERREMOTI. Localizzazioni di sala operativa. 2022.
Photo by INGV
And once again, my time travel on #throwbackthursday goes back to an eruption of Mt Etna. This one started in May 2008 and ended in July 2009. In June/July 2008 I was able to visit the eruption site several times. The photo was taken in the early morning of 01/07/2008 and shows the lava streams flowing into the large uninhabited valley Valle del Bove. In the background you can see the lights of some villages along the east coast of Sicily.
Etna update, 23.12.2022:
During the past 14 days, the eruption at the base of New Southeast Crater has continued. The lava flow has increased significantly in length over the last few days and is on its way to the Valle del Bove. The tremor remained elevated and gas emissions at the summit craters have also increased.
In the last two weeks, clouds often hindered the observation of Etna's summit area by webcams. At times, however, gaps in the clouds allowed a view of the eruptive activity. During the past 14 days, lava emission continued at the northeastern base of New Southeast Crater. The lava flow continued to move in a northeasterly to northerly direction and poured into the Valle del Leone. Its front continued to advance in a northerly direction. From 15 December onwards, it reached the bottom of the Valle del Leone at an altitude of about 2500 - 2600 metres. In the following days, it crossed the shallowly sloping valley floor and slowly approached the edge of the Valle del Bove. On 21 December, the lava began to flow down the steep slope of the Valle del Bove. By the evening of 23 December, the front had reached about 2200 m high terrain and was located southwest of Monte Simone.
In the meantime, below the effusive vent, a fan-shaped lava field developed consisting of several narrow flows that kept changing their position slightly.
Furthermore, I did not observe any explosive activity at the effusive vent or at the South East Crater complex. In the summit area of New Southeast Crater, only fumaroles continued to release gas.
Meanwhile, Bocca Nuova experienced vigorous and often pulsating gas emission. Hardly any gas emission was visible at Northeast Crater and Voragine.
As the INGV reports, hornitos have developed above the effusive vents. At times, there is also weak explosive activity there associated with the ejection of incandescent lava fragments. Within the lava field, some temporary vents have formed, feeding narrow lava flows. Using MODIS/VIIRS satellite data, the volume of lava released so far has been estimated at 500,000 - 1,000,000 m3 [1].
The evaluation of the data from the GPS stations showed further inflation of the volcano structure in the last 7 days, which was recorded in particular by the stations on the central western flank. In contrast, the stations in the summit region did not record any significant changes [1].
The clinometric data did not show any significant changes regarding the slope on the mountain flanks during the past week [1].
Infrasound activity at the summit craters was weak to moderate in the period from 07 to 18 December. Most of the events were registered on 18 December, although the measurements were disturbed by strong winds on some days. The source of the activity was Bocca Nuova [1].
Sulphur dioxide emissions from the summit craters continued to increase between 6 and 18 December. The daily emission rates reached high levels.
Ground carbon dioxide emissions (ETNAGAS station) remained at a medium level between 06 and 18 December [1].
The online seismograms of station ECNE were overlaid by noise during the past week, which was caused by the persistently increased tremor [2].
The tremor has been at a medium level for the last 14 days, with only slight fluctuations. Most recently, there was a slight upward trend [2].
The source of the tremor was in the area between the southeast crater and Bocca Nuova at an altitude of between 2000 and 2800 m. In addition, a narrow tremor track in a westerly to southwesterly direction was observed, leading up to an altitude of about 2500 m - 2750 m and ending in the region above the Galvarina area [1].
On 18.12. a quake of magnitude 1.8 was registered west of Monte Parmentelli (southwest flank). On 18.12. two quakes occurred west of Moio Alcantara (north flank), the strongest having a magnitude of 1.6. On 19.12. an earthquake of magnitude 2.3 was recorded at Monte Zoccolaro (southeast flank). On 21.12. a quake with a magnitude of 1.6 occurred north of Monte Centenari (eastern flank) [3].
My interpretation of the data and speculations about the further development:
Interesting in the tremor data is a track that leads from the depth of the mountain in a southwesterly to westerly direction and ends at an altitude of approx. 2500 - 2750 m. It almost looks as if magma rose in this area, but then did not make it to the earth's surface. Unfortunately, the INGV does not refer to this measurement data in the report, so it remains unclear what really happened there. Otherwise, the second week of December showed a further increase in sulphur dioxide emissions at the summit craters, which indicates that more magma was degassing than in the weeks before. Certainly, only part of the rising magma is being released by the current eruption, as the inflation of the volcanic edifice has also continued to increase. Thus, a continuation of the effusive activity at the New Southeast Crater can be expected in the next days to weeks.
1 - INGV-Sezione di Catania. 2022. Etna - BOLLETTINO SETTIMANALE - SETTIMANA DI RIFERIMENTO 12/12/2022 - 18/12/2022
2 - INGV-Sezione di Catania. 2022. Home. TREMORE VULCANICO. ECNE
3 - INGV. Osservatorio Etneo. Sorveglianza e Monitoraggio. DATABASE TERREMOTI. Localizzazioni di sala operativa. 2022.
Photo by INGV
Today, on #throwbackthursday my time travel goes back to an eruption of Mt Etna. I was lucky enough to be present during its start.
The photo shows two vents below Northeast Crater and was taken on 07 July 2014. A spiky cone of welded lava has formed around one vent, which not only ejects some glowing lava fragments but also releases a lava flow. The other vent has not yet formed a cone and generates loud detonations from time to time, ejecting larger lava fragments. The white chunks lying between the vents are interesting. These are blocks of ice that where apparently ejected when the vents had opened. This eruption generated several cinder cones that are still visible today. It ended on 09.08.2014.
In the rainforest in Costa Rica near the Arenal Volcano.
Bubbling mud pots at the base of the Rincón de la Vieja volcano in Costa Rica.
#Photomonday #VolcanoMonday #Photo #Fotomontag
Etna update, 16.12.2022:
During the past week, clouds have often hampered webcam observations of Mount Etna's summit area. At times, however, gaps in the clouds also allowed a view of the eruptive events.
During the past 7 days, lava emission has continued at the northeast base of the New Southeast Crater. The lava flow continued to move in a northeasterly to northerly direction and poured into the Valle del Leone. The front advanced a little further in a northerly direction. From December 15th it reached the valley floor of the Valle del Leone at an altitude of approx. 2500 - 2600 m. Meanwhile, below the effusive vent, a fan-shaped lava field has developed. Several narrow streams moving in this field and keep changing their position slightly.
Furthermore, I could not observe explosive activity either at the effusive vent or at the Southeast Crater complex. In the summit area of the New South East crater only fumaroles continuously released gas.
Meanwhile, in the Bocca Nuova there was strong and often pulse-like increased gas emission. Only weak gas emission was visvile at NE Crater and Voragine.
During the last 7 days the tremor was at an average level and showed only minor fluctuations [1].
[1] INGV-Sezione di Catania. 2022. Home. TREMORE VULCANICO. ECNE
Volcanophilic nerd & #volcano hiker blogging about Mt #Etna since 2004. Find tweets about Etna and also my backyard geology, the #Vogelsberg area.
Joined Nov 2022
