EtnaUpdater @EtnaUpdater@qoto.org

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

#Etna #eruption #volcano

Crystals of sulphur, gypsum and various sulphates at a fumarole on the crater Fossa Grande on the island of Vulcano (Italy).

#VolcanoMonday #Photomonday #Fotomontag #Photo #Foto #Vulcano #volcano

A rock overgrown with moss in a forest in Hesse/Germany...

#silentsunday #foto #photo

#Fensterfreitag #WindowFriday #photo #cats

Etna update, 09.12.22:

Effusive activity at the northeastern base of New Southeast Crater continued last week. While the tremor remained elevated, seismic activity increased slightly.

Effusive activity continued at the northeast base of New Southeast Crater last week. The released lava flow, which remained relatively narrow, continued to move into the Valle del Leone, reaching a length of about 600 m on 08 December. Meanwhile, some gas was persistently emitted in the summit area of the New Southeast Crater. I could not observe any explosive activity. Light sensitive webcams sometimes showed faint glow on the upper northern flank of the cone, where an explosive vent was active in May/June.
Bocca Nuova continued to release gas in pulses during the last week. At Voragine and Northeast Crater there was only minor gas emission.

The INGV reports that the effusive vent, which opened on 30 November, is located at an altitude of 2900 metres. The lava flow released by the vent moved parallel to the lava flow emitted from 27 November and had a length of 450 m on 30 November. Its front moved on 2700 m high terrain [1].

The analysis of the data from the GPS stations showed the continuation of the inflation of the volcanic edifice in November [1].
The clinometric data showed a rapid change in the slope in the summit area of one microradian on 15 September [1].

Infrasound activity at the summit craters was moderate in November and the amplitudes of the events were low. The source of the activity was Bocca Nuova [1].

Sulphur dioxide emissions at the summit craters increased somewhat in November. The mean emission rate reached average levels.
Ground carbon dioxide emissions (ETNAGAS station) were at average levels in November.
The concentration of helium isotopes (3He/4He ratio) in the Etna area, which was last determined on 24 November, was lower than in the previous month with a value of 0.57 and was at an average level [1].

The online seismograms of the ECNE station were characterised by slight noise during the past week due to the increased tremor. Weak long-period signals were frequently observed.
The tremor was at a medium level last week and was subject to only slight fluctuations [2].

On 02.12. and 03.12. two weak quakes occurred near Sant'Alfio (eastern flank), the strongest having a magnitude of 1.6. On 07.12. two quakes occurred east of Sant'Alfio, with magnitudes of 2.5 and 1.4. On 08.12. an earthquake of magnitude 2.5 was registered south of Paternò (southern flank). On 08.12. an earthquake with a magnitude of 1.5 occurred near Mangano (eastern flank) [3].

My interpretation of the data and speculation about further developments:
The slight increase in seismic activity, which had recently been particularly concentrated on the eastern flank of Etna, as well as the continuation of the inflation of the volcanic edifice indicate, in my opinion, that magma continues to be stored in the mountain. The relatively weak effusive activity that has continued over the past week is unlikely to provide much relief in this regard.
Most of the gas from the rising magma is likely to escape via Bocca Nuova. As long as there is not a large amount of fresh magma rising, I do not expect explosive activity at the South East Crater complex.
Therefore, I think it is most likely that the purely effusive activity at the New South East Crater will continue. However, new vents could open further north or east at any time. A reduction of the effusive activity or a slow cessation of the eruption is also possible.

1 - INGV-Sezione di Catania. 2022. Etna - BOLLETTINO MENSILE MESE DI RIFERIMENTO NOVEMBRE 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.

#Etna #eruption #lava #volcano #INGV

Today, I look back to 15 July 2006, the day when a new eruption of Mt Etna startet after almost two years of quiescence. And it was just on this day that I arrived for a short holiday on the mountain and was able to observe an eruption at close range for the first time. The lava. The smell. The sound. Oh, what a day!

#throwbackthursday #Etna #eruption #lava #volcano

One Espresso please...

#caturday #catsofmastodon #sphinxcats

Etna update, 02.12.2022:

Since 27 November, lava has been erupting from the north-eastern base of the New Southeast Crater. This forms a short and narrow flow that is heading towards Valle del Leone. The tremor was temporarily increased and seismic activity is slightly enhanced.

Bad weather with fresh snow frequently hindered observations of the summit craters via webcams during the last 14 days. During the few cloud-free hours, Bocca Nuova continued to show the usual gas emissions, which were still strong and mostly intensified in pulses.
At Voragine and Northeast Crater, no significant gas releases were visible.
At the Southeast Crater complex, some gas was persistently emitted from the central area between the new and old Southeast Crater. In the northern summit area, fumaroles continuously released some gas.

After a stormy and cloudy day, the clouds slowly cleared on the evening of 27 November around 17:30 and suddenly a small thermal anomaly was visible on the Cagliato thermal cam. This was localised at the northeastern base of the New Southeast Crater. A little later, other webcams also showed several small glowing spots in this area, which is located at about 2800 m altitude. In the course of the evening, the glow intensified a bit more and a short lava flow was visible, slowly moving north/northeast towards the Valle del Leone. On the other hand, I was not able to see any glow in the summit area of the New Southeast Crater, but the cone was also often hidden in clouds.
During the night of 28 November, the lava emission continued, but the lava flow hardly progressed. On the morning of 28 November, around 06:30, only a little glow could be seen at the effusive vent. Later, clouds moved in and lingered until 29 November. However, no more activity was visible through some gaps in the clouds.
In the evening of 29 November, glow was again visible at the northeastern base of the New Southeast Crater from about 19:30. The Cagliato thermal camera also showed a small thermal anomaly a little later. Again, lava poured towards the Valle del Leone. In contrast to the eruptive event of 27 November, this time the tremor also increased significantly and reached almost high levels. The effusive vent was located slightly more slope upwards on the NE flank of the New Southeast Crater than during the 27 November eruption.
During the night of 30 November, lava emission continued, but the lava flow gained length very slowly. After the clouds cleared in the evening of 30 November, the northeastern base of the New Southeast Crater continued to show glowing spots. Effusive activity continued on 01 and 02 December. Meanwhile, only gas was emitted from the summit area of the New Southeast Crater. Explosive activity could not be detected.

On 30 November, INGV reported that the lava flow at the New Southeast Crater had reached a few hundred metres in length. Furthermore, it was reported that the source of the tremor was located between Southeast Crater and Bocca Nuova at an altitude of 2000 - 2600 m. Infrasound activity at the summit craters was low and concentrated at Bocca Nuova. No noticeable ground deformations were recorded at the volcanic edifice [1].

The tremor fluctuated at a medium level until 29 November, reaching nearly high levels only on 19 and 27 November. On 29 November, tremor began to rise rapidly and remained just at a high level until 30 November. Afterwards, the tremor oscillated between medium and high intensity several times and stabilised at medium level from 01 December [2].

On 19.11. a quake of magnitude 1.5 occurred east of Monte Nero (NE flank). On 19.11. a quake of magnitude 1.6 was measured northwest of Piano Pernicana (NE flank). On 25.11. two quakes occurred in Piano Pernicana, reaching magnitudes of 1.7 and 1.9 respectively. On 25.11. a quake of magnitude 2.1 occurred west of Randazzo (NW flank). On 28.11. a quake of magnitude 1.5 was recorded near Randazzo [3].

My interpretation of the data and speculations about the further development:
Now the magma has managed to make its way to the surface of Etna after all. After the presumed magma rise on 15 November, which I speculated about in my last update, the pressure in the mountain must have become a bit too great. Since the lava seems to flow out very quietly and there has been no explosive activity in the summit area of the Southeast Crater complex so far, it is probably already relatively strongly degassed magma. It has probably been rising for months (since the end of the last eruption in June) and is being degassed via Bocca Nuova. The recent increase in seismic activity, especially in the area of the Pernicana fault, may indicate that magma has accumulated in the area to the east of the summit craters and/or beneath the northeastern rift system. This has now created a path upwards and is likely to emerge until the pressure inside the mountain is equalised again. Since the vent is still relatively far up and will not be very large, I do not think a prolonged eruption is to be expected. However, it could happen that new effusive vents open further north or northeast, which would then also be located on somewhat lower altitude. Then a longer eruption is also conceivable. Of course, the magma rise can intensify at any time, or fresh and gas-rich magma can ascend. This would be a game changer. At the moment, however, there are no indications of this.
So I think it is most likely that the quiet and low lava production will continue for a few more days and that the narrow lava flow will gradually pour into the Valle del Leone.

[1] INGV-Sezione di Catania. 2022. Comunicati attività vulcanica. 30/11/2022 12:56 - COMUNICATO ETNA

[2] INGV-Sezione di Catania. 2022. Home. TREMORE VULCANICO. ECNE

[3] INGV. Osservatorio Etneo. Sorveglianza e Monitoraggio. DATABASE TERREMOTI. Localizzazioni di sala operativa. 2022.

#Etna #eruption #volcano

Renewed eruptive activity at Mt Etna:

On the evening of 29.11.2022, the INGV webcams showed the production of lava at the northeastern base of the New Southeast Crater from about 18:30 UTC. The emission of lava in this area, located at an altitude of about 2800 m, had already started on the evening of 27 November, but then stopped again on 28 November. This time, the event was also associated with a significant intensification of the tremor, which reached almost high levels.
At 20:15 UTC, lava production continues and a short, narrow lava flow moves northwards towards Val del Leone.

Source: My own observations via webcams/website INGV

#Etna #volcano #eruption #INGV #lava

Here is a photo that I took on 07.07.2021 showing a short but very violent eruption (paroxysm) of Mt Etna's South East Crater.

#Fotomontag #Photomonday #VolcanoMonday #Etna #Eruption

Eruptive activity startet at Mt Etna today:

Bad weather with fresh snow and storm prevented the observation of Etna via webcams the whole day. But around 17:30 (UTC), glow was visible at the eastern to northeastern base of New Southeast Crater at about 2800 - 3000 m altitude. Due to the bad weather conditions, I cannot yet say whether an eruptive fissure has opened there or if lava is moving from further up of the South East Crater. The tremor continues to fluctuate in the medium range with short spikes to just above high level.

#etna #eruption #volcano #volcanology #volcanism

#caturday #cats #sphinxcats #catsofmastodon

Tourists (including me) climb Bocca Nuova (one of Etna's summit craters) in July 1979, after being taken by all-terrain vehicles to a car park at the base of the cone.
Just two months later, on 12 September 1979, a sudden explosion happened in the Bocca Nuova. Lava blocks were ejected, killing 9 tourists and injuring 22. This tragedy put an abrupt end to the mass tourism that had been practised there until then.

#throwbackthursday #etna #explosion #BoccaNuova #tourism

How about a revival of #VolcanoMonday in the Fediverse? I will start, of course with a photo of #Etna: the South East Crater from the south flank in June 2022.

#SilentSunday #Hesse #germany

#caturday
Yes, it's getting cold in Germany...