How old is mount etna

An eruption was described by Diodorus Siculus in BC. Scientific documentation of its volcanism dates back to the 17th century.

It was systematically studied in the 19th century by the eminent scientists Charles Lyell and Sartorius von Waltershausen, whose map became the world's first geological map of a major active volcano. Since then, Mount Etna as an accessible natural laboratory for volcanologists, geophysicists and other scientific disciplines has been one of the most exhaustively studied and monitored volcanoes in the world. There is a network of over 10 seismic monitoring stations in the core and 8 further down.

The long established observatory is being renovated. Recent subjects of study are the beech woods, the pine bug population, and more fugitive species like wildcat. The park President and legal representative is appointed by the President of the Sicilian Regional Authority to chair the Park Council.

The decree creating the Regional Nature Park defined its regulations and boundaries, subdividing the area into four zones, and the activities permitted or prohibited within each. The World Heritage property includes only the most strictly protected zone, the Integral Reserve. The park's staff receive technical and scientific advice from the Regional Advisory Body on Natural Heritage Protection. The management is guided by a long term management plan and Triennial Intervention Programs.

Use of the property is restricted to research and recreation. Vehicle access to the limited network of forest and mountain tracks is strictly controlled by gates and fences and is only permitted for park management purposes, research, and organized 4WDs on the main track from the tourism facilities in the buffer zone to the observatory.

No dogs are allowed in the property and hunting, which is illegal, seems under control. Low intensity summer grazing is permitted. Limited forestry is used to reduce the risk from forest fires and to maintain access routes. Organized recreational activities, such as mountain biking and horse or donkey riding, require advance authorization; they need to be well managed and monitored to avoid erosion and disturbance of wildlife.

Monitoring of the volcano is permanent, of underground water 6-monthly, and regularly of the major habitats, rare and endemic species, land uses, forests and pests, annual visitation, camps and paths. The property has no permanent population, no roads, and its use is restricted. No construction is permitted within the property apart from the Observatory. During and , public access to the top of Mount Etna has been officially prohibited for safety reasons, but the regulation has been difficult to enforce.

As late as , lava diversion barriers were needed to save a small town and Catania airport has been closed several times in the last decade. Many of the basic mountain shelters do not have toilets, creating a waste disposal problem. As well as the constant risk from volcanic activity, climate change may increase the number of forest fires and impact the more marginal plant communities such as beech and birch.

Overall, however, the Outstanding Universal Value of the property is not at present threatened. The buffer zones are less strictly protected and include a public road network and large areas used for traditional agriculture and grazing. Illegal hunting occurs more frequently in these zones than in the property and they are liable to the tourist pressures of littering and overcrowding.

The property and buffer zone are free from any industrial activity, but due to its location in a densely populated region, parts of the wider park area are threatened by pollution from urban development including illegal garbage dumping and illegal quarrying for construction materials. There is a lack of a coordinated management presence on site.

Upgrading is needed to improve the presentation of natural heritage values to the visiting public, to provide easier access and to ensure visitor safety. Present programming and interpretation is done through private operators. Their coordination by the managing organization is necessary. Of the world's many great active stratovolcanic peaks, those comparable with Mount Etna should be massive, isolated, actively eruptive, with a large range of recorded volcanic activity and features, beautiful and dangerous to a populous countryside.

Klyuchevskiy 4,m ; and several are not: Fujiyama 3,m , Nyragongo in the D. In , the UN sponsored a list of 16 'Decade Volcanoes', which includes all the above except Fujiyama, which is presently dormant, but includes Etna. All possess the above characteristics, though the more remote threaten only small or distant populations, and Teide has not erupted since , nor Vesuvius since Of the designated sites, all are similar except that Mauna Loa is a shield-type dome, not a cone or pyramid.

What recommends Etna above the group is its conspicuous position, long recorded history and record of detailed research of its continuous activity at the centre of a vibrant civilization. The Ente Parco dell'Etna staff of 48 is adequate for current operations, but lacks vulcanological and ecological expertise. Financial and technical support is still needed to improve educational and tourism facilities in the property. Branca, S. Geological map of Etna volcano, , scale.

Italian Journal of Geosciences Geological evolution of a complex basaltic stratovolcano: Mount Etna, Italy. De Beni, E. Isotopic dating of Etna volcanic succession. Dingwall, P. Giusso del Galdo, G. Weishaupt Verlag, Gras, Austria. Grabherr, G.

IUCN Mount Etna Italy. Gland, Switzerland. Massa, B. Bird communities on Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy. Arnold ed. Mediterranean Islands. Survival Books, London, UK. Biodiversity hotspots in the Mediterranean. Setting global conservation priorities. Conservation Biology Mercurio, R. Ediguida, Nicolosi, Italy. Parco dell'Etna Ministry of the Environment, Italy. Activity during April On 1 April around the SEC explosions transitioned into lava fountaining, generating an ash plume at that rose to 9 km altitude and drifted SSW.

By the fountaining had stopped, though explosions continued, producing ash plumes that rose to 5. As a result, ashfall was reported in Milia, Nicolosi, and Catania, and lapilli up to 1 cm was reported in Rifugio Sapienza.

A second lava flow appeared at , originating from the same eastern vent and migrating toward VOR-BN. Explosivity gradually declined around in SEC; by the lava flows had begun to cool and explosions were no longer observed in the summit crater. Explosions would eject material tens of meters above the crater rim in NEC, accompanied by some ash emissions. At VOR-BN, an overflight on 13 April noted that activity was focused in the western vents, ejecting reddish ash emissions.

An explosion in the eastern vent in SEC at on 25 April ejected incandescent material m above the crater rim; an ash plume was visible drifting S. Activity during May Activity during the first half of May remained similar to the previous month, with degassing at the summit craters and weak, intermittent Strombolian explosions occurring at the eastern vents in SEC, accompanied by ash emissions figure On 19 May at the Strombolian activity in SEC intensified, accompanied by ash emissions, which evolved into lava fountaining by figure At the same time, a lava flow was observed traveling down the SW flank, reaching an elevation of 2.

This event lasted three and a half hours, after which the fountains and explosions stopped abruptly. The lava flow was 1. By the explosions evolved into lava fountains that ejected material to the NE. A second lava flow developed on the SW flank, overlapping the one from the 19th, advancing to 3 km elevation. It was 1 km long, 1. A third lava flow was observed on the E flank was 0. At the lava fountain and explosive activity had stopped abruptly.

On 24 May explosions were accompanied by a lava flow on the SW flank that descended to m elevation, was 1. The most intense phase of the explosions occurred during and ; activity ended around On 25 May an ash plume rose to 4 km altitude and drifted ENE at ; by explosive activity resumed. Two eruptive episodes on 26 May with peaks at and resulted in fine ashfall in Milo 10 km E.

On 28 May three explosive events were detected beginning at , reaching a maximum intensity at , and ending at As a result, ashfall was reported in Giarre. A second explosive episode occurred during and and a third, more intense explosive episode occurred during On 30 May explosions beginning at lasted for two hours and resulted in fine ashfall in Petrulli 12 km SE. Activity during June Weak Strombolian activity in SEC began at on 2 June, producing minor and diffuse ash plumes, which intensified around and transitioned to lava fountains that lasted more than two hours figure The lava fountains generated ash plumes that rose to km altitude and drifted E, resulting in ashfall N of Zafferana, near Petrulli and Santa Venerina figure Fountains stopped at During the night and early morning of June weak intra-crater explosions continued.

On 4 June activity increased at and was characterized by discontinuous ash emissions and a lava flow descending the S flank of SEC. Lava fountains began at and generated an ash plume that rose to 6.

By the fountaining had stopped; webcam images showed that by the lava flow remained active at an elevation of 2. On 9 June at intra-crater Strombolian activity was reported in the saddle cone, accompanied by discontinuous ash emissions, which continued through 11 June. Coarse material was ejected tens of meters from the edge of SEC, falling back into the crater.

The lava flow descending the SW flank on 12 June reached an elevation of 2. At explosions transitioned into lava fountains that rose m above the crater and produced an ash plume that rose to 5.

The fountains ended at , alongside a cooling flow on the SW flank, though Strombolian explosions continued in SEC. Several lava fountaining episodes were reported during on 16 June, on 18 June to on 19 June, on 19 June, on 20 June to on 21 June, overnight during June, and during the early hours of 22 and 23 June. Ash plumes rose as high as 8 km altitude, causing ashfall the S and SSE. INGV reported nine lava fountain episodes at SEC occurred during June; explosive activity was concentrated in the W part of SEC at three of the four saddle vents, though some weak, isolated explosions were detected in the E vents figure The episodes generated ash plumes rising km altitude while lava flows descended the SW and SE flanks figure The lava fountaining events have caused SEC cone to grow significantly.

Activity during July Three episodes of lava fountains generated ash plumes that rose km altitude, resulting in ashfall to the E and SE. Resulting ash plumes drifted ESE and within an hour, lava fountains were visible, accompanied by lava flows moving SW; fountaining had stopped at The second episode began at on 4 July, producing fountains at and ash plumes, ending by figure The last episode occurred at on 6 July; ash plumes rose to 5 km altitude and drifted SE; ash deposits were observed on the S flank.

Explosions intensified at on 7 July with fountaining occurring thirty minutes later, rising as high as 1 km. A small lava flow originated from the S side of the cone and traveled SW, reaching an elevation of 2. During fieldwork on 7 July scientists observed bombs up to 1 m in diameter on the N side of Mount Barbagallo, while smaller bombs were observed farther away. Lapilli was reported in the S part of Tremestieri, and ash was deposited in Nicolosi, as well as other communities downwind.

This episode lasted about two hours. A second episode that began at on 8 July consisted of Strombolian activity and lava fountains. Ash plumes rose to 3. On 14 July explosions generated an ash plume that rose to 9 km altitude and drifted NE, which resulted in 1-cm-thick lapilli and ash deposits in the Rocca Campana district, as well as in the Rifugio, Citelli, and Presa, with ashfall in Taormina and the S part of Calabria.

On 20 July at explosions in SEC generated ash emissions that drifted SSE; at the intensity of these explosions increased and eventually evolved into lava fountains at At the same time, a lava flow along the side of the SW flank of SEC was reported, as well as deposits of material on the S and E flanks of the volcano. Strombolian activity intensified again at on 28 July in SEC, generating discontinuous ash emissions figure ; this episode stopped by Explosions in SEC began again at on 31 July, producing ash plumes that rose to 5 km altitude and drifted SE, resulting in ashfall in Fornazzo and Milo.

At a lava flow down the SW flank reached 2. INGV reported that tremor amplitude at Etna began gradually increasing at on 21 September and then suddenly increased at An eruption plume rose 4.

Within an hour lava fountaining began and the plume rose 9 km and drifted ENE. Lava overflowed the crater and traveled SW. Lava fountaining had ceased by , though Strombolian activity within the crater continued. Tremor amplitude decreased at and explosive activity ceased. Gas emissions rose from Bocca Nuova crater. A series of explosions at SEC that began at on 27 August and continued through the next morning produced ash puffs.

Strombolian activity began in the early afternoon of 29 August and within an hour, lava fountains were visible rising up to m above the vent. Ash emissions rose a few hundred meters. The activity varied in intensity and during intense periods, ash plumes rose up to 10 km above the summit. Gas emissions rose from Voragine Crater and from two active craters in Bocca Nuova.

A series of discontinuous ash emissions from NEC began at on 4 August and lasted about two hours. An ash plume rose to 1. Similar but less intense ash emissions were visible on 5 August. The reddish mostly fine-grained material emitted from NEC was erupted when no thermal anomalies were present in the crater, suggesting that they were the result of landslides rather than eruptive activity.

Strombolian activity began at SEC at on 7 August and was characterized by isolated explosions and the ejection of incandescent material beyond the crater rim; activity ceased during the night. An explosion at on 8 August was followed by the resumption of Strombolian activity at on 9 August.

Incandescent material was again ejected beyond the crater rim and an ash plume drifted SE. The intensity and frequency of explosions progressively intensified and formed lava fountains. Ash plumes rose to 1. A small lava flow originated from the S side of the cone and traveled SW, stopping at 2, m elevation.

During fieldwork on 7 July scientist observed deposits of bombs, 1 m in diameter, on the N flank and smaller bombs scattered farther away. A second episode began at on 8 July with Strombolian activity which again intensified and formed lava fountains.

Lava flowed SW to 2, m elevation. Ash plumes drifted ESE and within an hour lava fountains were visible that sent flows SW; fountaining ceased at The second episode began at on 4 July, produced fountains at , and ended at The last episode began at on 6 July and produced ash plumes that drifted SE. Explosive activity intensified at on 7 July; lava fountaining began 30 minutes later, rose as high as 1 km, and ended within two hours.

Lapilli was reported in the S part of Tremestieri and ash fell in Nicolosi, as well as in many other areas downwind. According to news articles the Catania airport was closed during the night due to ashfall. The episodes were recorded shortly after midnight on 21 June, at dawn on 22 June, at dawn and sunset on 23 June, in the late morning on 24 June, at dawn and sunset on 25 June, in the afternoon on 26 June, and during the late morning of 27 June.

Explosive activity was concentrated in the W part of SEC at three of the four saddle vents; some weak explosions occurred at the E vents. The episodes produced ash plumes that rose km 16,, ft a. The lava fountaining episodes were recorded during on 16 June, on 18 June to on 19 June, on 19 June, on 20 June to on 21 June, overnight during June, and in the early hours of 22 and 23 June.

Each episode began with Strombolian activity which was followed by lava fountaining and crater overflows sending lava down the flanks. Ash plumes that rose as high as 4. The lava fountains on 21 June were notably tall. The activity intensified at ; within 30 minutes lava fountaining was observed and lasted for over two hours. Ash plumes rose km 16,, ft a. Lava overflowed the S side of the crater and traveled W. Fountaining stopped at Weak Strombolian activity continued to be observed during the night hours of June.

Activity increased at on 4 June and was characterized by discontinuous ash emissions and lava overflowing the S rim of SEC. Lava fountaining began at and an ash plume rose to 6. Fountaining began to decline at The lava flow continued to advance, and by had reached 2, m elevation. Occasional ash emissions were noted during June, and the lava flow had ceased. Ash plumes were visible most days, rising to a maximum of 7 km 23, ft a. The first episode of the week began at on 24 May, intensified during , and ended at on 25 May.

Ash emissions at SEC began on 25 May, producing a plume that rose to 4 km 13, ft a. Explosions were recorded at and within 30 minutes Strombolian activity was visible. Activity intensified during and ended at Two eruptive episodes were recorded on 26 May, with peaks at and An eruptive episode on 27 May was not visually well-documented due to inclement weather, though it reportedly intensified at Another episode began around on 28 May, intensified around , and then ended at ; ashfall was reported in Giarre.

Two more eruptive events were recorded that day: during and a more powerful one during The last episode of the week began at on 30 May and lasted for two hours. Strombolian activity began at on 19 May and produced ash plumes that drifted E. Activity intensified and lava fountains formed at on 20 May. At the same time lava overflowed the SEC and traveled SW, and within a few hours had reached 2, m elevation.

The activity lasted about three and a half hours and then abruptly ended. The next episode during on 22 May included Strombolian explosions and ash plumes that drifted SE; lava fountaining began at and flows traveled SW, overlapping the flows from 19 May. Explosions produced ash plumes that drifted SE around and Strombolian explosions intensified around , producing dense ash plumes that drifted E.

Lava fountains formed about two hours later, sending flows down the E and SW flanks; fountaining was over by on 23 May. A series of explosions were visible during , producing dense ash plumes that drifted E. Intense explosive activity at SEC began at on 25 May, producing ash plumes that rose to 3. Strombolian activity commenced at and lava fountains were visible around Lava flows were visible at and ash plumes drifted E at an altitude of 6 km 19, ft a.

Activity ceased by on 26 May. INGV reported that during April activity at Etna was mainly characterized by gas emissions rising from the summit craters, though inclement weather conditions often prevented visual observations.

Bocca Nuova in particular produced frequent steam puffs. A strong explosion at on 25 April from the E vent of Southeast Crater SEC ejected incandescent material up to m above the crater rim.

An ash plume dispersed to the S. Gas emissions rose from the other summit craters and occasional explosive activity was visible; puffs of ash sometimes rose from Voragine Crater during 31 March-2 April. At on 31 March a loud explosion was followed by several ash puffs, marking the beginning of the 17th lava-fountaining episode since they began on 16 February.

At around a thermal anomaly at the S base of SEC was visible during an overflight and in thermal camera images. Explosive activity increased by late afternoon and several lava flows effused from the S-base vent. The main part of the flow traveled towards the Valle del Bove with other smaller flows traveled S and SW.

Two other vents at the S base had opened by evening and one ejected spatter a few tens of meters high. Periods of lava fountaining began through the night, and the main lava flow descended the W wall of the Valle del Bove. Strombolian activity intensified at , with an eruption plume that rose to 1.

Lava fountaining began at around on 1 April. Lava fountains continued to be visible during the morning of 1 April and intense Strombolian activity produced dense ash plumes that drifted S. By the eruption plume had risen to 9 km 29, ft a. Lava fountaining ceased around and the eruption plume rose to 5. Lava effusion and flow advancement continued; lava from the S base of SEC spread out like a fan. A series of loud bangs were audible in the late morning and ash emissions continued until the afternoon.

Explosive activity began to decline at , and effusive activity waned overnight during April. A lava flow from the SEC was observed at which split in two, one branch traveling toward the Valle del Bove and the other to the SE; the lava was followed by a pyroclastic flow at that traveled toward the Valle del Bove.

The lava fountain produced an ash cloud that rose to km 20,, ft a. Lava fountaining gradually decreased at , and by it had stopped. The lava flows continued to advance. On 24 March explosions at SEC continued after the lava fountaining had stopped, producing an ash plume that rose 4.

At night, ashfall was reported in Milia and Trecastagni 16 km SE. Explosions stopped by that day. By 25 March the two active lava flows had ceased and began to cool. Strombolian activity at SEC began at on 14 March and turned into lava fountaining at on 15 March. Lava traveled towards the Valle de Bove and an eruption plume drifted E. Lava fountaining ceased by and only weak Strombolian activity followed. Weak Strombolian activity at SEC on 17 March began to intensify at and changed into lava fountaining at An eruption plume drifted SE and lava flow advanced.

Fountaining activity ceased at and was followed by explosive activity. By the lava flows had reached 2, m elevation. Explosions at SEC and the lava flow in the Valle de Bove were visible at on 18 March when the weather conditions allowed for partial visibility of the summit.

Explosive activity at SEC was visible at on 19 March. The activity intensified at and ash emissions were visible. Lava fountaining started at and an ash plume drifted ENE. Lava fountaining activity ceased at and changed to Strombolian activity which gradually decreased; by only sporadic explosions were visible along with minor ash emissions. Lava flows were noted late in the morning. Just after midnight activity quickly intensified with lava fountaining and a large eruption plume that rose at least 9 km a.

Lava reached an elevation of 1, m, also effusing from the flank of the S vent. Lava fountaining ceased at on 10 March and sporadic ash emissions continued until Lava fountaining began at , with jets up to m, and an eruption plume rose 6 km a. Lava advanced to 2, m elevation and within another hour had reached 2, m elevation.

Lava fountaining ceased at , though weak Strombolian activity and ash emissions continued until The lava flow advanced as far as 1, m elevation and a second lava flow expanded SE on the W slope of the Valle del Bove, stopping at 3, m a.

Weak Strombolian activity began at SEC at on 2 March, then intensified at and produced an ash plume. Lava fountaining began at Lava fountaining ceased at , ending the eighth episode.

Ash emissions were visible at but dispersed quickly. Strombolian activity at Voragine VOR was also visible with ejected material rising above the crater rim. Lava fountaining began at SEC at , but by the activity had decreased. Lava flows that advanced towards the Valle de Bove were fed by spattering and a new vent that opened at the E base of the SEC.

Strombolian activity at VOR changed to m-tall lava fountaining at Strombolian activity intensified at ; an eruption plume rose 5 km above the summit and drifted E. Lava overflowed the SEC onto the E flank and expanded into the Valle de Bove, reaching an elevation of 2, m by Strombolian activity again intensified beginning at and the lava flow advanced to 2, m elevation. Lava fountaining started at and ended at An eruption plume rose 10 km and drifted E.

Strombolian activity resumed at and was over by Strombolian activity at SEC returned at on 9 March. Lava overflowed the crater at and advanced towards the Valle de Bove. Strombolian activity increased at and ash emissions drifted NE. The lava flow reached 2, m elevation. Strombolian activity at two vents in SEC increased during the late afternoon of 24 February.

During lava fountains rose as high as m above the summit. A second lava flow traveled SW, and at a pyroclastic flow descended 1 km into the Valle de Bove. An eruption plume rose as high as 11 km a. Weak Strombolian activity was visible at on 28 February. Lava fountaining began at , feeding lava flows that traveled E, and abruptly intensified at with jets of lava rising m above the crater rim.

A small lava overflow at the S part of SEC began at , followed by a pyroclastic flow at Lava fountaining ended at , though the lava flow descending E remained active.

INGV reported that a series of paroxysmal events separated by relative calm periods at Etna began on 16 February and continued at least through 23 February. Overflows of lava from the crater at caused a partial collapse of the cone and a pyroclastic flow that traveled 1. Lava fountains afterwards rose m high. An eruptive plume rose several kilometers and drifted S, causing ashfall in areas as far as Syracuse, km SSE. Lava flows advanced into the Valle de Bove and the Valle del Leone, and produced explosions in areas where they interacted with snow cover.

Activity ended around After a hour pause the second paroxysmal episode began at on 17 February with overflows of lava from the eastern SEC vents.

Lava fountaining began just after the next morning. The lava fountains reached maximum heights of m then ceased around After another pause lasting about 32 hours, lava overflowed the SEC at around on 19 February.

A rapid increase in explosive activity followed and lava fountaining began during At lava fountains emerged from the S, or saddle, vent. The eruption plume rose 10 km 32, ft a. Lava flowed S and towards the Valle de Bove causing explosions where they interacted with snow. Explosive activity ceased at Lab analysis of lava samples collected during February eruptions showed that the magma was the most primitive over the past 20 years, meaning that the composition had changed little from its formation at depth and that it ascended quickly.

Weak Strombolian activity was visible in the late afternoon of 20 February. By the Strombolian activity had shifted to pulsating lava fountaining. Beginning at on 21 February more western vents became active and the E vents jetted lava m high. Activity intensified at with jets of lava that rose more than 1 km high and were sustained for about 10 minutes. An eruption plume again rose to 10 km 32, ft a. Beginning at the lava fountain became smaller, and at explosive activity ceased.

Lava flowed SW and into the Valle de Bove. Periodic ash emissions rose from both the S and E vents later than evening. Lava overflowed the SE crater just after and advanced 1 km towards the Valle de Bove. Lava fountains and Strombolian explosions occurred at multiple vents.

Activity intensified at on 21 February and lava fountains rose , m above the SEC. Lava flowed from the S vent and an eruption plume rose several kilometers, but activity rapidly ceased at Lava flows continued to advance in the Valle de Bove; the longest flows were 3.

During very intense explosions from multiple SEC vents ejected incandescent bombs that fell as far as the base of the cone. The frequency and intensity of the explosions increased and by material was ejected onto the flanks.

By jets of lava were m high, and by lava fountains rose from a second vent. Lava overflowed the crater at and headed towards the Valle de Bove. Within the first hour on 23 February lava fountains rose more than 1. Lava overflowed the S vent and descended SW. Lava fountaining suddenly decreased at on 23 February, though lava flows continued to be fed.

Strombolian activity again intensified at , accompanied by ash emissions. Two lava flows formed and traveled SW and SE, the latter was longest and reached 1,, m elevation. The activity ended at The frequency and intensity of explosions at SEC were variable; almost continuous strong explosions originated from two vents in the E part of the top of the cone. Tephra accumulated near the top of the cone and rolled several tens of meters down the flanks.

Minor ash emissions rapidly dispersed. Less-intense Strombolian activity occurred at the S vent also called the saddle vent. Intra-crater Strombolian activity at NEC sometimes produced nighttime crater incandescence. The activity at BN sometimes ejected coarse material beyond the crater rim, and rare emissions that had diffuse ash content. The the VOR Strombolian explosions ejected material that sometimes rose above the crater rim and generated diffuse ash emissions.

During the morning of 15 February explosive activity at SEC gradually intensified. Activity originated from the E vents but sometimes intense explosions occurred at the saddle vent. A significant increase in tremor amplitude began at Tremor amplitude waned at , the same time that explosive activity decreased.

Part of the cone collapsed at and generated a pyroclastic flow that traveled 1. An ash plume rapidly dispersed to the S. Explosive activity at SEC increased and lava fountaining began at Ash clouds drifted S. Lava flows advanced into the Valle de Bove, reaching an elevation of 2, m by at the latest.

Ashfall was also reported in Syracuse, km SSE. Another lava flow advanced N into the Valle del Leone. Lava fountains were about m tall, possibly as tall as m. Tremor amplitude began to decrease at and lava fountains ceased around Lava effusion from SEC gradually diminished; the flow in the Valle de Bove was a few kilometers long and smaller flows that had traveled N and S reached an elevation of 2, Strombolian activity persisted at SEC overnight during February and ceased at on 17 February.

Explosions at VOR were sporadic. The strongest and almost continuous Strombolian explosions at SEC originated from two vents in the E part of the top of the cone. Tephra accumulated near the top of the cone and rolled down the flanks. Less-intense Strombolian activity occurred at the S vent.

Strombolian activity at BN sometimes ejected coarse material beyond the crater rim, and rare ash emissions that had diffuse ash content. On 5 February scientists observed explosions from three vents at the bottom of the crater that had formed cinder cones. Nearby was another cone that occasionally produced dense emissions that rapidly dispersed. Strombolian activity at VOR ejected material that sometimes rose above the crater rim and generated diffuse ash emissions.

On 5 February lava flowed into BN, overlapping flows from the previous week. In general, the activity was similar to the pervious week, though activity at SEC on 18 January was notable. Lava effusion began around on 17 January but was confined to the SEC summit cone. At around the lava breached the crater and lava flowed down to the base of the cone.

The effusion rate increased by and an ash emission was possibly visible; the lava flow lengthened and had reached an elevation of 3, m by Weather clouds moved in and prevented visual observations until on 18 January when the lava flow was visible again; it was no longer being fed and was cooling.

Volcanic tremor amplitude increased and Strombolian activity intensified at A new lava flow emerged at and traveled towards the Valle del Bove, reaching an elevation of 2, m. Low lava fountains were visible at and an ash plume drifted ESE, causing ashfall on the downwind flank. Explosive activity significantly decreased at Two distinct lava flows were visible, with one heading N and the other moving towards the Valle del Bove.

Tremor and infrasound signals decreased to pre-episode levels by The the lava flows were stable and cooling on 19 January. Tremor amplitude had gradually increased on 20 December but weather conditions prevented visual observations. During the morning of the 21st Strombolian activity occurred at three vents.

By tremor amplitude suddenly increased, and by lava fountaining from at least two vents was observed in thermal camera images, along with an eruption plume to 3 km 10, ft a. Lava fountaining ended around noon, with a simultaneous decrease in tremor amplitude.

The front of the active SW flow reached 2, m elevation. By both flows were cooling down and no longer advancing. Additionally, infrequent ash emissions at the Bocca Nuova BN craters and some explosions and minor ash emissions at the Voragine VOR were also recorded.

Webcam views of activity was limited due to weather conditions; a field visit was made on 14 December. Strombolian activity originated from the E and central vents at SEC ejected lava onto the inner crater walls. Occasional ash emissions dispersed quickly near the summit. Activity intensified at on 13 December and lava fountains formed around As of the summer of , the northeastern crater measured 10, feet 3, m tall.

Mount Etna is thought to have started as a submarine volcano that slowly grew above sea level as it erupted, time and again, gradually increasing its height with solidified lava, according to NASA's Earth Observatory. It's now largely covered with historic lava flows from eruptions that happened up to , years ago. To get a digital 3D view of Etna's summit, go here.

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