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Etna update, 17 June 2011

20110617_0715_730

A small puff of grayish-brown ash is seen rising from the Bocca Nuova at 05:15 h (GMT = local time -2) on 17 June 2011, in this view taken from Trecastagni (about 15 km southeast of Etna's summit). To the right, a characteristic puff of light-colored gas is rising from the Northeast Crater, hidden behind the cone of the Southeast Crater, which itself is showing a conspicuous fumarole on its upper eastern slope. A wisp of vapor is also rising from the eastern rim of the pit crater on the lower east flank of the Southeast Crater cone, at extreme right. Photo taken by Boris Behncke, INGV-Catania (Osservatorio Etneo)

Ash emissions continue from the Bocca Nuova

On the morning of 17 June 2011, sporadic ash emissions continued from a vent located on the floor of the Bocca Nuova, the westernmost of the summit craters of Etna. The same phenomenon has been observed during the limited periods of good visibility on all days since the onset of this activity, on 14 June 2011, and thus far shows no significant variations. The emissions occur every 5-15 minutes, producing small plumes of reddish to grayish brown, rather dilute ash. There is no evidence for the presence of hot material in these emissions. Seismic activity, in particular the volcanic tremor, is remaining at low levels.