Etna update, 11 November 2013

After an interval of relative quiescence of 16 days, Etna's New Southeast Crater (NSEC) has produced a new episode of lava fountaining (paroxysm) on the morning of 11 November 2013. The culminating phase, with lava fountains, ash emission and lava flows, started about 04:00 GMT (=local time -1), after about 10 hours of gradually intensifying Strombolian activity. Rather inclement weather conditions precluded any visual observation of the activity, which was accompanied by a strong increase in the volcanic tremor amplitude, and the superficialization and shifting of the volcanic tremor source from a position below the Northeast Crater toward the NSEC. The phase of maximum intensity of the activity lasted about 7.5 hours, ending around 10:30 GMT; the cessation of lava fountaining was followed by a long series of powerful explosions that generated loud bangs heard mostly in the northern sector of the volcano. Ash and lapilli falls were reported east and northeast of the volcano. A voluminous lava flow expanded from the NSEC toward south, and two smaller lava flows were emitted toward east-southeast and northeast. A more detailed report will be posted here soon.

UPDATE 11 NOVEMBER 2013, 18:00 GMT

Since the cessation of lava fountaining during the forenoon of today, explosive activity has continued at the NSEC, and in this moment vigorous Strombolian activity is continuing, with explosions at intervals of 1-2 minutes, which launch incandescent material up to 150 m above the crater rim. Lava flows are still slowly advancing toward south (between Monte Frumento Supino and the pyroclastic cone of 2002-2003) and southeast, in the area of the former "Belvedere", and toward northeast.

UPDATE 12 NOVEMBER 2013, 10:00 GMT

The Strombolian activity still under way at the NSEC yesterday evening has ceased during the night, and the lava flows emitted during the episode of lava fountaining are no longer active and cooling.