ETNA UPDATE, 12 FEBRUARY 2014, 10:00 GMT
A new period of mild, persistent Strombolian and effusive activity started on the late evening of 21 January 2014 at Etna's New Southeast Crater (NSEC), and is continuing as of 12 February. Lava emission has been taking place, at fluctuating rates generally lower than 1 m3 per second, from a cluster of vents on the lower eastern flank of the NSEC cone, feeding repeated surges of lava that descended toward the Valle del Bove to a distance of 3-4.5 km from the vents. The Strombolian activity at the NSEC itself is occurring, at times simultaneously, at times alternatingly, from two vents within the crater, with jets of incandescent lava generally rising no more than 100 m above the crater rim; only occasionally, the ejecta fall outside the crater, onto the flanks of the NSEC cone. Periodically the Strombolian activity is more ash-rich, generating dilute plumes of ash.
On the morning of 11 February 2014, a landslide originated from the area of the effusive vents on the lower eastern flank of the NSEC cone, generating a pyroclastic density current that descended toward the Valle del Bove and reached a distance of 3.5-4 km in about one minute. This event is described in detail in a separate report.
The volcanic tremor amplitude is at slightly elevated levels.
Further updates will be timely provided as the situation evolves.
ETNA UPDATE, 22 JANUARY 2014, 08:00 GMT
Since the late evening of 21 January 2014, weak Strombolian activity is taking place at Etna's New Southeast Crater (NSEC), following a quiescent interval of 20 days. Some of the explosions are accompanied by very small ash emissions, which barely clear the crater rim; the activity also generates anomalies in the images of the thermal surveillance camera at Monte Cagliato on the eastern flank of Etna, as in the frame shown at left, recorded at 06:56 GMT (=local time -1) on 22 January 2014.
The latest activity at the NSEC was an episode of intense Strombolian activity and lava flow emission that culminated between 29 and 31 December 2013, followed by two days of minor lava emission from a vent on the northeast flank of the NSEC cone. However, from 4 to 13 January, nearly continuous emissions of reddish ash (altered pulverized rock) occurred from the Northeast Crater. Strong degassing, often taking place in a pulsating manner, is continuing from this crater.
The volcanic tremor amplitude is at background levels.
Further updates will be timely provided as the situation evolves.
ETNA UPDATE, 30 DECEMBER 2013, 00:50 GMT
On the evening of 29 December 2013, the Strombolian activity at Etna's New Southeast Crater (NSEC) progressively intensified, with fequent powerful explosions from two vents located within the crater, which are accompanied by loud detonations audible in a vast sector around the volcano. Contemporaneously, two lava flows are active, one issuing from a vent on the eastern flank of the NSEC cone, whereas the other is fed directly from the crater down the northeast flank of the cone. The explosive activity generates a diluted ash plume, which is blown by the wind toward northeast. The volcanic tremor amplitude is rising, although so far it has not reached the levels characteristic for a typical episode of lava fountaining.
Further updates will be timely provided.
ETNA UPDATE, 29 DECEMBER 2013, 09:20 GMT
In the early morning hours of 29 December 2013, the high-sensitivity visul monitoring camera of the INGV-Osservatorio Etneo on the Montagnola (EMOH) showed the appearance of weak and sporadic glows at the New Southeast Crater (NSEC) of Etna. There were no visible ejections of pyroclastic materal or ash, and no anomaly was recorded by the thermal cameras at the Montagnola (EMOT) and at Monte Cagliato (EMCT). Strong, pulsating degassing is continuing meanwhile at the Northeast Crater.
At 10:15 GMT (=local time -1) on 29 December, the NSEC produced a single Strombolian explosion accompanied by ash emission, which formed a plume about 1 km tall and was blown by the wind toward east. After the explosion, mild Strombolian activity continued, which was confined to the interior of the crater, and was accompanied also by infrasonic activity and a slight increase of the volcanic tremor amplitude.
The current wind direction is toward east-southeast.
The NSEC has remained in a state of quiescence since the cessation of its latest paroxysmal eruptive episode (14-16 December); during a helicopter overflight on 28 December 2013, the crater floor was partially covered with snow and only weak fumarolic activity was occurring on the northern, western and southern crater rims.
The volcanic tremor amplitude remains low, similar to the values recorded during the past week.
Further updates will be timely provided.
ETNA UPDATE, 3 DECEMBER 2013, 13:15 GMT
After the cessation of lava fountaining at Etna's New Southeast Crater on the late evening of 2 December 2013, sporadic explosive activity continued at the same crater, as has also been the case at the end of previous paroxysmal eruptive episodes. However, inclement weather conditions preclude any visual observation of the eruptive phenomena. Further updates will be timely provided.
ETNA UPDATE, 2 DECEMBER 2013, 23:30 GMT
The Strombolian activity that started on the afternoon of 2 December 2013 at Etna's New Southeast Crater intensified during the evening and culminated in a new paroxysmal eruptive episode, which was essentially over by 22:30 GMT (=local time -1). This event produced tall lava fountains, lava flows, and an eruption column charged with pyroclastic material, which was blown by the wind toward north-northwest, causing ash and lapilli falls in the area of Bronte. Several lava flows were emitted toward south-southeast, southeast, northeast, and south. The flow descending southeastward has reached the base of the western headwall of the Valle del Bove.
ETNA UPDATE, 2 DECEMBER 2013, 18:30 GMT
Since the late afternoon of 2 December 2013, vigorous Strombolian activity is taking place at Etna's New Southeast Crater. This activity is accompanied by a gradual increase in the volcanic tremor amplitude. Currently, a dilute eruptive plume composed mostly of volcanic gas is rising from the volcano and is blown by the wind toward the northern sector of the volcano. Further updates will be provided as the situation evolves.
ETNA UPDATE, 28 NOVEMBER 2013, 19:30 GMT
A new paroxysmal eruptive episode - the 18th of this year - started on the late afternoon of 28 November 2013 at Etna's New Southeast Crater. Although visibility was strongly hampered by weather clouds, it could be ascertained that this episode produced lava fountains and an eruption column charged with pyroclastic material that was blown by the wind to the northeast. Activity is currently diminishing.
ETNA UPDATE, 23 NOVEMBER 2013, 18:45 GMT
In the morning of 23 November 2013, the 17th paroxysmal eruptive episode occurred at Etna's New Southeast Crater.
This paroxysm, which took place five days after the previous one, was characterized by a rapid evolution from Strombolian activity to lava fountains.
The eruption column, several kilometers high, was charged with pyroclastic material that was dispersed by the wind toward north-east.
The lava flows development are quite limited and significantly less extensive than those emitted during the 16-17 November 2013 paroxysm.