Etna volcano updates and eruption news:
Thursday, May 23, 2013
 Seismic trace of the 3.5 earthquake today (ESVO station, INGV Catania)
A shallow magnitude 3.5 earthquake occurred under the town of Zafferana, about 10 km east of the summit area this afternoon. ...moreThe volcano has been quiet for some while now, but it could (and likely will) erupt again in the near future. Whether this earthquake is a harbinger of something new to come is impossible to say at the moment, but it's a good idea to keep a close watch of the volcano. More information about this earthquake. [ less] [ read all]
Saturday, Apr 27, 2013
After a long build-up phase of increasingly violent strombolian activity over several days, the 13th New SE crater paroxysm is occurring this evening. ...moreTall lava fountains rise from the central vent of the cone, and a lava flow has rapidly descended the slope into Valle del Bove. A dense tephra plume is rising several kilometers above the volcano and drifting to the NE where ash- and lapilli fall is occurring. [ less]
Saturday, Apr 20, 2013
After only 2 days since the previous eruption, the 12th paroxysm of the New SE crater occurred this afternoon. Following a build-up phase of strombolian explosions since yesterday, the eruption culminated with tall lava fountains and lava flows. ...moreAt the end of the eruption, at least 2 pyroclastic flows towards the Valle del Bove were reported to have formed. After the eruption, lava flows continue to be active from vents at the base of the cone and descend towards Valle del Bove. [ less]
Thursday, Apr 18, 2013
The 11th paroxysmal eruption from the New SE crater occurred as expected today. As during the previous eruption a week ago, the build-up phase with increasing strombolian activity was relatively long (about 2 days). The peak phase itself when activity culminated in lava fountains was comparably short.
It seems likely that another paroxysm is in the making at the New SE crater: Strombolian explosions have continued throughout the night and this morning, and have been intensifying. Lava has now appeared at several vents on the fissure cutting through the New SE crater and the tremor signal is steeply rising, typical for the onset of another paroxysm.
Friday, Apr 12, 2013
A new paroxysm, the 10th such eruption in 2013, occurred today at Etna's New SE crater, after a several days-long phase of increasingly strong strombolian explosions. It culminated with lava flows and lava fountains and a tall ash plume. ...moreLava flows were erupted from the "saddle" area between the two Southeast Crater cones, toward the south and then southeast, from the summit vent of the New Southeast Crater itself toward southeast, and from vents on the northeast side of the cone. The eruptive activity started on the afternoon of 8 April with small strombolian explosions and gradually increased on 11 April. By the evening of yesterday, explosive activity had been almost continuous and produced powerful explosions and loud detonations that continued throughout the night and this morning, before finally merging into lava fountains this afternoon. [ less] [ read all]
The eruption continued all night with strong strombolian explosions and the slow effusion of one or several lava flows from the eruptive fissure to the east. The explosions have been accompanied by loud bangs that rattled windows in many kilometers away and could be felt until the Ionian coast. ...moreThe volcanic tremor has continued to rise to very high levels (as high as during the most powerful paroxysms of the past weeks) where it has now been stagnating for the past hours. [ less]
Tuesday, Apr 09, 2013
New activity has started yesterday afternoon from the New SE crater. Several relatively intense explosive ash emissions were observed from the summit vent of the cone. They produced dense ash plumes rising about 200 m. More explosions occurred during the night, separated by intervals varying from 20 minutes to about 2 hours, during which strong degassing continued and the fumarolic area at the crater rim remained incandescent. ...moreThe tremor showed a light increase during the night, but it is not clear at the moment, if this is already a precursor to yet another paroxysm. [ less]
Friday, Apr 05, 2013
Today is a very sad day for all free people who like Etna: Etna has become a "forbidden volcano". ...moreMaybe intimidated by the recent lava fountains of Etna, the Prefecture of Catania has decided to take strict measures and published a strict ruleset what is allowed and what not, to protect us from the dangerous volcano: 4 volcanic hazard and alert levels, ranging from "Normal" to "Alarm" were defined and decide which kind of activity will be allowed in the future on the volcano. [ less] [ read all]
Wednesday, Apr 03, 2013
 Lava fountain from Etna's New SE crater during the 9th paroxysm (Photo: Boris Behncke)  Exploding lava bubbles during the first phase of the paroxysm (Photo: Boris Behncke)
As expected, Etna's New SE Crater produced a new episode of lava fountaining (paroxysm) on 3 April 2013. It was the 34th paroxysm since January 2011 at Etna and according to eyewitnesses, it was the loudest such eruption ever witnessed in recent years. "Especially toward the end, Etna thundered, growled, howled, yelled like a gigantic beast in agony. It almost hurt your ears at a distance of 6.4 km." ...moreThe build-up phase lasted several hours, and produced many extremely powerful explosions of exploding liquid lava bubbles that threw bombs to all over the New SE crater cone. After a few hours, these explosions finally merged into sustained lava fountains that rose hundreds of meters above the cone. A large ash plume drifted to the SE where heavy fallout of scoria occurred. [ less] [ read all]
 Lava fountain from Etna's New SE crater during the 9th paroxysm (RadioStudio7 webcam)
The 9th paroxysmal eruption from Etna's New SE crater in 2013 has occurring this afternoon and is currently at its peak phase it seems. ...moreIt is producing lava fountains and lava flows from the fissure vent of the New SE cone that descend into Valle del Bove. [ less]
It seems almost certain that a new paroxysmal eruption is in the making at the New SE crater of Etna. Tremor has started to rise sharply and reached already 5 times background level. You can follow the events live at webcams.volcanodiscovery.com/Etna.
Tuesday, Apr 02, 2013
 White sandstone xenolith from the 16 Mar New SE paroxysm
Closer inspection of the "white lava" reported in yesterday's news revealed that these were so-called xenoliths, i.e. no lava at all, but pieces of sedimentary rock from strata underlying the volcano brought up by the rising magma. In this case, they are pieces of barely compacted beach sandstone, similar to the xenoliths ejected during the flank eruptions in 2011 and 2012, which are believed to have trapped a different (so-called eccentric) shallow magma chamber beneath the volcano. To find such xenoliths as produces of eruptions from the SUMMIT craters is highly unusual and could (*speculation*) indicate that the latest, violent, eruptive episode has actually involved a different magma reservoir as well. ...moreFresh snow has now covered much of the bombs from the recent eruption. [ less]
Monday, Apr 01, 2013
 Sample of the White Lava erupted during the 16 Mar paroxysm (OPEC)  The usual black lava from Etna (sample from the 16 Mar paroxysm) (OPEC)
Etna volcano might have begun a process of deep transformation in its eruption style, new scientific studies suggest. ...moreDuring a recent field trip in order to sample the lava erupted during the latest New SE crater paroxysm on 16 March 2013, members of OPEC (Osservatorio Privato Etneo di Catania) found, along with the usual basaltic black lava commonly erupted pieces of the extremely rare so-called "white lava" (see photo). This white lava was first seen as occasional xenoliths during the excentric flank eruptions in 2011 and 2012, but never since until now. First macroscopic inspection revealed that it is a special variety of light-colored quartz-rich basalt, normally only produced by submarine volcanoes under certain circumstances (e.g. the restingolitas from the El Hierro 2011-12 La Restinga submarine eruption). [ less] [ read all]
Saturday, Mar 16, 2013
It seems that a new paroxysm is in the making. The tremor signal is showing a pronounced rise, typical for the beginning of the New SE crater paroxysms.
Wednesday, Mar 06, 2013
Another paroxysmal eruption (the 7th in a row this year so far) occurred from the New SE crater during the night. Following a period of increasing strombolian activity, large lava fountains were rising from vent in the saddle between the old and new SE crater as well its summit vent.
Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013
Strombolian activity from Voragine continued this night, and also ash eruptions from the New SE crater were seen this morning. This could be a precursor of a new paroxysm in a near future.
Friday, Mar 01, 2013
Thursday, Feb 28, 2013
Saturday, Feb 23, 2013
The 5th paroxysm of the New SE crater is occurring. Tall lava fountains are erupting from the fissure vent of the New SE crater. This time, the eruption is much bigger than the previous ones. Judging from webcam images, lava fountains might be reaching one km in height.
Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013
 Etna during the 3rd New SE crater paroxysm  3 peaks of the tremor amplitude represent the paroxysmal eruptions (INGV)
Etna had no less than 3 paroxysms (particularly violent brief eruptive episodes) with lava fountains, lava flows and tall ash plumes from the New SE crater within the past 20 hours (so far). ...moreThis marks a change from the previous 9-month period characterized by intermittent mild to moderate, but often long-lasting periods of strombolian activity. With much likelihood, more paroxysms could be expected in the near future. [ less] [ read all]
Tuesday, Feb 19, 2013
What had started last night evolved into the first true paroxysmal eruption of 2013, marked by tall lava fountains and lava flows from the New SE crater.
Wednesday, Jan 30, 2013
 Depth vs time of recent quakes under Etna.
Vigorous eruptive activity has started at the Bocca Nuova crater and at the time of updating, it is strongly increasing. Tremor has started a steep rise, typical for a paroxysm. ...more [ read all]
Monday, Jan 28, 2013
A new eruptive phase has started at Bocca Nuova. Since this morning, small ash emissions have been observed and now at night, glow can be seen. The tremor signal has been rising as well.
Wednesday, Jan 23, 2013
 Photo of Strombolian activity at the New SE crater of Etna. Image taken at 4:30 (local time) by Boris Behncke
After a brief period of activity at the Bocca Nuova crater, strombolian activity shifted to the New SE crater on the night of 22 January. This much stronger activity has continued into 23 January.
Thursday, Jan 17, 2013
Another brief, but probably strong eruptive phase - a small paroxysm - occurred last night at one of the summit craters, most likely Bocca Nuova.
Thursday, Jan 10, 2013
This night at around 1:00 am local time, eruptive activity, most likely strombolian eruptions from the eastern vent, resumed in the Bocca Nuova, accompanied by a rise in tremor. Images indicate that the activity gradually increased untiil about 3:15 and the stabilized.
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