Tilt and strain monitoring of the 1974 eruption of Mount Etna

Wadge, G.; Horsfall, J. A. C.; Brander, James L.

doi:10.1038/254021a0

Cited by 16 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In particular, the western rim of the huge Valle del Bove (VdB) depression strongly influences the volcano‐tectonic evolution in the summit area. Previous studies correlated tilt amplitude fluctuations [ Wadge et al , 1975] and lava effusion rates [ Patanè et al , 1994] in the Mount Etna summit area to Earth tides.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of tidal stresses on volcanic activity at Mount Etna, Italy

Sottili

Martino

Palladino

et al. 2007

Geophysical Research Letters

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Here we model quantitatively the stress and strain induced by tidal forces as possible triggers of Mount Etna eruptions during 1989, 2000 and 2001, by means of 2D numerical analysis by finite difference method applied to the volcano edifice. Spectral and vectorial analysis of tidal acceleration indicates that the quasi‐diurnal, semi‐diurnal and ter‐diurnal constituents may have induced decompressions up to some kPa in the shallow (i.e., 1,500 m) gas‐saturated magma reservoir, which controlled magma vesiculation and the timing of lava fountain activity from the South East Crater (SEC). We consider the geological heterogeneities in the volcanic edifice (i.e., rock geometries and properties, feeder conduit and vent systems, volcanic landforms), the magma properties (i.e., Bulk modulus, volatile content) and the ongoing volcano‐tectonic stresses (i.e., volcano flank deformations), which strongly influence the response of eruptive activity to tidal forces. Indeed, the tidal factor may act on flank deformation concomitant to shallow magma inflation. The implications of our model may help understand the eruptive behaviour and the disequilibrium state of the volcano and may be useful for hazard assessment at Mount Etna.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of tidal stresses on volcanic activity at Mount Etna, Italy

Sottili

Martino

Palladino

et al. 2007

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…This effect was interpreted by De Carolis et al (1975) as being the result of vegetation stress due to CO 2 soil degassing. Other precursory activity included summit inflation beginning three months before the eruption (Wadge et al, 1975;Wadge 1976). Then, ten days before the eruption, a seismic crisis was registered on Etna's western flank (Guerra et al, 1976), with earthquakes being felt in the towns of Adrano and Bronte ( Figure 1).…”

Section: The 1974 Low Flank Eruption Of Mount Etnamentioning

confidence: 99%

The 1974 West Flank Eruption of Mount Etna: A Data-Driven Model for a Low Elevation Effusive Event

et al. 2020

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Low elevation flank eruptions represent highly hazardous events due to their location near, or in, communities. Their potentially high effusion rates can feed fast moving lava flows that enter populated areas with little time for warning or evacuation, as was the case at Nyiragongo in 1977. The January–March 1974 eruption on the western flank of Mount Etna, Italy, was a low elevation effusive event, but with low effusion rates. It consisted of two eruptive phases, separated by 23 days of quiescence, and produced two lava flow fields. We describe the different properties of the two lava flow fields through structural and morphological analyses using UAV-based photogrammetry, plus textural and rheological analyses of samples. Phase I produced lower density (∼2,210 kg m−3) and crystallinity (∼37%) lavas at higher eruption temperatures (∼1,080°C), forming thinner (2–3 m) flow units with less-well-developed channels than Phase II. Although Phase II involved an identical source magma, it had higher densities (∼2,425 kg m−3) and crystallinities (∼40%), and lower eruption temperatures (∼1,030°C), forming thicker (5 m) flow units with well-formed channels. These contrasting properties were associated with distinct rheologies, Phase I lavas having lower viscosities (∼103 Pa s) than Phase II (∼105 Pa s). Effusion rates were higher during Phase I (≥5 m3/s), but the episodic, short-lived nature of each lava flow emplacement event meant that flows were volume-limited and short (≤1.5 km). Phase II effusion rates were lower (≤4 m3/s), but sustained effusion led to flow units that could still extend 1.3 km, although volume limits resulted from levee failure and flow avulsion to form new channels high in the lava flow system. We present a petrologically-based model whereby a similar magma fed both phases, but slower ascent during Phase II may have led to greater degrees of degassing resulting in higher cooling-induced densities and crystallinities, as well as lower temperatures. We thus define a low effusion rate end-member scenario for low elevation effusive events, revealing that such events are not necessarily of high effusion rate and velocity, as in the catastrophic event scenarios of Etna 1669 or Kilauea 2018.

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“…At Mt. Etna, continuous tilt monitoring was first attempted during the 1970s (e.g., [25]). In the 1990s, the network was expanded, reaching a configuration of nine biaxial, shallow borehole instruments at about 3 meters deep, equipped with AGI Mod 722 and Mod 510 tiltmeters [11,18,26].…”

Section: Tilt Networkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ground Deformation Detected by Permanent Tiltmeters on Mt. Etna Summit: The August 23-26, 2018, Strombolian and Effusive Activity Case

Gambino

Aloisi

Grazia

et al. 2019

International Journal of Geophysics

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Over the last few years, three tilt deep stations (27-30 meters) have been set up in the summit area of Mount Etna volcano. The aim of this challenging project is to record the ground deformations of the summit craters activity with high precision. We considered data related to the August 23-26, 2018, Strombolian and effusive activity. In this case, tiltmeters recorded variations in the order of 10−7 radians, not observed at the other stations. These changes suggest a shallow contraction source just south of the Southeast Crater. This result, related to the volcanic tremor source, points to the presence of a gas/magma reservoir feeding the Strombolian activity at 1200 m above sea level.

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Tilt and strain monitoring of the 1974 eruption of Mount Etna

Cited by 16 publications

References 4 publications

Effects of tidal stresses on volcanic activity at Mount Etna, Italy

Effects of tidal stresses on volcanic activity at Mount Etna, Italy

The 1974 West Flank Eruption of Mount Etna: A Data-Driven Model for a Low Elevation Effusive Event

Ground Deformation Detected by Permanent Tiltmeters on Mt. Etna Summit: The August 23-26, 2018, Strombolian and Effusive Activity Case

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