Abstract
Mount Etna is an open conduit volcano, characterised by persistent activity, consisting of degassing and explosive phenomena at summit craters, frequent flank eruptions, and more rarely, eccentric eruptions. All eruption typologies can give rise to lava flows, which represent the greatest hazard by the volcano to the inhabited areas. Historical documents and scientific papers related to the 20th century effusive activity have been examined in detail, and volcanological parameters have been compiled in a database. The cumulative curve of emitted lava volume highlights the presence of two main eruptive periods: (a) the 1900–1971 interval, characterised by a moderate slope of the curve, amounting to 436 × 106 m3 of lava with average effusion rate of 0.2 m3/s and (b) the 1971–1999 period, in which a significant increase in eruption frequency is associated with a large issued lava volume (767 × 106 m3) and a higher effusion rate (0.8 m3/s). The collected data have been plotted to highlight different eruptive behaviour as a function of eruptive periods and summit vs. flank eruptions. The latter have been further subdivided into two categories: eruptions characterised by high effusion rates and short duration, and eruptions dominated by low effusion rate, long duration and larger volume of erupted lava. Circular zones around the summit area have been drawn for summit eruptions based on the maximum lava flow length; flank eruptions have been considered by taking into account the eruptive fracture elevation and combining them with lava flow lengths of 4 and 6 km. This work highlights that the greatest lava flow hazard at Etna is on the south and east sectors of the volcano. This should be properly considered in future land-use planning by local authorities.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alparone, S., and Privitera, E.: 2001, Characteristics of the intermittent volcanic tremor at Mt. Etna, Italy, during the 15 September 1998 – 4 February 1999 eruptive episode, In: Proc. Cities on Volcanoes 2 Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 12–14 February 2001, Earthquake Commission, Inst. Geol. Nucl. Sci. Inf. Ser., vol. 49, Inst. of Geol. and Nucl. Sci, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Alparone, S., Andronico, D., Lodato, L., and Sgroi, T.: 2003, Relationship between tremor and volcanic activity during the southeast crater eruption on Mount Etna in early 2000, J. Geophys. Res. 108 (B5), 2241 DOI: 10.1029/2002JB001866.
Andronico, D., Branca, S., Calvari, S., Burton, M. R., Caltabiano, T., Corsaro, R. A., Del Carlo, P., Garfi, G., Lodato, L. Miraglia, L., Muré, F., Neri, M., Pecora, E., Pompilio, M., Salerno, G., and Spampinato, L.: 2004, A multi-disciplinary study of the 2002–03 Etna eruption: Insights for a complex plumbing system, Bull. Volcanol. DOI:10.1007/s00445–004–0372–8.
Andronico, D., Del Carlo, P., and Coltelli, M.: 1999, The 22 July 1998 fire fountain episode at Voragine Crater (Mt. Etna, Italy), In: Proc. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group – Annual Meeting, Birmingham, January 5–6.
Andronico, D., Lodato, L., and Neri, M.: 2001, Analysis of the XX century activity at Mount Etna to assess the potential effusive hazard, In: Proc. EGS XXVII General Assembly, Nice, France, 21–26 April 2002, NH022; NH4–1 TU5P-022.
Azzaro, R. and Neri, M.: 1992, L’attività eruttiva dell’Etna nel corso del ventennio 1971–1991. (Primi passi verso la costituzione di un data-base relazionale), CNR IIV Open File Report 3/92,10 p, 21 tabb., 16 tavv.
A. Bertagnini S. Calvari M. Coltelli P. Landi M. Pompilio V. Scrivano ((1990)) The 1989 eruptive sequence F. Barberi A. Bertagnini P. Landi (Eds) Mt. Etna: The 1989 eruption Giardini Pisa 10–22
Bottari, A., Lo Giudice E., Patanè, G., Romano, R., and Sturiale, C.: 1975, L’eruzione etnea del gennaio-marzo 1974, Riv. Min. Sic. 154–156, 175–198.
S. Calvari H. Pinkerton (1998) ArticleTitleFormation of lava tubes and extensive flow yield during the 1991–1993 eruption of Mount Etna J. Geophys. Res. 103 27291–27301 Occurrence Handle10.1029/97JB03388
S. Calvari H. Pinkerton (2002) ArticleTitleInstabilities in the summit region of Mount Etna during the 1999 eruption Bull. Volcanol. 63 526–535 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004450100171
S. Calvari M. Coltelli M. Neri M. Pompilio V. Scribano (1994) ArticleTitleThe 1991–1993 Etna eruption: Chronology and lava flow-field evolution Acta Vulcanol. 4 1–14
S. Calvari G. Groppelli G. Pasquarè (1994) ArticleTitlePreliminary data on the south-western wall of the Valle del Bove, Mt. Etna, Sicily Acta Vulcanol. 5 15–30
S. Calvari M. Neri H. Pinkerton (2002) ArticleTitleEffusion rate estimations during the 1999 summit eruption on Mt. Etna, and growth of two distinct lava flow fields J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 119 107–123 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0377-0273(02)00308-6
Calvari, S. and the whole scientific staff of INGV–Sezione di Catania: 2001, Multidisciplinary Approach Yields Insight into Mt Etna 2001 Eruption, EOS Transactions. Am. Geophys. Union 82, 653–656.
P. Carveni R. Romano T. Caltabiano M. F. Grasso S. Gresta (1994) ArticleTitleThe exceptional explosive activity of 5 January 1990 at the SE-Crater of Mt. Etna Volcano (Sicily) Boll. Soc. Geol. It. 113 613–631
M. Coltelli V. H. Garduno M. Neri G. Pasquarè M. Pompilio (1994) ArticleTitleGeology of the northern wall of Valle del Bove, Mt. Etna (Sicily) Acta. Vulcanol 5 55–68
R. Cristofolini G. Puglisi (1987) ArticleTitleValutazione preliminare del pericolo da manifestazioni vulcaniche all’Etna Boll. Acc. Gioenia Sci. Nat. Catania 20 IssueID330 171–184
S. S. Cucuzza (1960) ArticleTitleAttività esplosiva dell’Etna nel 1960 (luglio-agosto) L’Universo 40 957–964
O. De Fiore (1920) ArticleTitleL’eruzione radiale dell’Etna del novembre (?) 1918 Boll. Acc. Gioenia Sci. Nat. 2 IssueID48 42–56
G. Frazzetta R. Romano (1978) ArticleTitleApproccio di studio per la stesura di una carta del rischio vulcanico (Etna Sicilia) Mem. Soc. Geol. It. 19 691–697
Gemmellaro, C.: 1858, La vulcanologia dell’Etna, Tipografia dell’Accademia Gioenia Catania, 266 pp.
S. Gresta G. Lombardo R. Cristofolini (1996) ArticleTitleCharacteristics of volcanic tremor accompanying the September 24th, 1986 explosive eruption of Mt. Etna (Italy) Ann. Geophys. 39 411–42
J. E. Guest (1982) ArticleTitleStyles of eruption and flow morphology on Mt. Etna Mem. Soc. Geol. It. 23 49–73
J. E. Guest J. B. Murray (1979) ArticleTitleAn analysis of hazard from Mount Etna Volcano J. Geol. Soc. London 136 347–354
A. J. L. Harris M. Neri (2002) ArticleTitleVolumetric observations during paroxysmal eruptions at Mount Etna: pressurized drainage of a shallow chamber or pulsed supply? J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 116 79–95 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0377-0273(02)00212-3
G. Kieffer (1975) ArticleTitleSur l’existence d’une < <Rift zone> > à l’Etna (Sicile) C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, D 280 236–266
Kieffer, G.: 1985, Evolution structurale et dinamique d’un grand volcan, poligenique: stades d’edification et activité actuelle de l’Etna (Sicile), In: Annales Scientifiques de l’ Université de Clermont Ferrand II n° 84 Géologie et Minéralogie 39 Fasc. Clermont – Ferrand, 497 pp.
R. M. C. Lopes J. E. Guest (1982) Lava flows on Etna, a morphometric study A. Coradini M. Fulchignoni (Eds) The Comparative Study of Planets The Netherlands D. Reidel
F. Mulargia S. Tinti E. Boschi (1985) ArticleTitleA statistical analysis of flank eruptions on Etna volcano J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 23 263–272 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0377-0273(85)90037-X
J. B. Murray (1990) High-level magma transport at Mount Etna volcano, as deduced from ground deformation measurements M. P. Ryan (Eds) Magma Transport and Storage Wiley New York 357–383
M. Murru C. Montuori M. Wyss E. Privitera (1999) ArticleTitleThe locations of magma chambers at Mt Etna, Italy, mapped by b-values Geophys. Res. Lett. 26 2553–2556 Occurrence Handle10.1029/1999GL900568
D. Patanè P. De Gori C., Chiarabba A. Bonaccorso (2003) ArticleTitleMagma ascent and the pressurization of Mount Etna’s volcanic system Science 299 2061–2063 Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.1080653 Occurrence Handle12574497
G. Ponte (1937) ArticleTitleRapporto riassuntivo dei fenomeni osservati sull’Etna durante il triennio 1934–1936 Bull. Volcanol. 2 IssueID2 193–200
G. Ponte (1940) ArticleTitleRapporto riassuntivo dei fenomeni osservati sull’Etna durante it triennio 1937–1939 Bull. Volcanol. 2 IssueID7 43–46
A. Riccò (1911) ArticleTitleLa nuova bocca a NE del Cratere Centrale del’Etna Atti Acc. Gioenia Sci. Nat. 5 IssueID4,11 1–6
A. Rittmann (1933) ArticleTitleVulkanismus and Tektonic des Aetna Geol. Rund. 53 IssueID2 788–800 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02054564
A. Rittmann (1965) ArticleTitleNotizie sull’Etna Nuovo Cimento I IssueID3 1117–1123
A. Rittmann (1973) ArticleTitleStructure and evolution of Mount Etna Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London 274 5–16
Romano, R. (eds.) 1979, Carta geologica del Monte Etna, Scala 1:50,000, CNR-IIV-PFG, Litografia Artistica Cartografica, Firenze.
R. Romano J. E. Guest (1979) ArticleTitleVolcanic geology of the summit and northern flank of Mount Etna, Sicily Boll. Soc. Geol. It. 98 189–215
R. Romano C. Sturiale (1975) ArticleTitleTavoletta “Monte Etna sud” In: Geologia della Tavoletta “Monte Etna sud” (F. 262-III SO) Boll. Soc. Geol. It 94 1109–1148
R. Romano C. Sturiale (1981) ArticleTitleGeologia del versante Sud-orientate etneo, In: Geologia della Tavoletta “Monte Etna sud” (F. 270-IV) (NO, NE, SO, SE) Boll. Soc. Geol. It. 100 IssueID1 15–40
R. Romano C. Sturiale (1982) ArticleTitleThe historical eruptions of Mt Etna (Volcanological data) Mem. Soc. Geol. It. 23 75–97
R. Romano C. Sturiale G. Patanè (1976) ArticleTitleAnnual report of the world volcanic eruption in 1974 Bull. Volc. Erupt. 14 11–13
J. C. Tangùy (1981) ArticleTitleLes erùptions historiques de l’Etna: chronologie et localisation Bull. Volcanol. 44 IssueID3 585–640
J. C. Tangùy G. Kieffer (1993) ArticleTitleLes èruptions de l’Etna et leurs mécanismes Mem. Soc. Geol. Fr. 163 239–252
G. Wadge G. P. L. Walker J. Guest (1975) ArticleTitleThe output of Etna volcano Nature 255 385–387 Occurrence Handle10.1038/255385a0
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Andronico, D., Lodato, L. Effusive Activity at Mount Etna Volcano (Italy) During the 20th Century: A Contribution to Volcanic Hazard Assessment. Nat Hazards 36, 407–443 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-005-1938-2
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-005-1938-2