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High precision locations of LP events on Mt. Etna: Reconstruction of the fluid-filled volume

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Abstract

During 1991–93 at Mount Etna, long-period (LP) events occurring in swarms characterized the evolution of the eruption. The presence of multiplets i.e. groups of events with similar waveform signatures, has been recognized within this activity.

Traditional techniques for locating LP events do not allow obtaining reliable hypocenters, which have only succeeded in placing earthquakes in a roughly 1 km2 area slightly east of the Mt. Etna Northeast Crater.

Hypocenters have been relocated in two steps: the absolute location has been improved using Thurber’s code and a complex 3D velocity model; a highly precise relative location has been applied on multiplets to define the source geometry.

3D locations and high precision analysis suggest that during the 1991–93 eruption the resonator producing LP events was a part of the uppermost Northeast Crater conduit, measuring 210 meters in height and 45–50 meters in diameter.

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  1. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Catania, P.zza Roma 2, 95123, Catania, Italy

    S. Gambino

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Gambino, S. High precision locations of LP events on Mt. Etna: Reconstruction of the fluid-filled volume. Stud Geophys Geod 50, 663–674 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11200-006-0042-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11200-006-0042-8

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