Interpretation of data from the monitoring thermal camera: the case of Stromboli volcano (Aeolian Islands, Italy)

Abstract

Twenty eruptive events from the Northeast Crater of Stromboli volcano recorded by a thermal monitoring camera in early 2004 were analysed to understand their dynamics. Selected events were chosen to be typical of explosions that characterise the steady activity of Stromboli in terms of jet height and duration. Most of explosions consisted of clast-rich single bursts, originating from the same vent inside the Northeast Crater. Conspicuous ash emission was scarce. Eruptions were preceded by the flashing of a perturbation wave characterised by low temperatures and an average propagation velocity of about 35-100 m·s-1. This perturbation was thought to be caused by the bursting of the gas slug at the bottom of the crater and interpreted as an air wave. This was immediately followed by the expansion of a jet of 'hot' gas and particles, at a velocity of 35-75 m·s-1. Ejecta coarser than 138 cm appeared ~1.6-2 s after the onset of the explosion, moving at a variable velocity (30-60 m·s-1). Eruptive events were either vertical or inclined 7-13° towards the NNW. This inclination was thought to be a consequence either of the morphology of the conduit, following modest rock falls that partially obstructed the uppermost part of the crater, or of the displacement of the internal conduit due to the explosive activity of the volcano. The instability of the summit area is a further possible cause of the deformation of the conduit.