Coupling of eruptions and earthquakes at Mt. Etna (Sicily, Italy): A case study from the 1981 and 2001 events

Abstract

Changes in Coulomb failure stress (ΔCFS) induced by dike propagation during two flank eruptions on Mt. Etna (1981 and 2001) are calculated for the most seismically active faults on the east slope of the volcano (the right-lateral Timpe fault system, oriented NNW-SSE, and the left-lateral Pernicana fault, oriented E-W). Calculations performed using Coulomb 2.5 software indicate that intrusion of a NNW dike on the NW side of the volcano (1981 eruption) rises ΔCFS on both the Timpe and Pernicana faults. In contrast, intrusion of a N-S dike at high elevation on the south flank (2001 eruption) rises ΔCFS only on Timpe fault System. These results are compatible with the observed pattern of seismicity, but emphasize an extremely heterogeneous state of stress on the east flank of the volcano.