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Shallow magma transport for the 2002-03 Mt. Etna eruption inferred from thermal infrared surveys
Author(s)
Language
English
Obiettivo Specifico
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
/177 (2008)
Publisher
Elsevier
Pages (printed)
301-312
Issued date
2008
Keywords
Abstract
The 26 October 2002–28 January 2003 eruption of Mt. Etna volcano was characterised by lava effusion and by
an uncommon explosivity along a 1 km-long-eruptive fissure on the southern, upper flank of the volcano.
The intense activity promoted rapid growth of cinder cones and several effusive vents. Analysis of thermal
images, recorded throughout the eruption, allowed investigation of the distribution of vents along the
eruptive fissure, and of the nature of explosive activity. The spatial and temporal distribution of active vents
revealed phases of dike intrusion, expansion, geometric stabilization and drainage. These phases were
characterised by different styles of explosive activity, with a gradual transition from fire fountaining through
transitional phases to mild strombolian activity, and ending with non-explosive lava effusion. Here we
interpret the mechanisms of the dike emplacement and the eruptive dynamics, according to changes in the
eruptive style, vent morphology and apparent temperature variations at vents, detected through thermal
imaging. This is the first time that dike emplacement and eruptive activity have been tracked using a
handheld thermal camera and we believe that its use was crucial to gain a detailed understanding of the
eruptive event
an uncommon explosivity along a 1 km-long-eruptive fissure on the southern, upper flank of the volcano.
The intense activity promoted rapid growth of cinder cones and several effusive vents. Analysis of thermal
images, recorded throughout the eruption, allowed investigation of the distribution of vents along the
eruptive fissure, and of the nature of explosive activity. The spatial and temporal distribution of active vents
revealed phases of dike intrusion, expansion, geometric stabilization and drainage. These phases were
characterised by different styles of explosive activity, with a gradual transition from fire fountaining through
transitional phases to mild strombolian activity, and ending with non-explosive lava effusion. Here we
interpret the mechanisms of the dike emplacement and the eruptive dynamics, according to changes in the
eruptive style, vent morphology and apparent temperature variations at vents, detected through thermal
imaging. This is the first time that dike emplacement and eruptive activity have been tracked using a
handheld thermal camera and we believe that its use was crucial to gain a detailed understanding of the
eruptive event
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article
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