Bruno, Nicola

In 2009, Mt. Etna (Italy) activity was characterised by the end of a long-lasting flank eruption started on 13 May 2008 and by the opening of a new summit degassing vent on the E flank of the South-East crater on 6 November. This was preceded by a sequence of significant anomalies in volcanic degassing, detected by periodic measurements of soil CO2 efflux on the east flank of the volcano, continuous measurements of SO2 flux from five fixed monitoring stations, and periodic FTIR measurements of the SO2/HCl and SO2/HF molar ratios in the volcanic plume. Since April 2009, soil and crater emissions showed a progressive increase marked at least by two major steps, in April-May and September-October. Increases were not observed simultaneously; in fact, they were detected first in soil CO2 emissions and then, a few days/weeks later, in crater SO2 flux. Only minor increases of HCl and HF crater fluxes were observed between November and December. The highest SO2 and halogens fluxes were recorded in coincidence with the opening of the November 6 vent. The degassing behaviour of the volcano in 2009 is consistent with the differential release of magmatic gas species, according to their different solubilities, from a magma body rising from ~5 km depth to the surface. Our results suggest the start of a new phase in Etna’s activity, in which the new vent might reflect improved efficiency in the release of magmatic gas through the main feeding system, supplied by a magma body stored at depths between 4 and 2 km. If degassing at the new vent will remain steadystate, thus forming a stable feeding system, then its opening might represent the eastward migration of the South-East crater activity with the likely formation of a new stable summit cone.

Studies on volcanic degassing have recently shown the important role of volatile release from active volcanoes in understanding magmatic processes prior to eruptions. Here we present and discuss the evolution of magmatic degassing that preceded and accompanied the 2008 Mt. Etna eruption. We tracked the ascent of magma bodies by high-temporal resolution measurements of SO2 emission rates and discrete sampling of SO2/HCl and SO2/HF molar ratios in the crater plume, as well as by periodic measurement of soil CO2 emission rates. Our data suggest that the first signs of upward migration of gas-rich magma before the 2008 eruption were observed in June 2007, indicated by a strong increase in soil CO2 efflux followed by a slow declining trend in SO2 flux and halogens. This degassing behavior preceded the mid-August 2007 summit activity culminated with the September 4th paroxysmal event. Five months later, a new increase in both soil CO2 and SO2 emission rates occurred before the November 23rd paroxysm, to drop down in late December. In the following months, geochemical parameters showed high variability, characterized by isolated sudden increases occurred in early December 2007 and late March 2008. In early May soil CO2, SO2 emission rates and S/Cl molar ratio gradually increased. Crater degassing peaked on May 13th marking the onset of the eruption. Eruptive activity was accompanied by a general steady-state of SO2 flux characterized by two main degassing cycles. These cycles preceded explosive activity at the eruptive vents, indicating terminal new-arrival of deep gas-rich magma bodies in the shallow plumbing system of Mt Etna. Conversely, halogens described a slight increasing trend till the end of 2008. These observations suggest an impulsive syn-eruptive dynamics of magma transfer from depth to the surface. Differently from the SO2 emission rates, the S/Cl ratio and the soil CO2 efflux values showed an increasing trend from mid-April to mid-July 2008, indicating steady-increasing input of deeper, gas-rich magma. Since August, geochemical parameters decreased, suggesting that new magma has not arrived from depth. According to our interpretation, both the CO2 efflux and the S/Cl ratio increases observed in early November may indicate a new input of fresh magma form depth. Finally, the estimated volume of degassing magma showed substantial equilibrium between degassed and erupted magma suggesting an “eruptive” steady-state of the volcano.

Routine measurements of SO2 flux using the traverse method on Mt. Etna (Italy) were augmented in late 2004 when an array of automatic scanning ultraviolet spectrometers was installed. Each instrument allows one SO2 scan to be recorded every ~6 min. Here we report the methods that we developed to automatically and robustly transform SO2 profiles into SO2 flux data. Radian geometry and Fast Fourier Transform algorithm were used for reducing plume cross-sections and for discriminating between volcanic plumes from those produced by water vapour clouds. Uncertainty in flux measurements depends on the accuracy of plume height estimation, on assumptions concerning plume-geometry, and on the quality of the retrieved SO2 amounts. We compare 3 years of flux measurements made using both the automated network and “conventional” traverse methods beneath the plume.We found a good agreement between the datasets, both in terms of magnitude and in temporal variations. These results validate the Etna SO2 flux monitoring system. Emission rates are available to the 24-hour manned operations room via intranet, providing real-time information on degassing rates and plume location.

The recent development of fixed networks of scanning ultraviolet spectrometers for automatic determination of volcanic SO2 fluxes has created tremendous opportunities for monitoring volcanoes but has brought new challenges in processing (and interpreting) the copious data flow they produce. A particular difficulty in standard implantation of differential optical absorption (DOAS) methods is the requirement for a clear-sky (plume-free) background spectrum. Our experience after four years of measurements with two UV scanner networks on Etna and Stromboli shows that wide plumes are frequently observed, precluding simple selection of clear-sky spectra. We have therefore developed a retrieval approach based on simulation of the background spectrum. We describe the method here and tune it empirically by collecting clear, zenith sky spectra using calibration cells containing known amounts of SO2. We then test the performance of this optimised retrieval using clear-sky spectra collected with the same calibration cells but for variable scan angles, time of day, and season (through the course of 1 year), finding acceptable results (~12% error) for SO2 column amounts. We further illustrate the analytical approach using spectra recorded at Mt. Etna during its July 2006 eruption. We demonstrate the reliability of the method for tracking volcano dynamics on different time scales, and suggest it is widely suited to automated SO2-plume monitoring

We report on the first period of the 2002 Etna eruption started on 27th October and ended on 5th November, occurring 15 months after the end of the 2001 eruption. Volcanological and geochemical data are presented in order to characterize the complex intrusion mechanism that contemporaneously involved the NE and S flanks of the volcano. Preliminary data outline that two distinct magma intrusions fed the eruptive fissures. Strong fire fountain activity mainly from the S fissure, produced copious ash fall in eastern Sicily, causing prolonged closure of Catania and Reggio Calabria airports. Lava emitted from the NE fissure formed a 6.2 km long lava flow field that destroyed the tourist facilities of Piano Provenzana area and part of Linguaglossa pine forest.

In the last 13 years gas emissions from both the summit and the flanks of Mount Etna volcano have been monitored using remote sensing techniques (COSPEC, and FTIR since 2000) and on-site monitoring devices. The SO2 flux variations (600 to 25,000 Mg/day) indicated: (i) low values coinciding with deep seismicity prior to eruptions or/and preceding increases in summit volcanic activity; (ii) increasing trends tracking the ascent of fresh magma within the shallow feeding system and whose rate seems proportional to the speed of magma rise; (iii) decreasing trends related to progressive degassing of magma batches; (iv) an imbalance between the amount of magma erupted and that which contributed the SO2 emission (~ 13 % of the degassing magma having been erupted during the studied period), implying that magma degassing is dominantly intrusive; (v) a seasonal component, probably due to variations in solar zenith angle, meteorological parameters and, possibly, tidal forces.FTIR monitoring allowed to recognize significant variations of SO2/HCl and SO2/HF ratios in the volcanic plume which, combined with COSPEC data, provided new insight into the dynamics of ascent and degassing of discrete magma bodies. Strong variations in CO2-rich soil degassing are interpreted as markers of gradual magma ascent from great depth (>10 km) to the upper (<5 km) feeding system of Mt. Etna. These changes appear to precede increases in SO2 plume flux at the craters and, so, provide additional constraints upon the interpretation of COSPEC data and the modeling of magma rise at that volcano.

Continuous monitoring of soil CO2 dynamic concentration (which is proportional to the CO2 flux through the soil) was carried out at a peripheral site of Mt. Etna during the period November 1997 - September 2000 using an automated station. The acquired data were compared with SO2 flux from the summit craters measured two to three times a week during the same period. The high frequency of data acquisition with both methods allowed us to analyze in detail the time variations of both parameters. Anomalous high values of soil CO2 dynamic concentration always preceded periods of increased flux of plume SO2, and these in turn were followed by periods of summit eruptions. The variations were modeled in terms of gas efflux increase due to magma ascent to shallow depth and its consequent depressurization and degassing. This model is supported by data from other geophysical and volcanological parameters. The rates of increase both of soil CO2 dynamic concentration and of plume SO2 flux are interpreted to be positively correlated both to the velocity of magma ascent within the volcano and to lava effusion rate once magma is erupted at the surface. Low rates of the increase were recorded before the nine-month-long 1999 subterminal eruption. Higher rates of increase were observed before the violent summit eruption of September-November 1999, and the highest rates were observed during shorter and very frequent spike-like anomalies that preceded the sequence of short-lived but very violent summit eruptions that started in late January 2000 and continued until late June of the same year. Furthermore, the time interval between the peaks of CO2 and SO2 in a single sequence of gas anomalies is likely to be controlled by magma ascent velocity.