Naples, 30 July (LaPresse) – Etna experienced an intense eruptive phase this morning. The activity, which began at around 3.30 am from the Voragine crater with Strombolian explosions, gradually intensified until it developed into a lava fountain. During the event, a small pyroclastic flow heading towards the Valle del Bove was also observed, whilst an ash cloud approximately 7 km above sea level spread towards the western side of the volcano, causing ash fall on the town of Bronte (Catania). From 10.30, the Strombolian activity gradually subsided, but intense ash emissions continue. The INGV’s Etna Observatory has provided a reconstruction of the events in its latest update on the volcano’s activity. As regards the average amplitude of the volcanic tremor, following a period of increase, it began to decrease rapidly from around 10.00, whilst remaining within the high-value range. Until around 9.00, the source of the tremor was located in an area just west of the Voragine and Bocca Nuova craters and subsequently at the Voragine Crater at a depth of approximately 3,000 metres above sea level. As regards infrasonic activity, medium-energy events localised in the Voragine Crater area were observed from around 6.30 am, and activity is currently at a low level.
Etna: eruption with a 7-km-high ash cloud; explosive activity on the wane
Naples, 30 July (LaPresse) – Etna experienced an intense eruptive phase this morning. The activity, which began at around 3.30 am from the Voragine crater with Strombolian explosions, gradually intensified until it developed into a lava fountain. During the event, a small pyroclastic flow heading towards the Valle del Bove was also observed, whilst an ash cloud approximately 7 km above sea level spread towards the western side of the volcano, causing ash fall on the town of Bronte (Catania). From 10.30, the Strombolian activity gradually subsided, but intense ash emissions continue. The INGV’s Etna Observatory has provided a reconstruction of the events in its latest update on the volcano’s activity. As regards the average amplitude of the volcanic tremor, following a period of increase, it began to decrease rapidly from around 10.00, whilst remaining within the high-value range. Until around 9.00, the source of the tremor was located in an area just west of the Voragine and Bocca Nuova craters and subsequently at the Voragine Crater at a depth of approximately 3,000 metres above sea level. As regards infrasonic activity, medium-energy events localised in the Voragine Crater area were observed from around 6.30 am, and activity is currently at a low level.
