Earth Sciences

Re-pressurized magma at Mt. Etna, Italy, may feed eruptions for years

P. D. Gori, E. Giampiccolo, et al.

This groundbreaking study by Pasquale De Gori, Elisabetta Giampiccolo, Ornella Cocina, Stefano Branca, Carlo Doglioni, and Claudio Chiarabba reveals that fresh melts have been accumulating within Mount Etna since 2019, and the implications of this volcanic activity could last for a considerable time. With significant changes in seismic wave velocity and sequenced seismicity clusters, the findings illuminate a critical transition in the volcano's dynamics.

00:00

Playback language: English

Index

Abstract

This study uses time-repeated tomography to show that fresh melts have accumulated since 2019 in three reservoirs at different depths within Mount Etna's central feeding system. A significant reduction in seismic wave velocity in these reservoirs has persisted for nearly two years. This re-pressurization has induced seismicity clusters, marking a shift from flank collapse-dominated dynamics to central system re-pressurization. The volume of velocity alteration is substantial, suggesting a large melt injection, with erupted lava representing only a small percentage. The findings suggest that the ongoing volcanic recrudescence may persist for a considerable time.

Publisher

Communications Earth & Environment

Published On

Oct 12, 2021

Authors

Pasquale De Gori, Elisabetta Giampiccolo, Ornella Cocina, Stefano Branca, Carlo Doglioni, Claudio Chiarabba