What caused the Mount Etna eruption?
Mount Etna: Eruption History Etna’s most powerful recorded eruption was in 1669, when explosions destroyed part of the summit and lava flows from a fissure on the volcano’s flank reached the sea and the town of Catania, more than ten miles away.
How did Mount Etna erupt in 2013?
On March 5–6, 2013 there was a powerful volcanic eruption at Mount Etna in Italy. The eruption sent fountains of lava high into the air and caused heavy fallout of ash along the northeastern flank of the volcano. The eruption was caught on film by Klaus Dorschfeldt.
What caused Mount Etna to erupt in 2001?
In particular, 2001 was a busy year for Mount Etna, as there were 16 eruptive episodes by the time a new spate of activity began on July 13, 2001. That eruption was accompanied by earthquakes and the opening of at least five vents on the volcano that released thick lava flows and vast columns of steam and smoke.
How many deaths has Mount Etna caused?
Very few people have been killed by eruptions of Etna: a detailed study of all original sources described in “Etna and Man” has revealed that in recorded history (which goes back to about 1500 B.C.) there have been 77 confirmed deaths that can be directly attributed to eruptions of Etna.
What tectonic plate is Mt Etna on?
Mount Etna is a stratovolcano sitting on the east coast of Sicily, Italy. The volcano sits on the edge of a convergent plate boundary between the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate.
When did Mount Etna start erupting?
The geologic history of Mount Etna demonstrates that it has been periodically spewing ash and lava for thousands of years; the first recorded eruption of the volcano was in 475 BCE. It is the most active volcano in Europe.
What fault is Etna on?
Mt Etna lies on the footwall of a large normal fault system, which cuts the eastern coast of Sicily and crosses the volcano eastern flank. These faults are responsible for both large magnitude historical earthquakes and smaller damaging seismic events, closer to the volcano.
What type of magma is in Mount Etna?
The geology of Etna Most volcanoes have iron- rich magma, but these three stratovolcanoes have a high silica (silicon dioxide) content which makes the magma more viscous. This means that the lava covers a shorter distance before it solidifies and gives stratovolcanoes a characteristic conical shape with steep sides.