Mt. Etna, the variety of eruptions

  1rst - 11th of  November 2006, by M. Rietze and T. Boeckel

 


Cinema 

Vulkan Ätna 2006, Eruption Bocca Nuova, video Vulkan Ätna 2006, Eruption Bocca Nuova, video Vulkan Ätna 2006, Eruption Bocca Nuova, video´Vulkan Ätna 2006, Eruption Bocca Nuova, video Vulkan Ätna 2006, Eruption Bocca Nuova, video


The momentary variety of the eruption forms in the summit region of the volcano Etna, suggests that the upper structure remembers to a dump. At the east back of the Bocca Nuova to the Southeast crater you can discover a lot of cracks and you'll finally understand that in the summit area a lot of volcanic masses did move. That the Southeast crater can come up with extremely explosive strombolian activities over months was already observed. Lava streams and splatterned fissures are well-known. Phantastic is however, if all presentations appears at the same place in action. A lava park had developed during the last month in the summit areal.

   Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Thorsten Boeckel   Mount Etna volcano 2006, Eruption Bocca Nuova, From Etna to Stromboli   Mount Etna volcano 2006, Eruption Bocca Nuova, From Etna to Stromboli

Mount Etna volcano 2006, Eruption Bocca Nuova, From Etna to Stromboli   Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Thorsten Boeckel   Mount Etna volcano 2006, Eruption Bocca Nuova, Thorsten Boeckeltb 

The impressive view of the lava stream gets amplified by persuaded volcano fans in the foreground during the evening hours. The lava stream pushed itself about two or may three kilometers down the western slopes of the Etna. The pine woods were threatened however in no way. At the discharge position on approximately 3070 m the very hot whitish lava poured out with an estimated speed of 3-4 m/s down to a 70 m plateau lain below.

Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Thorsten Boeckel   Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Thorsten Boeckeltb   

 Right: The heated air of the lava stream let the down going sun trembling at the horizon.

Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Martin Rietze   Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Martin Rietzemr

Martin who had the time advance of two travel days could make impressive photos at the outlet place of  the approximately 3 meters high ejections by waiting persisted in the morning hours at the 2nd November. This activity however was hidden for the most observers, because this ejection activity did not announce itself and was from short duration.

Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Martin Rietze   Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Martin Rietzemr

Evening mood and the beginning night on the western side of the flow. The night here above was surprising  cold and the temperature fell down under - the minus 15°C marking. Of corse the inexhaustible warmth of the lava stream was a nice support to accomplish the very low-temperatures,  however the unbelievable heat in the environment of the discharge did not permit approaching closer. Thus you were constantly employed to find the thin ' comfort range '. A changing bath between a barbecue grill rust and a deep-freezer was the result.

Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Martin Rietzemr  Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Martin Rietzemr  Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow, Thorsten Boeckeltb

Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Martin Rietzemr  Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Martin Rietzemr  mr

Night impressions. The city Catania in the background. At the upper right picture the size of the lava flow  in comparison to a truck . In the right picture underneath the first sunbeams on the west slope of the Bocca Nuova.

Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow, Thorsten Boeckel    Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow, Thorsten Boeckel    Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow, Thorsten Boeckeltb

After a long night the sun fights itself  through the dark volcanic gas clouds

Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Martin Rietzemr Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Martin Rietzemr 

The fissure opening in the main crack

After our two-day stay at the Stromboli we returned again to the summit of  Etna. Here everyone explained us that the effusiven activities would have stopped. Disbelievingly we wanted to make ourselves a picture of the actual ongoings. To our surprise a new lava stream already pushed itself over the ' two days old ' cooled  AA - lava bed.

 

 Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow, Thorsten Boeckeltb  Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow, Thorsten Boeckeltb  Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flow Bocca Nuova, Martin Rietzemr

Side view of the downgoing flow. Already during the ascent to the outlet I heard a quiet rustling in the stacked up lava field by giving no larger attention.  Arriving above we noticed that a tough nearly inconspicuous new lava stream approached to us. Up to this time the new occurrence drew out only a little cind of enthusiasm, when suddendly a dull bang was recognised. At the same time the lower discharge position began to pulsate and the degassing clearly increased violently. Sceptically we looked behind us and could actually recognize in a distance of 50 meters the first lava shreds through the steam.

       Mount Etna volcano 2006, Side eruption, Martin Rietzemr Mount Etna volcano 2006, Side eruption, Martin Rietzemr Mount Etna volcano 2006, Eruption, Thorsten Boeckeltb  Mount Etna volcano 2006, Eruption, Thorsten Boeckeltb

Super, we tried to observe the new ongoins  more nearer. We asked ourselves, if this new fissure was already longer present ? But the activity increased fast, and meanwhile lava blisters up to a size of  3 meters shot out transverse to the main crack out from the wall . In connection of the mysterios noise in the slope I understand briefly that probably a new opening of the volcanic base seems to be on the way.  After we realized standing already in the young main fissure a quesy feeling arose.  What to do if the main crack also still opens?? Instinctively I put on my helmet ( a seldom act!). The fast increasing activity literally did chased us away from our location.

Mount Etna volcano 2006, Eruption, Thorsten Boeckeltb   Mount Etna volcano 2006, eruption, Martin Rietze, From Etna to Strombolimr

The activity escalated now finally. Generously the explosive 'hole in the base' disposed meter-large lava shreds over the slope of the Bocca Nuova. Temporarily the lava ejections rached up to 200 meters.

mr  Mount Etna volcano 2006, Eruption, Thorsten Boeckeltb   Mount Etna volcano 2006, eruption, Martin Rietze, From Etna to Strombolimr  Mount Etna volcano 2006, Eruption, Thorsten Boeckeltb

The ' good ' old position transformed now into a glowing island. Meanwhile a small cone had developed itself at the vent. The spectacle was going on and continued to receive an unbelievable aesthetic. After approximately two hours the explosive activity stopped, and the accustomed peace returned again.

Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lavastrom, Thorsten Boeckel

Brotzeit !

mr  tb   tb

  

Photographers at the hornito in action: Marco Fulle, Martin and Tom Pfeiffer

The upper photos shows the changing within two days, that a lava fissure become to an impressing slylight . The Hornito at the eastern side of the southeast cone constantly changed its opening. By the withdrawing lava the opening can lock nearly completely, whereby the Hornito can break also again up by fast increasing pressure from down.

Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flows, Thorsten Boeckeltb   Mount Etna volcano 2006, Lava flows, Martin Rietze, From Etna to Strombolimr

The eastern side of the Southeast crater. Like blood veins the lava flowed down to the Val del Bove. Left above also the Hornito is to be recognized. With exact viewing of the photos, one can discover glowing marks at the summit of the Southeast. These photos  however are possible only with long exposure and full moon.


Further reports

           

24.-27. November 2006                             11.- 16. September 2006


Actual Etna update by, Hotel Corsaro Etna

VOLCANODISCOVERY   and  Stromboli online  swisseduc.ch

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 ©  2006 photos, videos and text by Th. Boeckel (tb), M. Rietze (mr), ©  2006 last modification 14.11.2006


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