LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Etna: Eruptions
built 176 days ago
On 22 June, Etna erupted with lava flowing down the flanks prior to Strombolian activity. Volcanic bombs were thrown ~400 m above the crater and lava fountains reached a height of 150 m. An ash plume rose to ~3 km and very strong degassing was observed at the Bocca Nuova crater. On 24 June, another eruption lasted more than 2 hours. On 27 June, an eruption occurred at the NNE vent on the Southeast Crater. On 28 June and 30, eruptive episodes were ... recorded. Increased degassing was observed at the Northeast Crater on 3 July.
Source:
On 4 September 2007 Etna violently erupted at around 8:00 p.m. local time, spewing lava up to 400 m into the air along with strong winds that sent ash and smoke into the underlying towns. This southeast crater eruption was visible far into the plains of Sicily, ending the following morning between the hours of 5 to 7 am local time. Catania-Fontanarossa Airport shut down operations during the night for safety precautions.
Source:
In Chapter 10, Etna is noted for the use of religious objects in attempts to stop lava flows. Specifically, the Veil of St. Agatha was used for eruptions in AD 252, 1669, and 1886 to variable success.
Source:
On 13 June, Etna produced its fourth eruptive episode within a week. Lava flowed from a vent on the NNE flank of the Southeast Crater cone. Lava fountains rose 150-200 m above the vent. Strombolian bursts sent bombs up to 500 m above the crater rim. On 15 June, another eruption event occurred that was similar to the eruptions on 13 June.
Source:
Interventions to change the course of lava flows coming from flank eruptions on Etna have a certain tradition. It was here that the first historically documented attempt of a lava flow diversion away from threatened areas was undertaken, during the 1669 eruption whose lava flow was menacingly advancing towards Catania. A group of men from Catania ruptured the walls of a channel along which the supplied lava to its front near the town in order to force it out of its bed which served as a protection from heat loss. From descriptions of this manoeuvre in historical sources it is apparent that it was crowned by some success - at least from a technical point of view, but the effect of the successful diversion of the lava flow was that now it threatened another town (Paternò), whose inhabitants prevented the Catania team from maintaining the breach in the lava channel wall open. As a result, the breach closed, and lava continued to advance towards Catania where it caused significant damage. Less known measures to prevent the spread of lava flows within the city of Catania during the same eruption include the construction of barriers across the main roads leading to the center of the city which actually halted the advance of the lava and saved the center of the town from destruction.
Source:
Since 13 July, there has been strong seismicity at Etna. A large flank eruption started on 17 July and created several lava flows that were emitted from four new fisures. That same day, a new eruptive fissure opened on the South base of the Southeast Crater. On the evening of 18 July, a fourth eruptive vent opened at an elevation of ~2,700 m on the SE flank. Powerful Strombolian blasts occurred at this vent and sent incandescent volcanic bombs as high as 200 m and produced ash columns that rose several kilometers. Lava from this vent edged towards the tourist complex near the Rifugio Sapienza.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Eruptions