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We compiled a database for the Campi Flegrei seismic events that occurred from 2011 to 2018 at all stations available (merging permanent and temporary networks). Then we computed the two observables of the crustal anisotropy: time delay between fast and slow S-wave’s arrivals, and polarization direction of the fast S-wave. These results provide useful information about the amount of crustal anisotropy and the main direction, respectively, with this latter representing a proxy for the local stress field. We could thus obtain a picture of their spatial and temporal distributions to be compared with other geophysical and geochemical observations. In particular we could identify common features, such as change points, to several time series. This helps us in building a more complete interpretation of the volcanic system changes that were occurring during the recent ongoing unrest phase, which started in 2005.

Volcanic degassing, a persistent manifestation of active volcanoes, provides crucial information on the dynamics of the magmatic feeding systems, and allows identifying the phases of volcanic unrest in the runup to volcanic eruptions. While thus determining volcanic degassing rates is a central topic in modern Volcanology, direct volcanic gas flux observations by classic spectroscopic techniques are challenged by (i) the need of adequate illumination (by sunlight) and clear weather conditions (ii) difficulties in robustly estimating plume speed velocity and transport direction, and (iii) a variety of optical and radiative transfer issues. Because of these, volcanic gas flux records are often sparse and incomplete, and affected by intrinsic noise that may prevent from fully resolving the gas emission changes associated with changing volcanic activity. To overcome such limitations, measuring the infrasound produced by the expansion of over-pressurized volcanic gas in the atmosphere, using infrasonic arrays, offers as a promising alternative/complementary tool to quantify and locate degassing at active volcanoes. Here, we report on 2-year long (April 2017—March 2019) period of combined measurements of the SO2 flux and of volcano-acoustic emissions produced by regular mild persistent strombolian activity and passive degassing of Stromboli Volcano (Sicily, Italy). These were obtained by a permanent monitoring SO2 camera and a five-element short-aperture (~300 m) infrasonic array. Our results highlight substantial temporal changes in degassing activity, that reflect the recurrent episodes of activations/inactivation of multiple distinct degassing sources within the crater area, as coherently tracked by SO2 and infrasound together. A simple waveform modeling of the infrasonic record, assuming a monopole acoustical source, suggests that infrasonic degassing, comprising of explosive events and continuous puffing activity, dominates the total persistent degassing budget as tracked by the SO2 camera.

Improving volcanic gas monitoring techniques is central to better understanding open-vent, persistently degassing volcanoes. SO2 cameras are increasingly used in volcanic gas studies, but observations are commonly limited to one single camera alone viewing the volcanic plume from a specific viewing direction. Here, we report on high frequency (0.5 Hz) systematic measurements of the SO2 flux at Stromboli, covering a 1-year long observation period (June 2017-June 2018), obtained from two permanent SO2 cameras using the same automated algorithm, but imaging the plume from two different viewing directions. Our aim is to experimentally validate the robustness of automatic SO2 camera for volcano monitoring and to demonstrate the advantage of using two co-exposed SO2 camera stations to better capturing degassing dynamics at open-vent volcanoes. The SO2 flux time-series derived from the two SO2 camera stations exhibit good match, demonstrating the robustness of the automatic SO2 camera method. Our high-temporal resolution SO2 records resolve individual Strombolian explosions as transient, repetitive gas bursts produced by the sudden release of over pressurized gas pockets and scoriae. Calculations show that explosive degassing activity accounts for ∼10% of the total SO2 emission budget (dominated by passive degassing) during mild regular open-vent activity. We show that the temporal variations of the explosive SO2 flux go in tandem with changes in total SO2 flux and VLP seismicity, implicating some commonality in the source processes controlling passive degassing and explosive activity. We exploited the spatial resolution of SO2 camera to discriminate degassing at two distinct regions of the crater area, and to minimize biases due by the station position respect to the target plume. We find that the SO2 fluxes from southwest-central (SWCC) and northeast (NEC) crater areas oscillate coherently but those from the NEC are more sensitive to the changes in the volcanic intensity. We interpret this as due to preferential gas/magma channeling into the structurally weaker north-eastern portion of the crater terrace in response to increasing supply rate of buoyant, bubble-rich magma in the shallow plumbing system.

Hydrothermal activity is a natural manifestation of volcanic degassing at calderas, testified by the presence of fumarolic fields, boiling pools, steaming ground and soil diffuse degassing, which are of interest for volcano monitoring and surveillance as they can be related to the magma dynamics within the caldera reservoirs. Campi Flegrei (Italy) is a half submerged resurgent caldera with a nested structure located at the western edge of the bay of Naples. Since its last eruption in 1538, several episodes of ground uplift accompanied by seismic swarms and intense degassing have been reported. The last uplift phase started in 2005 and is still ongoing. The Pisciarelli fumarolic field is a key area of the Campi Flegrei caldera where a continuous and vigorous degassing of hydrothermal fluids, of magmatic origin, takes place. Such fumarolic degassing is associated with a persistent harmonic tremor showing within the last decade an increasing amplitude trend that correlates well with the geochemical and geodetic unrest indicators of the caldera. In the framework of the DPC-INGV 2012-2021 Agreement and the LOVE-CF Project, we investigated the seismo-acoustic wavefield produced by fumarolic degassing with the aim of characterizing the source process that produces the harmonic tremor, and to propose a potential seismo-acoustic based tool to estimate the fumarolic gas fluxes in real time. At this aim, we performed a series of temporary geophysical experiments with the deployment of 4-element small aperture seismo-acoustic arrays equipped, at each array element, by a short-period three-component seismometer and a broadband infrasonic pressure sensor. We show that the harmonic tremor source is located within the fumarolic field at shallow depth (

Volcano seismicity is one of the key parameters to understand magma dynamics of erupting volcanoes. However, the physical process at the origin of the resulting complex and broadband seismic signals remains unclear. Syn-eruptive very long period (VLP) seismic signals have been explained in terms of the sudden expansion of gas pockets rising in the liquid melt. Their origin is linked to a magma dynamics which triggers the explosive process occurring before the explosive onset. We provide evidence based on acoustic, thermal, and ground deformation data to demonstrate that VLP signals at Stromboli are generated at the top of the magma column mainly after the explosion onset. We show that VLP amplitude and duration scale with the eruptive flux which induces a decompression of 103–104 Pa involving the uppermost ~ 250 m of the feeding conduit. The seismic VLP source represents the final stage of a ~ 200 s long charge and discharge mechanism the magma column has to release excess gas accumulated at the base of a denser and degassed magma mush. The position of the VLP seismic source coincides with the centroid of the shallow mush plug and tracks elevation changes of the magma free surface.

Open-vent volcanic activity is typically sustained by ascent and degassing of shallow magma, in which the rate of magma supply to the upper feeding system largely exceeds the rate of magma eruption. Such unbalance between supplied (input) and erupted (output) magma rates is thought to result from steady, degassing-driven, convective magma overturning in a shallow conduit/feeding dyke. Here, we characterize shallow magma circulation at Stromboli volcano by combining independent observations of heat (Volcanic Radiative Power; via satellite images) and gas (SO2, via UV camera) output in a temporal interval (from August 1, 2018 to April 30, 2020) encompassing the summer 2019 effusive eruption and two paroxysmal explosions (on July 3 and August 28, 2019). We show that, during the phase of ordinary strombolian explosive activity that preceded the 2019 effusive eruption, the average magma input rate (0.1-0.2 m3/s) exceeds the magma eruption rate (0.001-0.01 m3/s) by ∼2 orders of magnitude. Conversely, magma input and output rates converge to an average of ∼0.4 m3/s during the summer 2019 summit effusion, implying an overall suppression of magma recycling back into the feeding system, and hence of excess degassing. We find that, during the effusive eruption, the peak in SO2 emissions lags behind the thermal emission peak by ∼27 days, suggesting that magma output, feeding the lava flow field, initially dominates over magma input in the conduit. We propose that this conduit mass unloading, produced by this initial phase of the effusive eruption, leads to an overall decompression (of up to 30 Pa/s) of the shallow plumbing system, ultimately causing ascent of less-dense, volatile-rich magma batch(es) from depth, enhanced explosive activity, and elevated SO2 fluxes culminating into a paroxysmal explosion on August 28. Our results demonstrate that combined analysis of thermal and SO2 flux time-series paves the way to improved understanding of shallow magmatic system dynamics at open-vent volcanoes, and of the transition from explosive to effusive activity regimes.

International audience; ASHER, a new sensor for the characterization of tephra fallout in real time, was designed and developed for easy field deployment during volcanic eruptions. It can provide information on the accumulation rate of tephra fallout in real time as well as grain-size and settling velocity of falling particles. Particle detection is achieved with a laser barrier, with size and settling velocity being calculated from the amplitude and duration of obscuration peaks. The sampling rate (31,500 Hz), laser thickness (0.5 mm) and operation (ON/OFF state and dual acquisition mode) are adapted to minimize the noise level and allow detection of particles as small as ~100 μm. Additional measurements of weight and level of accumulated material within a removable collector allow broadening of the ASHER operation to accumulation rate from 10-2 to 103 g m-2s-1. Detailed calibration tests were performed in laboratory conditions on single grains of known shape and density along with a high-speed camera to test the capability to measure grain size and terminal velocity, and during two field campaigns at Stromboli and Etna volcanoes to test the operation in the field. Long-term field deployment has shown that combining the optical barrier with an automatic collector allows for a better characterization of tephra fallout, providing an estimate of density, and, therefore, it optimizes sensor operation and minimizes false alerts. Moreover, the low power requirements and onboard processing allows to operate the sensor remotely and solely on solar power in a remote location. Although technical improvements in sensor sensitivity and processing are still possible, the results presented suggest that ground sensors for real-time detection and analysis of tephra could potentially contribute to understanding the dynamics of explosive eruptions and could be successfully integrated into monitoring systems of active volcanoes.

At open-vent basaltic volcanoes, resolving the activity escalation that heralds larger, potentially harmful eruptions is challenged by the persistent mild ordinary activity, which often masks the precursory unrest signals related to heightened magma transport from depth. Gas (SO2 and CO2) fluxes at surface are controlled by rate of magma transport and degassing within the magma plumbing system, and thus constitute key parameters to infer deep magma budget and dynamics. Here, we use several year-long (2014-present) gas observations at Etna and Stromboli volcanoes, in Sicily, to provide new evidence for the utility of long-term instrumental gas monitoring in real-time detecting the early phase of unrest prior eruption, and for characterizing syn-eruptive dynamics. To this aim, we use information from a gas monitoring network of permanent ultraviolet (UV) cameras and automatic Multi-Gas instruments that, combined with geophysical observations, allow characterizing changes in degassing and eruptive dynamics at high temporal/spatial resolution. Our results show that the paroxysmal (lava fountaining) explosions that periodically interrupted persistent open-vent activity on Etna (during 2014-2020) were accompanied by systematic, repetitive SO2 emission patterns prior, during, and after eruptions. These allow us identifying the characteristic pre- syn- and post- eruptive degassing regimes, and to establish thresholds in the SO2 flux record that mark phases of unrest. On Stromboli, the much improved temporal/spatial resolution of UV cameras allows resolving the escalation of regular strombolian activity, and its concentration toward its North-east crater, that heralds onset of effusive eruptions. During effusive eruption, although magma level drops in the conduit and explosive summit activity ceases, UV camera observations can still detect explosive gas bursts deep in the conduit while no infrasonic activity is detected. Combining the UV camera-derived SO2 fluxes with CO2/SO2 ratio records measured by the Multi-Gas, the CO2 flux can be inferred. We find that such CO2 flux time-series can allow tracking degassing of deeply stored mafic magma months before Stromboli’s eruptions. We finally show that remotely sensed gas emission and thermal activity can be combined together to characterize the dynamics of shallow magmatic system prior to and during unrest, ultimately helping to define timing of magma re-charging events driving the eruptions.

Two paroxysmal explosions occurred at Stromboli volcano in the Summer 2019, the first of which, on July 3, caused one fatality and some injuries. Within the 56 days between the two paroxysmal explosions, effusive activity from vents located in the summit area of the volcano occurred. No significant changes in routinely monitored parameters were detected before the paroxysmal explosions. However, we have calculated the polarization and the fractal dimension time series of the seismic signals from November 15, 2018 to September 15, 2019 and we have recognized variations that preceded the paroxysmal activity. In addition, we have defined a new parameter, based on RSAM estimation, related to the Very Long Period events, called VLP size, by means of which we have noticed significant variations through the whole month preceding the paroxysm of July 3. In the short term, we have analyzed the signals of a borehole strainmeter installed on the island, obtaining automatic triggers 10 minutes and 7.5 minutes before the July 3 and the August 28 paroxysms, respectively. The results of this study highlight mid-term seismic precursors of paroxysmal activity and provide valuable evidence for the development of an early warning system for paroxysmal explosions based on strainmeter measurements.

In summer 2019, two paroxysmal explosions occurred in Stromboli. The first one occurred on July 3, when the Strombolian ordinary eruptive activity did not show a significant intensification. The explosion formed an eruptive column more than 3 km high. A pyroclastic flow ran down the “Sciara del Fuoco” slope causing a victim and some injuries. Moreover, the pyroclastic flow spread over the sea surface for about one kilometer. On August 28, a second paroxysmal explosion occurred, similar to the previous one. Also in this case the eruption formed an eruptive column of more than 3 km and a pyroclastic flow that expanded along the “Sciara del Fuoco” slope and traveled about 1 km on the sea surface. In the period between the two paroxysms, effusive activity occurred from the summit crater area. The eruptive phase of summer 2019, which began with the paroxysm of 3 July, was not preceded by significant changes in the routinely monitored parameters, such as the hourly frequency (daily average) of the VLP events (typical of Stromboli) and the amplitude of the seismic signal (RSAM). For this reason, we have analyzed the seismic and dilatometric data, which were recorded by the INGV geophysical network in the period November 2018 - September 2019, focusing our attention on other parameters that can give indications on the activity state of the volcano. In particular, we analyzed the data of the broadband seismic stations, equipped with the Guralp CMG40T sensors, and the data of one Sacks-Evertson borehole strainmeter. We defined the "VLP size", which takes into account the waveform of the VLP events, in terms of both amplitude and duration. We also applied time varying Fractal Dimension (FD) analysis to the seismograms of a seismic station close to the crater area and we analyzed the polarization of the same signal. We carried out the polarization analysis both without applying a filter and by filtering the seismic signal in the typical frequency bands of the Stromboli volcanic tremor (1-3 Hz) and of the VLPs (0.5-0.05 Hz). We found that the "VLP size", the FD and the polarization parameters showed significant changes about one month before the paroxysm of July 3. In the short term, we applied an appropriately tuned STA/LTA algorithm to the data of the borehole strainmeter, which is installed on the island at about 2km from the craters, and we obtained an automatic detection of the paroxysmal events 10 and 7.5 minutes before the explosion of July 3 and August 28, respectively.

Understanding the mechanisms that cause effusive eruptions is the key to mitigating their associated hazard. Here, we combine results from permanent ultra-violet (UV) cameras, and from other geophysical observations (seismic very long period, thermal, and infrasonic activity), to characterize volcanic SO2 flux regime in the period prior, during, and after Stromboli's August-November 2014 effusive eruption. We show that, in the two months prior to effusion onset, the SO2 flux levels are two times average level. We explain this anomalously high SO2 regime as primarily determined by venting of rapidly rising, pressurized SO2-rich gas pockets, produced by strombolian explosions being more frequent and intense than usual. We develop a procedure to track (and count), in the UV camera record, the SO2 flux pulses produced by individual explosions and puffing activity (active degassing). We find that these SO2 pulses are far more numerous (67 ± 47 events/hour) before the effusion onset than during normal activity (20 ± 15 events/hour). This observation, combined with geophysical evidence, demonstrates an elevated gas bubble supply to the shallow conduits, causing elevated explosive and puffing activity. This increase (≥0.1 m3s-1) in magma transport rate in the north-east feeding conduits finally triggers effusion onset. Active degassing remains elevated also during the effusive phase, supporting the persistence of explosive and puffing activity during the effusive eruption, deep in the volcanic conduit. Our results demonstrate that permanent UV cameras can valuably contribute to monitoring at high sampling frequency gas dynamics and fluxes, thus opening the way to direct comparison with more established geophysical observations.

Mass Flow Rate is one of the most crucial eruption source parameter used to define magnitude of eruption and to quantify the ash dispersal in the atmosphere. However, this parameter is in general difficult to be derived and no valid technique has been developed yet to measure it in real time with sufficient accuracy. Linear acoustics has been applied to infrasonic pressure waves generated by explosive eruptions to indirectly estimate the gas mass erupted and then the mass flow rate. Here, we test on Stromboli volcano (Italy) the performance of such methodology by comparing the acoustic derived results with independent gas mass estimates obtained with UV cameras, and constraining the acoustic source by thermal imagery. We show that different acoustic methods give comparable total gas masses in the 2 to 1425 kg range, which are fully consistent with the gas masses derived by UV cameras and previous direct SO 2 measurements. We show that total erupted gas mass, estimated by infrasound is not simply a function of the initial pressure, but rather the full infrasonic waveform should be considered. Thermal imagery provides evidence that infrasound is generated during the entire gas thrust phase. We provide examples to show how total gas masses derived by infrasonic signals can be affected by large uncertainties if duration of the signal is neglected. Only when duration of infrasound is included, the best correlation (0.8) with UV cameras and the 1:1 direct linear proportionality is obtained. Our results open new perspective for remotely derived gas mass and mass flow rates from acoustic signals.

We report on a systematic record of SO2 flux emissions from individual vents of Etna volcano (Sicily), which we obtained using a permanent UV camera network. Observations were carried out in summer 2014, a period encompassing two eruptive episodes of the New South East Crater (NSEC) and a fissure-fed eruption in the upper Valle del Bove. We demonstrate that our vent-resolved SO2 flux time series allow capturing shifts in activity from one vent to another and contribute to our understanding of Etna's shallow plumbing system structure. We find that the fissure eruption contributed ~50,000 t of SO2 or ~30% of the SO2 emitted by the volcano during the 5 July to 10 August eruptive interval. Activity from this eruptive vent gradually vanished on 10 August, marking a switch of degassing toward the NSEC. Onset of degassing at the NSEC was a precursory to explosive paroxysmal activity on 11-15 August.

In this study we analyse the main potential seismic sources in some axial and frontal sectors of the Northern Apennines, in Italy. This region was hit by a peculiar series of earthquakes that started in 1916 on the external thrust fronts near Rimini. Later, in 1917-1921, seismicity (up to Mw approximate to 6.5) shifted into the axial zone and clearly migrated north-westward, along the belt of active normal faults. The collection of fault-slip data focused on the active normal faults potentially involved in this earthquake series. The acquired data allowed us to better characterize the geometry and kinematics of the faults. In a few instances, the installation of local seismic networks during recent seismic sequences allowed the identification of the causative faults that are hinted to be also responsible for past earthquakes, particularly in the Romagna region and north-eastern Mugello. The Coulomb stress changes produced by the historical earthquakes generally brought closer to failure all the faults that supposedly caused the main seismic events of 1916-1921. However, the stress change magnitude is generally small and thus the static stress interaction among the main seismic sources is not supported by a significant seismic correlation. Significant stress change loading may be instead inferred for the triggering of a number of seismic events on neighbouring normal faults by the Garfagnana 1920 earthquake. In addition, the computation of the seismic stress changes suggests that seismic events with magnitude >= 6 may transmit stresses from the axial normal faults to specific external thrusts and vice versa. It is possible that a correlation may be made between loading applied by the major 1917-1920 extensional ruptures and the increased seismicity on the distal external thrusts. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Identifying and characterizing strombolian activity from space is a challenging task for satellite-based infrared systems. Stromboli volcano is a natural laboratory that offers a unique opportunity for refining thermal remote-sensing applications that involve transient phenomena and small to moderate hot-spots. A new simple and fast algorithm gave us the opportunity to revisit the MODIS-derived thermal output at Stromboli volcano over the last 13 years. The new algorithm includes both night-time and daytime data and shows high performance with the detection of small-amplitude thermal anomalies ( 1000 MW). The ...

We show two examples of how integrated analysis of thermal and infrasound signal can be used to obtain, in real time, information on volcanic activity. Soufriere Hills Volcano (SHV) on Montserrat offers the opportunity to study a large variety of processes related to lava-dome activity, such as pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) and large Vulcanian eruptions. Infrasound and thermal analysis are used to constrain the propagation of PDCs and their velocities, which are calculated here to range between 15 and 75 m s −1 . During the Vulcanian eruption of 5 February 2010, infrasound and thermal records allow us to identify an approximately 13 s seismic precursor possibly related to the pressurization of the conduit before the explosion onset. The associated very long period (VLP) seismic signal is correlated with the gas-thrust phase detected by thermal imagery, and may reflect a change in the upward momentum induced by the mass discharge. Moreover, from infrasound and thermal analysis, we estimate a gas-thrust phase lasting 22 s, with an initial plume velocity of approximately 170 m s −1 and a mean volumetric discharge rate of 0.3×10 5 –9.2×10 5 m 3 s −1 . This information provided in real time gives important input parameters for modelling the tephra dispersal into the atmosphere.

[1] Infrasonic and seismic waveforms were collected during violent strombolian activity at Yasur Volcano (Vanuatu). Averaging ~3000 seismic events showed stable waveforms, evidencing a low-frequency (0.1–0.3 Hz) signal preceding ~5–6 s the explosion. Infrasonic waveforms were mostly asymmetric with a sharp compressive (5–106 Pa) onset, followed by a small long-lasting rarefaction phase. Regardless of the pressure amplitude, the ratio between the positive and negative phases was constant. These waveform characteristics closely resembled blast waves. Infrared imagery showed an apparent cold spherical front ~20 m thick, which moved between 342 and 405 m/s before the explosive hot gas/fragments cloud. We interpret this cold front as that produced by the vapor condensation induced by the passage of the shock front. We suggest that violent strombolian activity at Yasur was driven by supersonic dynamics with gas expanding at 1.1 Mach number inside the conduit.

The Stromboli volcano erupted on February 27, 2007, after an intense Strombolian activity lasted about 2 months. The eruption was characterized by a series of rapidly evolving phenomena, like the propagation of an effusive fracture along the crater rim, the opening of lateral effusive vents, an unusually large effusive flux (> 10 m 3 /s), the collapse of the crater system, and a major strombolian explosion. This eruption was monitored by an integrated network of multiparameter instruments: broad-band seismometers, infrasonic array, thermal cameras and bore-hole tiltmeters. All the information collected and processed in real-time allowed to draw a clear picture of the eruption dynamics. Thermal imagery documented in real-time how the effusive fracture propagated at 12:24 GMT of February 27 along the northern rim of the NE crater towards the NE direction. The infrasonic array showed that explosive and degassing activity ceased at 10:32 GMT, a couple of hours before the opening of the effusive fractures. The end of the explosive activity coincided with an intense phase of high-frequency (4–22 Hz) tremor which showed two episodes of harmonic spectrum gliding from 4–7 Hz to ~ 22 Hz. The end of this phase was characterized at 18:26 GMT by a strong infrasonic signal located by the array in the Sciara del Fuoco and associated with the landslide induced by the opening of a lateral effusive vent at 400 m of elevation. This eruption provided a clear example on how the strategy of integrating in near-real-time geophysical information can pinpoint the transition from explosive to effusive activity of the shallow volcanic system at Stromboli.

Eruptive plume dynamics is a direct expression of explosive style, where duration and altitude of eruptive clouds and dispersion of erupted products is proportional to the degree of fragmentation. We present an analysis of infrasonic and thermal records for explosions at Villarrica (Chile), Stromboli (Italy), Santiaguito and Fuego (Guatemala) volcanoes. Across these four systems magma composition spans from basaltic to dacitic and explosive activity is typically described as ranging from Strombolian to Vulcanian. We use this analysis to provide a quantitative, geophysically-based description of, and discrimination between, the different explosive styles that characterize the four volcanoes. While infrasound is directly related to the emission of over-pressurized gas, and thus solely reflects the plume emission, both plume emission and ascent are detected thermally. Thus, the two data sets together provide a complete description of the plume dynamics. In particular, while infrasound solely reflects the gas-thrust phase driving plume emission, thermal radiation energy is also affected by buoyancy during plume ascent. Thermal radiation energy estimated for explosions at Stromboli and Villarrica (10 4 –10 7 J) is lower than that for events at Santiaguito and Fuego (10 8 –10 9 J), but infrasonic energies overlap. This suggests a greater contribution of buoyancy for eruptive clouds at Santiaguito and Fuego when compared with Stromboli and Villarrica. We further investigated the plume dynamics by comparing infrasonic energy, which reflects gas-thrust ( E GT ), with the difference between thermal radiation and infrasonic energies, which mostly reflects buoyancy ( E B ). Our data distribution reveals two separate clusters. Explosions at Stromboli and Villarrica share low values of buoyancy, pointing to a gas-thrust dominated emission, efficient coupling of the infrasonic source to the atmosphere, and a Strombolian-type source process to generate a plume rich in coarse fragments. In contrast, explosions at Santiaguito and Fuego share large buoyancy ( E B ), and are consistent with Vulcanian-type events in which a large part of infrasonic energy is spent in magma fragmentation leading to ascent of buoyant, ash-rich plumes. We demonstrate that the comparison between thermal radiation and infrasonic energies of explosions allows a quantitative discrimination between, and characterization of, Strombolian- and Vulcanian-type explosions, which leads us to suggest that such an approach may be used as an index to further (and quantitatively) discriminate between eruptive styles.

Effusive eruptions are explained as the mechanism by which volcanoes restore the equilibrium perturbed by magma rising in a chamber deep in the crust. Seismic, ground deformation and topographic measurements are compared with effusion rate during the 2007 Stromboli eruption, drawing an eruptive scenario that shifts our attention from the interior of the crust to the surface. The eruption is modelled as a gravity-driven drainage of magma stored in the volcanic edifice with a minor contribution of magma supplied at a steady rate from a deep reservoir. Here we show that the discharge rate can be predicted by the contraction of the volcano edifice and that the very-long-period seismicity migrates downwards, tracking the residual volume of magma in the shallow reservoir. Gravity-driven magma discharge dynamics explain the initially high discharge rates observed during eruptive crises and greatly influence our ability to predict the evolution of effusive eruptions.

The persistent mild explosive activity of Stromboli is explained in terms of the dynamics of large gas slugs that ascend the magma conduit to burst at the free surface. This simple physical model has now strong evidence from both geophysical and geochemical viewpoints. In recent years, combined analyses of geophysical data, such as infrasound and thermal, integrated with seismological information, have improved constraint on conduit dynamics. We now know that gas expansion, preceding the explosion onset by 2 to 20 s, occurs at a depth of ∼260 m within the conduit. Explosions repeat at a typical rate of ∼13 events/h with gas jet velocities of 10―130 m/s. The time delay between the infrasound and thermal onset indicates a depth of

[1] Explosive activity at Stromboli volcano is analyzed using a high-frame rate (50 Hz) thermal camera and differential pressure transducers. We develop a thermal image-based decomposition method to derive vertical and horizontal exit velocities of the explosive cloud. Peak vertical velocity ranges between 23 and 203 m/s, slightly higher than previous estimates and rapidly decreasing to a constant value of 30–50 m/s within the first ∼0.1 s. Plume velocities are consistent with an elongated cloud expanding much faster vertically than horizontally and indicating the interaction with the conduit wall. Considering a vent radius of ∼2 m we estimate a volumetric flux of 200–600 m3/s, which converts to total volumes of gas-particles of 103–104 m3 for a single eruption. These volumes are proportional to the thermal energy recorded by the camera, providing a means to convert thermal radiance to volumes. Comparing the thermal onset of the explosions with the arrival time of the acoustic pressure, we demonstrate that infrasound is propagating 0.14−1.7 s ahead of the explosive front. The time difference between thermal and acoustic onsets constrains the infrasonic source within the conduit at 15–35 m below the crater rim. Peak amplitudes of acoustic pressure show a power law relationship (p ∼ U2) with the exit vertical velocities consistent with the energy balance of a two-phase flow rapidly accelerated in the conduit by gas decompression. Our results support monopole isotropic acoustic radiation of a source embedded within the conduit walls and indicate that explosive dynamics undergo strong accelerations of 103–104 m/s2.

We used a network of stations to perform systematic radon surveys at Stromboli volcano. The time series of periodic measurements show that monthly average 222Rn emissions reflect changes in volcanic activity and exhibit increasing trends prior and during the last major eruptive cycles. Maps of radon emissions indicate that diffuse degassing is operative at Stromboli volcano. Concentrated degassing essentially occurs in the summit area and within a sector proximal to the two major NE trending faults. These sites were chosen for deploying the two real-time stations that are currently operating at Stromboli. In these devices, the 222Rn electronic dosimeters are connected to a radiomodem for wireless data transfer to a receiving station at the volcano observatory. Radon activity, soil temperature and atmospheric pressure data are sampled and instantaneously transferred via web so that they can be checked remotely. Collected time series reveal an overall inverse correlation between radon emissions and seasonal temperature variations. Radon emissions in sectors of diffuse degassing are modulated by tidal forces as well. Radon activities recorded at the summit station, located along the fracture zone where the gas flux is concentrated, are positively correlated with changes in atmospheric pressure and confirm the occurrence of the “atmospheric stack effect”. We finally emphasize that real-time radon monitoring is an innovative technique that may be systematically applied in volcano surveillance.

Explosive volcanic eruptions typically show a huge column of ash and debris ejected into the stratosphere, crackling with lightning. Yet equally hazardous are the fast moving avalanches of hot gas and rock that can rush down the volcano's flanks at speeds approaching 280 kilometers per hour. Called pyroclastic flows, these surges can reach temperatures of 400°C. Fast currents and hot temperatures can quickly overwhelm communities living in the shadow of volcanoes, such as what happened to Pompeii and Herculaneum after the 79 C.E. eruption of Italy's Mount Vesuvius or to Saint-Pierre after Martinique's Mount Pelee erupted in 1902.