Determination of eruption source parameters of the 2011-2013 and February 2021 Etna’s paroxysms using multi-sensor strategies

The determination of Eruptive Source Parameters (ESPs) is crucial especially for very active volcanoes whose eruptive intensity can vary significantly. In this aim, new strategies are being developed to determine in near real time the total erupted mass (TEM), total grain-size distribution (TGSD) and plume height from ground sampling and remote sensing methods. Since 2011, Etna volcano has produced about 100 paroxysmal episodes characterized by the emission of fountain-fed tephra plumes whose heights reached up to 15 km (above sea level). In this work, we present multi-sensor strategies based on data acquired by the complementary set of remote sensing systems available at Etna. In fact, multi-sensor strategies may help to refine and assess the uncertainty of ESP estimates made by individual sensors, which can present various limitations such as narrow field of views (e.g., visible imagery) and/or low temporal resolution (e.g., satellite-based infrared). First, we show how the combination between tephra-fallout deposit and satellite-based estimates, along with numerical modelling, can help to refine estimates of TEM and TGSD, especially for weak explosive eruption such as the 29 August 2011 paroxysm. We use the model TEPHRA2 and compute synthetic data of ground accumulation to successfully fill significant sampling gaps in the tephra-fallout deposits. Moreover, we find that the Rosin-Rammler equation can be used to inform on missing part of the TGSD, including the tail of very fine ash also detected by satellite-based platforms. Additionally, we compare all estimates of Mass Eruption Rates, Plume height and grain-size distributions made by all available methods including Doppler radar detection, visible and infrared imagery, infrasound arrays, gravimetric signals and tephra-fallout deposit sampling. Accordingly, based on each sensor limitation and capacities, we obtain new constraints on ESP estimates acquired during several paroxysms between 2011-2013 and February 2021. We also bring new insights into the differences and complementarities that exist between the available remote sensing methods, especially in the case of future eruptive events at Mount Etna.