Summary

After two weeks of relative calm, the New Southeast Crater of Etna has produced a new paroxysmal eruptive episode on the morning of 18 March 2012, the 22nd such event in the series initiated in January 2011.
As its predecessors, also this episode has been characterized by tall lava fountains, a tephra and vapor column several kilometers high (leading to ash and lapilli falls over the eastern sector of the volcano), and lava flows that descended into the Valle del Bove, locally interacting explosively with thick snow cover on the ground. The paroxysmal phase lasted less than two hours. A more detailed report will be posted here on Monday, 19 March 2012.
(Source: INGV Catania)

Eruption report:

Lava fountaining from the NSEC during the 22nd paroxysm (photo: Boris Behncke)

Webcam image showing strong explosive activity at the NSEC		The steep rise of volcanic tremor (INGV Catania)

The start of the paroxysm seen from Catania		INGV webcam images at the beginning of the paroxysm

New weak strombolian activity from the New SE crater

Since this morning, weak explosive activity has been observed from the new South East crater (NSEC). Small ash ejections were observed by Etna Walk from Piano del Lago, accompanied by distinct explosions, and in some cases forming small ash mushrooms that rose and dissipated some 100 m above the crater.
Seismic signals of INGV show no significant changes of volcanic tremor, but this could be the start of the foreplay towards another paroxysm if Etna's eruptive behavior stays as has been during the past 14 months.
Source: Esplosioni al Cratere di SudEst (LAST UPDATE 12:25 UTC+1) - sabato, 17 marzo 2012 (Etna Walk)
Conditions météorologiques se détériorent et il pourrait ne pas être au sommet une grande visibilité, mais plus vraisemblablement, il y aura une pause dans l'activité maintenant après l'éruption hier, jusqu'à ce que... ?

Eruption has ended

L'éruption est terminée, cette fois très rapidement comme souvent lors de quintes de l'Etna. Tremblement est à près de zéro, et les fontaines de lave et de la colonne éruption ont disparu, comme la colonne de magma à l'intérieur de la conduite a chuté.
L'attente pour la prochaine éruption peut commencer !