Etna eruption May 2008: photos
After the powerful paroxysm at South East Crater on 10 May 2008, a spectacular fissure eruption started on 13 May, opening a 1000 m long, E-W trending fissure starting at the base of the SE crater, and extending into the upper flanks of Valle del Bove.
The activity started with impressive ground deformation where the advancing dike openend the ground, hurling out blocks of older material, some more than tens of meters across. At the fissure, curtains of fire fountains formed from at least 15 vents and produced a fluid lava flow that quickly descended into Valle del Bove. After about one day, the eruption waned quickly to stabilize into mild strombolian activity from a few vents on the upper part of the fissure between 2800 and 2900m.a.s.l. This activity prevailed when our team visited the eruption sites between 15 and 24 May, which is documented in the following photos.
The activity started with impressive ground deformation where the advancing dike openend the ground, hurling out blocks of older material, some more than tens of meters across. At the fissure, curtains of fire fountains formed from at least 15 vents and produced a fluid lava flow that quickly descended into Valle del Bove. After about one day, the eruption waned quickly to stabilize into mild strombolian activity from a few vents on the upper part of the fissure between 2800 and 2900m.a.s.l. This activity prevailed when our team visited the eruption sites between 15 and 24 May, which is documented in the following photos.
Strombolian eruption from the vent and lights of Giarre, Tsaormina and Calabria at night. (Photo: To... [info]
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Ash emission and mild spattering from two vents on the eruptive fissure of the May 13 eruption (23 M... [info]
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View of the SE crater and the glow from the lava flow seen from Piano del Vescovo (16 May 08) (Photo... [info]
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The active vent on the May 13, 2008, fissure and the still active lava flows (May 16). (Photo: Tom P... [info]
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The lava flows into Valle del Bove (May 16, 2008) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Volcanologists observing the new activity (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Tobias observing the activity. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Fountain-like strombolian eruption from the active vent on the evening of May 23 2008. (Photo: Tom P... [info]
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etna_g4106.jpg (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Strong strombolian eruption from an active vent of the May 2008 fissure on the upper E flank of Etna... [info]
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etna_g4190.jpg (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Spattering from the active vent (May 23, 2008) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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etna_g4123.jpg (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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etna_g4132.jpg (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Powerful strombolian eruption from the active vent (May 23, 2008). (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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A powerful explosion from the vent surprises us. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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