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Keywords = effusive eruptions

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18 pages, 3896 KiB  
Article
The Contribution of Meteosat Third Generation–Flexible Combined Imager (MTG-FCI) Observations to the Monitoring of Thermal Volcanic Activity: The Mount Etna (Italy) February–March 2025 Eruption
by Carolina Filizzola, Giuseppe Mazzeo, Francesco Marchese, Carla Pietrapertosa and Nicola Pergola
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(12), 2102; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17122102 - 19 Jun 2025
Viewed by 522
Abstract
The Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) instrument aboard the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG-I) geostationary satellite, launched in December 2022 and operational since September 2024, by providing shortwave infrared (SWIR), medium infrared (MIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) data, with an image refreshing time of 10 [...] Read more.
The Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) instrument aboard the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG-I) geostationary satellite, launched in December 2022 and operational since September 2024, by providing shortwave infrared (SWIR), medium infrared (MIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) data, with an image refreshing time of 10 min and a spatial resolution ranging between 500 m in the high-resolution (HR) and 1–2 km in the normal-resolution (NR) mode, may represent a very promising instrument for monitoring thermal volcanic activity from space, also in operational contexts. In this work, we assess this potential by investigating the recent Mount Etna (Italy, Sicily) eruption of February–March 2025 through the analysis of daytime and night-time SWIR observations in the NR mode. The time series of a normalized hotspot index retrieved over Mt. Etna indicates that the effusive eruption started on 8 February at 13:40 UTC (14:40 LT), i.e., before information from independent sources. This observation is corroborated by the analysis of the MIR signal performed using an adapted Robust Satellite Technique (RST) approach, also revealing the occurrence of less intense thermal activity over the Mt. Etna area a few hours before (10.50 UTC) the possible start of lava effusion. By analyzing changes in total SWIR radiance (TSR), calculated starting from hot pixels detected using the preliminary NHI algorithm configuration tailored to FCI data, we inferred information about variations in thermal volcanic activity. The results show that the Mt. Etna eruption was particularly intense during 17–19 February, when the radiative power was estimated to be around 1–3 GW from other sensors. These outcomes, which are consistent with Multispectral Instrument (MSI) and Operational Land Imager (OLI) observations at a higher spatial resolution, providing accurate information about areas inundated by the lava, demonstrate that the FCI may provide a relevant contribution to the near-real-time monitoring of Mt. Etna activity. The usage of FCI data, in the HR mode, may further improve the timely identification of high-temperature features in the framework of early warning contexts, devoted to mitigating the social, environmental and economic impacts of effusive eruptions, especially over less monitored volcanic areas. Full article
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20 pages, 43321 KiB  
Article
Volcano–Sedimentary Processes on an Ancient Oceanic Seafloor: Insights from the Gimigliano Metaophiolite Succession (Calabria, Southern Italy)
by Federica Barilaro, Andrea Di Capua, Giuseppe Cianflone, Giovanni Turano, Gianluca Robertelli, Fabrizio Brutto, Giuseppe Ciccone, Alessandro Foti, Vincenzo Festa and Rocco Dominici
Minerals 2025, 15(6), 552; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15060552 - 22 May 2025
Viewed by 1007
Abstract
This study investigates the volcano–sedimentary processes that occurred in an oceanic branch of the Western Tethys, now part of the Gimigliano–Monte-Reventino metaophiolite Unit, exposed at the southeastern termination of the Sila Piccola Massif, within the northern sector of the Calabria–Peloritani terrane (Calabria, southern [...] Read more.
This study investigates the volcano–sedimentary processes that occurred in an oceanic branch of the Western Tethys, now part of the Gimigliano–Monte-Reventino metaophiolite Unit, exposed at the southeastern termination of the Sila Piccola Massif, within the northern sector of the Calabria–Peloritani terrane (Calabria, southern Italy). Fieldwork, petrography, and mineralogical analyses on the Gimigliano metaophiolite succession have identified five distinct volcano–sedimentary lithofacies. These lithofacies are characterized by mineral assemblages of epidote, chlorite, quartz, and albite, with minor amounts of muscovite and calcite, resulting from high-pressure–low-temperature (HP-LT) metamorphism followed by low-grade greenschist metamorphism of mid-oceanic ridge basalt (MORB)-type volcanic products. Based on their stratigraphic and textural features, these lithofacies have been interpreted as metabasaltic flow layers emplaced during effusive volcanic eruptions and metahyaloclastic and metavolcaniclastic deposits formed by explosion-driven processes. This lithofacies assemblage suggests that the Gimigliano area likely represented an oceanic sector with high rates of magmatic outflows, where interactions between magma and water facilitated explosive activity and the dispersion of primary volcaniclastic deposits, mainly from the water column, in addition to the emplacement of basaltic lava flow. In contrast, other metaophiolite complexes in the Calabria region, characterized by the presence of pillow basalts, were areas with low effusive rates. The coexistence of these differences, along with the extensive presence of metaultramafites, portrays the Calabrian branch of the Tethys as a slow-spreading oceanic ridge where variations in surficial volcanic processes were controlled by differences in the effusion rates across its structure. This study is a valuable example of how a volcano–sedimentary approach to reconstructing the emplacement mechanisms of metaophiolite successions can provide geodynamic insights into ancient oceanic ridges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Volcaniclastic Sedimentation in Deep-Water Basins)
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13 pages, 2059 KiB  
Article
Co-Extrusive Magma Transport and Volcanic Dome Formation: Implications for Triggering Explosive Volcanic Eruptions
by Charles R. Carrigan and John C. Eichelberger
Geosciences 2025, 15(5), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15050185 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 486
Abstract
Polymer co-extrusion experiments are described simulating the dynamics of two different magmas (e.g., silicic and mafic having different viscosities) flowing simultaneously in a vertical volcanic pipe or conduit which results in the effusion of composite lava domes on the surface. These experiments, involving [...] Read more.
Polymer co-extrusion experiments are described simulating the dynamics of two different magmas (e.g., silicic and mafic having different viscosities) flowing simultaneously in a vertical volcanic pipe or conduit which results in the effusion of composite lava domes on the surface. These experiments, involving geologically realistic conduit length-to-diameter aspect ratios of 130:1 or 380:1, demonstrate that co-extrusion of magmas having different viscosities can explain not only the observed normal zoning observed in planar dikes and the pipelike conduits that evolve from dikes but also the compositional layering of effused lava domes. The new results support earlier predictions, based on observations of induced core-annular flow (CAF), that dike and conduit zoning along with dome layering are found to depend on the viscosity contrast of the non-Newtonian (shear-thinning) magmas. Any magma properties creating viscosity differences, such as crystal content, bubble content, water content and temperature may also give rise to the CAF regime. Additionally, codependent flow behavior involving the silicic and mafic magmas may play a significant role in modifying the nature of volcanic eruptions. For example, lubrication of the flow by an annulus of a more mafic, lower-viscosity component allows a more viscous but more volatile-charged magma to be injected rapidly to greater vertical distances along a dike into a lower pressure regime that initiates exsolving of a gas phase, further assisting ascent to the surface. The rapid ascent of magmas exsolving volatiles in a dike or conduit is associated with explosive silicic eruptions. Full article
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15 pages, 3183 KiB  
Article
Characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia in Romanian Children
by Alexandru Ioan Ulmeanu, Georgiana-Eugenia Ciuparu and Elena Roxana Matran
Microorganisms 2025, 13(4), 883; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040883 - 11 Apr 2025
Viewed by 1468
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae), traditionally associated with mild community-acquired pneumonia in school-aged children, has experienced a delayed resurgence following the COVID-19 pandemic. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in children within the context of this global resurgence [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae), traditionally associated with mild community-acquired pneumonia in school-aged children, has experienced a delayed resurgence following the COVID-19 pandemic. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in children within the context of this global resurgence have not been well established in Romania. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, single-center study analyzed children diagnosed with M. pneumoniae pneumonia who were hospitalized in the pulmonology department of “Grigore Alexandrescu” Emergency Hospital for Children in Bucharest from March to December 2024. Clinical, laboratory, and radiographic data were extracted from hospital records. M. pneumoniae infection was confirmed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) multiplex panel detection or specific IgM antibody levels ≥ 10 AU/mL. Results: The final analysis included 63 patients who met the inclusion criteria. The cohort’s median age [IQR] was 12.6 [8–15] years, with 11.1% (n = 7) under 6 years old. The radiographic findings revealed a predominance of right lung involvement (52.4%, n = 33, p = 0.03) and a significantly higher prevalence of alveolar infiltrates compared to interstitial patterns (88.9%, n = 56, p < 0.001). Antibiotic choice did not significantly affect hospitalization duration. Pleural effusion emerged as a common complication, occurring in 27% (n = 17) of patients and associated with elevated admission leukocyte counts (p = 0.007). Rare extrapulmonary manifestations included meningoencephalitis (1.6%, n = 1) and reactive infectious mucocutaneous eruption (3.2%, n = 2). Notably, co-infections with other respiratory pathogens did not extend hospital stays. Conclusions: This study contributes to the evolving global epidemiological profile of M. pneumoniae infections in the post-pandemic era. It establishes a foundation for future multi-center analyses aimed at monitoring the changing epidemiology and clinical presentations of M. pneumoniae infections in pediatric populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mycoplasma Research)
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28 pages, 8684 KiB  
Article
Rapid Response to Effusive Eruptions Using Satellite Infrared Data: The March 2024 Eruption of Fernandina (Galápagos)
by Diego Coppola, Simone Aveni, Adele Campus, Marco Laiolo, Francesco Massimetti and Benjamin Bernard
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(7), 1191; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17071191 - 27 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 832
Abstract
On 3 March 2024, a new effusive eruption began from a sub-circular fissure on the southeast upper flank of the Fernandina volcano (Galápagos archipelago, Ecuador). Although the eruption posed no threat to people, as the island is uninhabited, it provided an opportunity to [...] Read more.
On 3 March 2024, a new effusive eruption began from a sub-circular fissure on the southeast upper flank of the Fernandina volcano (Galápagos archipelago, Ecuador). Although the eruption posed no threat to people, as the island is uninhabited, it provided an opportunity to test a rapid response system for effusive eruptions, based on satellite infrared (IR) data. In this work, we illustrate how the analysis of data from multiple IR sensors allowed us to monitor the eruption in near real-time (NRT), providing recurrent updates on key parameters, such as (i) lava discharge rate and trend, (ii) erupted lava volume, (iii) lava field area, (iv) active flow front position (v) flow velocity, (vi) location of active vents and breakouts, and (vii) emplacement style. Overall, the eruption lasted 68 days, during which 58.5 ± 29.2 Mm3 of lava was erupted and an area of 14.9 ± 0.5 km2 was invaded. The eruption was characterized by a peak effusion rate of 206 ± 103 m3/s, an initial velocity of ~2.3 km/h, and by an almost exponential decline in the effusion rate, accompanied by a transition from channel- to tube-fed emplacement style. The advance of the lava flow was characterized by three lengthening phases that allowed the front to reach the coast (~12.5 km from the vent) after 36 days (at an average velocity of ~0.015 km/h). The results demonstrate the efficiency of satellite thermal data in responding to effusive eruptions and maintaining situational awareness at remote volcanoes where ground-based data are limited or completely unavailable. The requirements, limitations, and future perspectives for applying this rapid response protocol on a global scale are finally discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Satellite Monitoring of Volcanoes in Near-Real Time)
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18 pages, 4853 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Potential of a Normalized Hotspot Index in Supporting the Monitoring of Active Volcanoes Through Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer Shortwave Infrared (SLSTR SWIR) Data
by Alfredo Falconieri, Francesco Marchese, Emanuele Ciancia, Nicola Genzano, Giuseppe Mazzeo, Carla Pietrapertosa, Nicola Pergola, Simon Plank and Carolina Filizzola
Sensors 2025, 25(6), 1658; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25061658 - 7 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 754
Abstract
Every year about fifty volcanoes erupt on average, posing a serious threat for populations living in the neighboring areas. To mitigate the volcanic risk, many satellite monitoring systems have been developed. Information from the medium infrared (MIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) bands of [...] Read more.
Every year about fifty volcanoes erupt on average, posing a serious threat for populations living in the neighboring areas. To mitigate the volcanic risk, many satellite monitoring systems have been developed. Information from the medium infrared (MIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) bands of sensors such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is commonly exploited for this purpose. However, the potential of daytime shortwave infrared (SWIR) observations from the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) aboard Sentinel-3 satellites in supporting the near-real-time monitoring of thermal volcanic activity has not been fully evaluated so far. In this work, we assess this potential by exploring the contribution of a normalized hotspot index (NHI) in the monitoring of the recent Home Reef (Tonga Islands) eruption. By analyzing the time series of the maximum NHISWIR value, computed over the Home Reef area, we inferred information about the waxing/waning phases of lava effusion during four distinct subaerial eruptions. The results indicate that the first eruption phase (September–October 2022) was more intense than the second one (September–November 2023) and comparable with the fourth eruptive phase (June–August 2024) in terms of intensity level; the third eruption phase (January 2024) was more difficult to investigate because of cloudy conditions. Moreover, by adapting the NHI algorithm to daytime SLSTR SWIR data, we found that the detected thermal anomalies complemented those in night-time conditions identified and quantified by the operational Level 2 SLSTR fire radiative power (FRP) product. This study demonstrates that NHI-based algorithms may contribute to investigating active volcanoes located even in remote areas through SWIR data at 500 m spatial resolution, encouraging the development of an automated processing chain for the near-real-time monitoring of thermal volcanic activity by means of night-time/daytime Sentinel-3 SLSTR data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Remote Sensors 2024–2025)
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39 pages, 48972 KiB  
Article
Volcanic Response to Post-Pan-African Orogeny Delamination: Insights from Volcanology, Precise U-Pb Geochronology, Geochemistry, and Petrology of the Ediacaran Ouarzazate Group of the Anti-Atlas, Morocco
by Mohamed Achraf Mediany, Nasrrddine Youbi, Mohamed Ben Chra, Oussama Moutbir, Ismail Hadimi, João Mata, Jörn-Frederik Wotzlaw, José Madeira, Miguel Doblas, Ezz El Din Abdel Hakim Khalaf, Rachid Oukhro, Warda El Moume, Jihane Ounar, Abdelhak Ait Lahna, Moulay Ahmed Boumehdi and Andrey Bekker
Minerals 2025, 15(2), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15020142 - 31 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1984
Abstract
Post-collisional volcanism provides valuable insights into mantle dynamics, crustal processes, and mechanisms driving orogen uplift and collapse. This study presents geological, geochemical, and geochronological data for Ediacaran effusive and pyroclastic units from the Taghdout Volcanic Field (TVF) in the Siroua Window, Anti-Atlas Belt. [...] Read more.
Post-collisional volcanism provides valuable insights into mantle dynamics, crustal processes, and mechanisms driving orogen uplift and collapse. This study presents geological, geochemical, and geochronological data for Ediacaran effusive and pyroclastic units from the Taghdout Volcanic Field (TVF) in the Siroua Window, Anti-Atlas Belt. Two eruptive cycles are identified based on volcanological and geochemical signatures. The first cycle comprises a diverse volcanic succession of basalts, basaltic andesites, andesites, dacites, and rhyolitic crystal-rich tuffs and ignimbrites, exhibiting arc calc-alkaline affinities. These mafic magmas were derived from a lithospheric mantle metasomatized by subduction-related fluids and are associated with the gravitational collapse of the Pan-African Orogen. The second cycle is marked by bimodal volcanism, featuring tholeiitic basalts sourced from the asthenospheric mantle and felsic intraplate magmas. These units display volcanological characteristics typical of facies models for continental basaltsuccessions and continental felsic volcanoes. Precise CA-ID-TIMS U-Pb zircon dating constrains the volcanic activity to 575–557 Ma, reflecting an 18-million-year period of lithospheric thinning, delamination, and asthenospheric upwelling. This progression marks the transition from orogen collapse to continental rifting, culminating in the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent and the opening of the Iapetus Ocean. The TVF exemplifies the dynamic interplay between lithospheric and asthenospheric processes during post-collisional tectonic evolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
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30 pages, 12791 KiB  
Article
Tiltmeter Data Revealing Transient Magma Viscosity Changes During Eruptions
by David Gomez-Ortiz, Jose Arnoso, Silvia Martín-Velázquez, Tomás Martín-Crespo, Fuensanta González Montesinos, Emilio Vélez and Maite Benavent
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(2), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17020317 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1178
Abstract
Volcanic processes related to episodes of inflation, dike propagation, effusive activity, etc., can be detected by continuous surface tilt measurements. The interpretation of these measurements helps comprehend medium-to-short-term precursors of volcanic eruptions or establishes early warning alerts. Additionally, studying the transport and evolution [...] Read more.
Volcanic processes related to episodes of inflation, dike propagation, effusive activity, etc., can be detected by continuous surface tilt measurements. The interpretation of these measurements helps comprehend medium-to-short-term precursors of volcanic eruptions or establishes early warning alerts. Additionally, studying the transport and evolution of magmas from the Moho to the crust is key to understanding the eruptive process, but to date, they have not been traced from surface tilts. In this work, we witnessed two relevant and unique dynamic eruptive processes, as revealed by tilt signals, both in the 2021 La Palma eruption and in the 2011–2012 El Hierro eruption (Canary Islands). On the one hand, magma injection from the reservoir at depth is controlled by a pressure gradient. On the other hand, changes in magma viscosity, resulting from pressure variations, have been revealed from cyclic tilt signals. In the case of these signals, matching with a physical model helped us decipher them and establish the duration of this magmatic process, which varied depending on the size and rheological properties of the respective magma plumbing systems. Full article
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12 pages, 2138 KiB  
Communication
First Optically Stimulated Luminescence and Radiocarbon Dating of the Late Quaternary Eruptions in the Xilinhot Volcanic Field, China
by Zhiwei Shi, Furong Cui, Zhidan Zhao, Zhida Bai, Zeguang Chang and Junxiang Zhao
Minerals 2024, 14(11), 1181; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14111181 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1006
Abstract
Precise dating of prehistoric volcanic eruptions is essential for reconstructing eruption sequences and assessing volcanic hazards. The timing of the onset and termination of volcanic activity in the Xilinhot volcanic field (XVF) has been a topic of debate for years. Volcanic eruptions in [...] Read more.
Precise dating of prehistoric volcanic eruptions is essential for reconstructing eruption sequences and assessing volcanic hazards. The timing of the onset and termination of volcanic activity in the Xilinhot volcanic field (XVF) has been a topic of debate for years. Volcanic eruptions in this area began during the Pliocene, with the K-Ar (Ar-Ar) method providing reliable ages for early formed volcanic rocks; however, this method is less effective for dating younger volcanic events that occurred since the Late Pleistocene. For younger volcanoes, sediments baked by volcanic materials, organic sediments, and silty mudstones entrapped in lava serve as excellent geological carriers for dating. In this study, suitable samples collected from the XVF were dated using 14C and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) methods. The 14C ages obtained for the Gezishan volcano are ~6.8 cal. ka BP, while its OSL age is ~7.8 ka. The ages dated by these two methods, combined with volcano–sedimentary stratigraphic relationships and volcanic topography, confirm the Holocene eruptions of the Gezishan volcano, categorizing it as a broadly active volcano. The upper boundary age of the sandy loam layer beneath the Gezishan lava flow is ~15.5 ka, indicating that the south lava of the Gezishan effusion occurred later than the late stage of the Late Pleistocene. Additionally, the OSL ages of baked sediments at the bottom of the base surge deposits from a Maar-type volcano and aeolian sand interlayers within a Strombolian-type scoria cone in the study area are ~50 ka and ~60 ka, respectively, representing eruptions in the middle Late Pleistocene. These findings demonstrate that volcanic activity in the XVF remained vigorous during the Late Pleistocene to Holocene. This study provides significant insights for reconstructing the evolutionary history of Xilinhot volcanic activity and assessing regional volcanic hazards. Full article
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14 pages, 5194 KiB  
Article
Machine Learning Insights into the Last 400 Years of Etna Lateral Eruptions from Historical Volcanological Data
by Arianna Beatrice Malaguti, Claudia Corradino, Alessandro La Spina, Stefano Branca and Ciro Del Negro
Geosciences 2024, 14(11), 295; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14110295 - 3 Nov 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1963
Abstract
Volcanic hazard assessment is generally based on past eruptive behavior, assuming that previous activity is representative of future activity. Hazard assessment can be supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, such as machine learning, which are used for data exploration to identify features of [...] Read more.
Volcanic hazard assessment is generally based on past eruptive behavior, assuming that previous activity is representative of future activity. Hazard assessment can be supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, such as machine learning, which are used for data exploration to identify features of interest in the data. Here, we applied a machine learning technique to automate the analysis of these datasets, handling intricate patterns that are not easily captured by explicit commands. Using the k-means clustering algorithm, we classified effusive eruptions of Mount Etna over the past 400 years based on key parameters, including lava volume, Mean Output Rate (MOR), and eruption duration. Our analysis identified six distinct eruption clusters, each characterized by unique eruption dynamics. Furthermore, spatial analysis revealed significant sectoral variations in eruption activity across Etna’s flanks. These findings, derived through unsupervised learning, offer new insights into Etna’s eruptive behavior and contribute to the development of hazard maps that are essential for long-term spatial planning and risk mitigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Natural Hazards)
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15 pages, 50410 KiB  
Article
Hydroacoustic Monitoring of Mayotte Submarine Volcano during Its Eruptive Phase
by Aude Lavayssière, Sara Bazin and Jean-Yves Royer
Geosciences 2024, 14(6), 170; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14060170 - 17 Jun 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2657
Abstract
Submarine volcanoes are more challenging to monitor than subaerial volcanoes. Yet, the large eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in the Tonga archipelago in 2022 was a reminder of their hazardous nature and hence demonstrated the need to study them. In October [...] Read more.
Submarine volcanoes are more challenging to monitor than subaerial volcanoes. Yet, the large eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in the Tonga archipelago in 2022 was a reminder of their hazardous nature and hence demonstrated the need to study them. In October 2020, four autonomous hydrophones were moored in the sound fixing and ranging channel 50 km offshore Mayotte Island, in the North Mozambique Channel, to monitor the Fani Maoré 2018–2020 submarine eruption. Between their deployment and July 2022, this network of hydrophones, named MAHY, recorded sounds generated by the recent volcanic activity, along with earthquakes, submarine landslides, marine mammals calls, and marine traffic. Among the sounds generated by the volcanic activity, impulsive signals have been evidenced and interpreted as proxy for lava flow emplacements. The characteristics and the spatio-temporal evolution of these hydroacoustic signals allowed the estimation of effusion and flow rates, key parameters for volcano monitoring. These sounds are related to the non-explosive quenching of pillow lavas due to the rapid heat transfer between hot lava and cold seawater, with this process releasing an energy equivalent to an airgun source as used for active seismic exploration. Volcano observatories could hence use autonomous hydrophones in the water column to detect and monitor active submarine eruptions in the absence of regular on-site seafloor survey. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Geophysics)
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20 pages, 7220 KiB  
Article
Soils on Recent Tephra of the Somma–Vesuvius Volcanic Complex, Italy
by Antonella Ermice and Carmine Amalfitano
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020050 - 30 Apr 2024
Viewed by 2286
Abstract
The Somma–Vesuvius volcanic complex emitted huge quantities of volcanic materials over a period from before 18,300 years BP to 1944. The activity during the last period, from post-AD 1631 to 1944, primarily produced lava and pyroclastics via effusive and strombolian eruptions. We investigated [...] Read more.
The Somma–Vesuvius volcanic complex emitted huge quantities of volcanic materials over a period from before 18,300 years BP to 1944. The activity during the last period, from post-AD 1631 to 1944, primarily produced lava and pyroclastics via effusive and strombolian eruptions. We investigated the pedogenesis on rocks formed from post-AD 1631 to 1944, occurring on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius up to Gran Cono Vesuviano and in the northern valley separating Vesuvius from the older Mt. Somma edifice. Pertinent morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical (XRD and FT-IR) soil properties were studied. The results indicated the existence of thin and deep stratified soils on lava, as well as the presence of loose detritic covers formed via pyroclastic emplacement and redistribution. The soils showed minimal profile differentiation, frequently with layering recording the episodic addition of sediments. We found that the dominant coarse size of primary mineral particles was preserved, and there was a low level of clay production. The main mineralogical assemblage present in sands also persisted in clays, indicating the physical breaking of the parent material. Chemical weathering produced mineral modifications towards the active forms of Al and Fe and was also attested in selected soils by glass alteration, allophane production, and the presence of analcime in clay as a secondary product from leucite. The differences in glass alteration and analcime production found in the selected soils on lava were related to soil particle size and soil thickness. Concerning the youngest soil present on Gran Cono Vesuviano, other factors, such as the substratum’s age and site elevation, appeared to be implicated. Full article
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22 pages, 17116 KiB  
Article
Active Faults, Kinematics, and Seismotectonic Evolution during Tajogaite Eruption 2021 (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain)
by Miguel Ángel Rodríguez-Pascua, Raúl Perez-Lopez, María Ángeles Perucha, Nieves Sánchez, Julio López-Gutierrez, José F. Mediato, David Sanz-Mangas, Gonzalo Lozano, Inés Galindo, Juan Carlos García-Davalillo, Carlos Lorenzo Carnicero and Marta Béjar
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 2745; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14072745 - 25 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 6894
Abstract
During the 2021 La Palma strombolian and fissure eruption, two faults were identified that controlled the spatial distribution of earthquake hypocenters and effusive eruptive vents. One of these faults has a NW-SE trend (Tazacorte Fault: TZF) and the other one shows an ENE-WSW [...] Read more.
During the 2021 La Palma strombolian and fissure eruption, two faults were identified that controlled the spatial distribution of earthquake hypocenters and effusive eruptive vents. One of these faults has a NW-SE trend (Tazacorte Fault: TZF) and the other one shows an ENE-WSW trend (Mazo Fault: MZF). Previous works on fault structural analysis in La Palma indicated that the eruption zone was compatible with an extensional tectonic strain ellipsoid which activated normal-strike-slip directional faults at the confluence of TZF and MZF. These fractures were activated during the 2021 Tajogaite eruption, determining the NW-SE and WSW-ENE spatial distribution of vents. Both faults were mapped in real time during the volcanic eruption from fieldwork and remote sensing imagery (aerial drone images). We have collected more than 300 fracture data associated with the effusive vents and post-eruption seismic creep. Since the affected area was densely inhabited, most of these fractures affect houses and infrastructures. Some of the houses affected by the TZF were damaged 9 months after the eruption, although they were not damaged during the eruption. Surprisingly, these houses already had repairs made to the same fractures since 1980, giving information of previous fault creep movement. During the 2021 Tajogaite eruption, shallow seismicity was spatially related to both faults, suggesting a seismic behavior instead of the precedent creep movement. However, the lack of seismicity after the eruption indicates that the faults went back to creep aseismic behavior, similarly to 1980. The mapping and monitoring of these faults (TZF and MZF) is relevant bearing in mind that they have been active since 1980 and the post-eruptive phase of the 2021 volcanic eruption, which has to be included in the land use planning in areas affected by the volcanic eruption and creep movement. Furthermore, both faults could act as seismogenic sources triggering volcanic earthquakes with potential high macroseismic intensities and mass movements. The data presented here show the importance of having this type of study before the onset of the eruption, thus allowing a better interpretation of seismic data during volcanic unrest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Challenges in Seismic Hazard Assessment)
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29 pages, 7834 KiB  
Article
Statistical Insights on the Eruptive Activity at Stromboli Volcano (Italy) Recorded from 1879 to 2023
by Sonia Calvari and Giuseppe Nunnari
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(19), 4822; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15194822 - 4 Oct 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2406
Abstract
Stromboli is an open-conduit active volcano located in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea and is the easternmost island of the Aeolian Archipelago. It is known as “the lighthouse of the Mediterranean” for its continuous and mild Strombolian-type explosive activity, occurring at the summit craters. [...] Read more.
Stromboli is an open-conduit active volcano located in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea and is the easternmost island of the Aeolian Archipelago. It is known as “the lighthouse of the Mediterranean” for its continuous and mild Strombolian-type explosive activity, occurring at the summit craters. Sometimes the volcano undergoes more intense explosions, called “major explosions” if they affect just the summit above 500 m a.s.l. or “paroxysms” if the whole island is threatened. Effusive eruptions are less frequent, normally occurring every 3–5 years, and may be accompanied or preceded by landslides, crater collapses and tsunamis. Given the small size of the island (maximum diameter of 5 km, NE–SW) and the consequent proximity of the inhabited areas to the active craters (maximum distance 2.5 km), it is of paramount importance to use all available information to forecast the volcano’s eruptive activity. The availability of a detailed record of the volcano’s eruptive activity spanning some centuries has prompted evaluations on its possible short-term evolution. The aim of this paper is to present some statistical insights on the eruptive activity at Stromboli using a catalogue dating back to 1879 and reviewed for the events during the last two decades. Our results confirm the recent trend of a significant increase in major explosions, small lava flows and summit crater collapses at the volcano, and might help monitoring research institutions and stakeholders to evaluate volcanic hazards from eruptive activity at this and possibly other open-vent active basaltic volcanoes. Full article
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23 pages, 14047 KiB  
Article
Geochemistry and Petrology of the Bellecombe Lava Sequence, Enclos Fouqué Caldera, Piton de la Fournaise Volcano (Réunion, France)
by Gabriele Lanzafame, Alexander Bolam, Andrea Di Muro, Silvia Portale, Sandro Donato, Pascale Besson and Carmelo Ferlito
Minerals 2023, 13(6), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13060751 - 31 May 2023
Viewed by 2827
Abstract
Piton de la Fournaise is an active shield volcano located in the eastern area of the Réunion Island (Indian Ocean) whose activity is characterized by effusive and explosive episodes with the emission of scarcely differentiated magmas with mostly tholeiitic affinity. The presently active [...] Read more.
Piton de la Fournaise is an active shield volcano located in the eastern area of the Réunion Island (Indian Ocean) whose activity is characterized by effusive and explosive episodes with the emission of scarcely differentiated magmas with mostly tholeiitic affinity. The presently active edifice has grown within the Enclos Fouqué caldera, a polylobate plain bounded on its western side by the 80–200 m high Bellecombe vertical cliffs. This escarpment exposes a vertical sequence of 12 lava flows cut by a dike with an age > 5.5 kyrs. In this work, the Bellecombe products were investigated by X-ray fluorescence, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy, a Scanning Electron Microscope and X-ray computed microtomography in order to characterize the evolution over time of the magmatic system feeding the eruptive activity prior to the Enclos Fouqué caldera collapse. The results indicate that lava flows share a geochemical affinity with the two main series documented at Piton de la Fournaise, namely, Steady State Basalts (SSB) at the bottom and top of the sequence and Abnormal basalt Group (AbG) with different degrees of differentiation in the central part. The emission of these two different products in both a restricted area and timespan testifies to the dynamic activity of the plumbing system, capable of shifting rapidly from central to eccentric activity in the recent past. Full article
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