etnaboris
Etna gives it another try (9 July 2011)
This time might be the right time.
After the first, aborted, attempt of making a paroxysm yesterday, today the activity at Etna's New Southeast Crater resumed, and is now steadily increasing, far beyond the levels reached yesterday.
This photo - sorry for the poor quality due to rather poor viewing conditions - was taken on the late forenoon of 9 July 2011 from my home in Trecastagni, on the southeast flank of Etna. It shows, at the center, the old Southeast Crater cone, and gas emission from the active vent - the New Southeast Crater - on its eastern flank (see note), where Strombolian activity is taking place since this morning. Just after 14 h local time (=GMT+2), the vent was filled to the rim with lava, and a small lava overflow occurred at the eastern lip of the crater, mimicking in precise detail the evolution of the previous paroxysms.
Yesterday I was convinced that Etna's fifth paroxysm of this year was to occur before day's end, but it did not happen. Today, I am quite convinced again - I just hope the full paroxysmal phase will happen no earlier than 20:00 h, because Catherine and Ida will have their flight to Paris leaving at 19:25 h, and it would be no good to have any volcanic ash interfering with it.
Stay tuned as things are continuing to evolve
Etna gives it another try (9 July 2011)
This time might be the right time.
After the first, aborted, attempt of making a paroxysm yesterday, today the activity at Etna's New Southeast Crater resumed, and is now steadily increasing, far beyond the levels reached yesterday.
This photo - sorry for the poor quality due to rather poor viewing conditions - was taken on the late forenoon of 9 July 2011 from my home in Trecastagni, on the southeast flank of Etna. It shows, at the center, the old Southeast Crater cone, and gas emission from the active vent - the New Southeast Crater - on its eastern flank (see note), where Strombolian activity is taking place since this morning. Just after 14 h local time (=GMT+2), the vent was filled to the rim with lava, and a small lava overflow occurred at the eastern lip of the crater, mimicking in precise detail the evolution of the previous paroxysms.
Yesterday I was convinced that Etna's fifth paroxysm of this year was to occur before day's end, but it did not happen. Today, I am quite convinced again - I just hope the full paroxysmal phase will happen no earlier than 20:00 h, because Catherine and Ida will have their flight to Paris leaving at 19:25 h, and it would be no good to have any volcanic ash interfering with it.
Stay tuned as things are continuing to evolve