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A brief return to Stromboli, 10 August 2011
Following repeated episodes of more strongly explosive eruptions and emission of tiny lava flows in July and early August 2011, a strange phenomenon was observed on 9 August 2011 on the steep "Sciara del Fuoco" (the fire scree) on the northwest flank of Stromboli, a persistently active volcano in the Aeolian Islands north of Sicily. It looked a bit like a new, dark lava flow that had issued from a spot quite low down on the Sciara del Fuoco slope. Lava emission from that area would be cause for concern, especially since in these days Stromboli is being visited not only by the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, but also by many V.I.P.s, including Dolce & Gabbana and who knows else. Any unusual event at Stromboli is therefore seen with heightened apprehension and immediate action is demanded. This time it was me who happened to be available as a volcanologist at the INGV-Catania to investigate the phenomenon, together with my colleague Filippo. This allowed me to visit Stromboli for the first time since 2003 and experience the immensely charming feel of this lovely place, now quite crowded as mid-August is the acme of the Italian holiday season.
We did not spend much time on the island itself after our arrival (having left Catania at 05 h in the morning), but went out immediately with an inflatable of the Coast Guard to investigate the strange phenomenon on the Sciara del Fuoco. It turned out to be a little landslide, which in itself is not a dramatic event, but it testifies to the instability of the slope, where a major landslide on 30 December 2002 caused a destructive tsunami.
This photo was taken during our ride on the quite agitated sea around the northeastern side of Stromboli towards the Sciara del Fuoco, which lies behind the crest on the right side. The village along the coast is Stromboli village, which has approximately 450 regular inhabitants but currently hosts thousands of visitors. There is another, rather tiny, village on the opposite side of the island, Ginostra, with little more than 25 inhabitants.
A brief return to Stromboli, 10 August 2011
Following repeated episodes of more strongly explosive eruptions and emission of tiny lava flows in July and early August 2011, a strange phenomenon was observed on 9 August 2011 on the steep "Sciara del Fuoco" (the fire scree) on the northwest flank of Stromboli, a persistently active volcano in the Aeolian Islands north of Sicily. It looked a bit like a new, dark lava flow that had issued from a spot quite low down on the Sciara del Fuoco slope. Lava emission from that area would be cause for concern, especially since in these days Stromboli is being visited not only by the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, but also by many V.I.P.s, including Dolce & Gabbana and who knows else. Any unusual event at Stromboli is therefore seen with heightened apprehension and immediate action is demanded. This time it was me who happened to be available as a volcanologist at the INGV-Catania to investigate the phenomenon, together with my colleague Filippo. This allowed me to visit Stromboli for the first time since 2003 and experience the immensely charming feel of this lovely place, now quite crowded as mid-August is the acme of the Italian holiday season.
We did not spend much time on the island itself after our arrival (having left Catania at 05 h in the morning), but went out immediately with an inflatable of the Coast Guard to investigate the strange phenomenon on the Sciara del Fuoco. It turned out to be a little landslide, which in itself is not a dramatic event, but it testifies to the instability of the slope, where a major landslide on 30 December 2002 caused a destructive tsunami.
This photo was taken during our ride on the quite agitated sea around the northeastern side of Stromboli towards the Sciara del Fuoco, which lies behind the crest on the right side. The village along the coast is Stromboli village, which has approximately 450 regular inhabitants but currently hosts thousands of visitors. There is another, rather tiny, village on the opposite side of the island, Ginostra, with little more than 25 inhabitants.