A2: Mount Etna (HIC) volcano case study

Summary

This presentation offers an in-depth case study of Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano located in Sicily, Italy. It covers the volcano's location, characteristics, tectonic setting, and volcanic activity. The script delves into Etna's documented eruption history, the impacts of its activity, and the management strategies in place. It also discusses the geological complexities, including the types of volcanoes and eruptions, and the protective measures taken to mitigate risks to the surrounding communities.

Takeaways

• 📍 Mount Etna is located in the northeastern part of Sicily, Italy, and is Europe's highest and most active volcano.
• 🌋 It covers an area of 1,250 km² and has a rich history of volcanic activity, with records dating back to 1500 BC.
• 🏙️ Mount Etna's slopes are home to 25% of Sicily's population, benefiting from the fertile soil and tourism opportunities provided by the volcano.
• 🔥 The volcano's tectonic setting involves the collision of the African and Eurasian plates, creating a destructive plate margin.
• 🌋 The type of volcanoes at Mount Etna include stratovolcanoes, calderas, and an old shield volcano, indicating a complex geological history.
• 🌋 Mount Etna's volcanic activity is primarily effusive, with lava flows being the main type of eruption, but it also experiences occasional Strombolian eruptions.
• 📈 Mount Etna has a well-documented history of eruptions, with a timeline provided from 1669 to 2013, highlighting significant eruptions and their impacts.
• 🏞️ The impacts of Mount Etna's volcanic activity are categorized into social, economic, and environmental effects, with a table summarizing recent activity and responses.
• 🛡️ Management of Mount Etna's volcanic activity involves protection measures such as diverting lava flows and monitoring techniques to predict eruptions.
• 🔍 Organizations like the Institute of National Geophysics and Volcanology in Catania monitor Mount Etna's activity, using methods like gas emissions measurement and earthquake detection.

Q & A

What is the significance of Mount Etna in terms of its location and characteristics?

Mount Etna is located in the northeastern part of Sicily, Italy, and is Europe's highest and most active volcano. It stands at a height of 3,310 meters and covers an area of 1,250 km². Its location is significant due to its proximity to Catania, the second largest city in Italy, and its impact on the surrounding region in terms of fertile soil, tourism, and climate.

What is the tectonic setting of Mount Etna and how does it influence the volcanic activity?

Mount Etna is situated at a destructive plate margin where the African and Eurasian continental plates collide. The African plate, being denser, subducts beneath the Eurasian plate, causing magma generation through partial melting and slab dehydration. This process leads to the formation of Mount Etna's volcanic activity.

What types of volcanoes are found at Mount Etna?

Mount Etna features a series of nested stratovolcanoes, also known as composite volcanoes. Additionally, there are somma calderas, which are collapsed craters, such as the Central Crater, Northeast Crater, and Southeast Crater. At the base of the volcano, there is an old shield volcano, indicating past rifting.

How is the volcanic activity of Mount Etna classified by volcanologists?

The volcanic activity at Mount Etna is predominantly effusive, characterized by lava flows onto the ground surface rather than explosive eruptions. However, there are occasional mild Strombolian eruptions with short lava flows from the summit craters.

What is the historical significance of Mount Etna's eruptions?

Mount Etna has the longest documented history of any volcano in the world, dating back to 1500 BC. Its eruptions have been continuously monitored and documented, providing valuable insights into volcanic activity and its impacts.

How does the population living on the slopes of Mount Etna benefit from the volcanic activity?

Approximately 25% of Sicily's population lives on the slopes of Mount Etna, benefiting from the rich fertile soil created by the volcanic activity, which supports agriculture, as well as the tourism industry attracted by the volcano's climate and volcanic activity.

What are some of the methods used to protect against the hazards of volcanic eruptions at Mount Etna?

Protection measures include digging trenches to divert lava, building barriers to protect against lava flow, and using explosives to disrupt and redirect lava flow. These methods aim to reduce the damage caused by eruptions and protect lives.

How is the volcanic activity at Mount Etna monitored and predicted?

Monitoring and prediction involve studying the volcano's history, measuring gas emissions and land swelling, and monitoring groundwater levels. Seismic activity is also measured to detect signs of magma movement, which can indicate an impending eruption.

What are the social, economic, and environmental impacts of Mount Etna's volcanic activity?

The impacts are categorized into social, economic, and environmental aspects. Social impacts include the threat to human life and displacement of populations. Economic impacts involve damage to infrastructure and agriculture. Environmental impacts encompass changes to the landscape and ecosystems due to volcanic activity.

How can the information from the timeline of Mount Etna's volcanic activity be used to enhance understanding and preparedness?

The timeline provides a detailed account of past eruptions and their impacts, which can help in identifying patterns, predicting future activity, and implementing appropriate protective measures to mitigate potential hazards.

What role does the Institute of National Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) play in monitoring Mount Etna?

The INGV has been monitoring Mount Etna for over 20 years, collecting data on eruptions, gas emissions, seismic activity, and other indicators. This information is crucial for understanding the volcano's behavior and for predicting and preparing for potential eruptions.

Outlines

00:00

🌋 Introduction to Mount Etna

This paragraph introduces Mount Etna, a volcano located in Sicily, Italy. It highlights its significance as Europe's highest and most active volcano, towering at 3,310 meters above sea level. The volcano's location near Catania, the second largest city in Italy, and its impact on the region's population and economy are discussed. The script emphasizes the benefits of volcanic activity, such as fertile soil and tourism, while also acknowledging the need for understanding its tectonic setting and volcanic activity. The paragraph sets the stage for a detailed exploration of Mount Etna's characteristics, history, and management.

05:00

🔍 Tectonic Setting and Volcanic Activity of Mount Etna

This section delves into the tectonic setting of Mount Etna, explaining its classification as a destructive plate margin due to the collision of the African and Eurasian plates. The African plate's subduction under the Eurasian plate triggers volcanic activity, leading to the formation of Mount Etna. The paragraph discusses the complex geological history of the volcano, including the presence of nested stratovolcanoes, calderas, and an old shield volcano. It also covers the types of volcanic eruptions observed at Mount Etna, predominantly effusive, with occasional strombolian eruptions. The importance of understanding these geological processes for effective volcanic management is emphasized.

10:02

📚 Historical Timeline and Impacts of Mount Etna's Eruptions

This paragraph focuses on the historical timeline of Mount Etna's volcanic activity and its impacts. It provides a detailed account of eruptions from 1669 to 2008, sourced from various textbooks, and encourages the reader to create a timeline in their notes. The timeline includes significant eruptions and their effects, such as the 1992 eruption and its impact on the town of Zafarana. The script also directs the reader to a website, Volcano Live, for information on more recent volcanic activity from 2009 to 2013. Additionally, a table summarizing recent activity impacts and responses is introduced, with instructions to color-code the impacts into social, economic, and environmental categories.

15:03

🛡️ Management and Protection Strategies for Mount Etna

The final paragraph discusses the management of Mount Etna's volcanic activity, emphasizing that while eruptions cannot be prevented, their impacts can be mitigated through protection and prediction. It outlines various strategies employed to protect against volcanic hazards, such as digging trenches to divert lava, building barriers, and using explosives to disrupt lava flow. The paragraph also highlights the importance of monitoring and prediction, including studying the volcano's history, measuring gas emissions, and monitoring earthquake activity. These methods help in identifying hazard areas and preparing for potential eruptions, ultimately aiming to reduce the damage and save lives.

Keywords

💡Mount Etna

Mount Etna is a volcano located in Sicily, Italy. It is Europe's highest and most active volcano, covering an area of 1,250 km squared. The volcano is central to the video's theme as it is the subject of the case study, focusing on its location, volcanic activity, and management. The script discusses its characteristics, tectonic setting, and the impacts of its eruptions.

💡Volcanic Eruption

A volcanic eruption is the release of molten rock, ash, and gases from a volcano. In the context of the video, Mount Etna's volcanic eruptions are a key focus, detailing the nature and history of its eruptions. The script mentions that Mount Etna has a long documented history of eruptions, with some being effusive and others being mild Strombolian.

💡Tectonic Setting

The tectonic setting refers to the geological environment and processes that influence the formation and activity of a volcano. Mount Etna is situated in a destructive plate margin, where the African and Eurasian plates collide. This collision causes subduction, leading to magma generation and volcanic activity, as explained in the script.

💡Stratovolcano

A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is characterized by its steep, conical shape and alternating layers of lava and ash. Mount Etna is primarily a stratovolcano, as mentioned in the script, with multiple nested structures indicating its complex geological history.

💡Magma

Magma is molten rock material found beneath the Earth's surface. It is the primary substance responsible for volcanic eruptions. The script discusses how magma generation and movement are central to Mount Etna's volcanic activity, with processes like partial melting and slab dehydration contributing to its eruptions.

💡Subduction

Subduction is a geological process where one tectonic plate moves under another and sinks into the mantle. The script explains that the subduction of the African plate under the Eurasian plate at Mount Etna's location is a key factor in its volcanic activity, leading to the release of water and magma generation.

💡Eruptive History

The eruptive history of a volcano refers to the timeline and details of its past eruptions. Mount Etna has one of the world's longest documented eruptive histories, dating back to 1500 BC. The video script provides a timeline of its volcanic activity and impacts, emphasizing the importance of continuous monitoring.

💡Impacts of Volcanic Activity

The impacts of volcanic activity can be social, economic, and environmental. The script discusses the various impacts of Mount Etna's eruptions, such as the destruction of tourist stations and the benefits of its fertile soil. It also mentions the need to categorize these impacts for a comprehensive understanding.

💡Management of Volcanic Activity

The management of volcanic activity involves strategies to predict and protect against volcanic hazards. The script outlines methods used at Mount Etna, such as digging trenches to divert lava, building barriers, and using explosives to disrupt lava flow. It also emphasizes the importance of monitoring and prediction in managing volcanic risks.

💡Volcano Monitoring

Volcano monitoring involves the continuous observation and measurement of a volcano's activity to predict eruptions and assess risks. The script mentions that the Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Catania has been monitoring Mount Etna for 20 years, using techniques like gas emission measurements and earthquake detection.

💡Destructive Plate Margin

A destructive plate margin is a tectonic boundary where two plates collide, with one being forced under the other in a process called subduction. Mount Etna is located at such a margin, where the African plate subducts under the Eurasian plate, leading to volcanic activity. The script discusses this process in detail, explaining its role in Mount Etna's eruptions.

Highlights

Mount Etna is Europe's most active and highest volcano, located in Sicily, Italy.

25% of Sicily's population lives on Mount Etna's slopes due to the benefits of rich soil and tourism.

Mount Etna has a long documented history of eruptions dating back to 1500 BC.

The volcano's tectonic setting is a destructive plate margin caused by the collision of the African and Eurasian plates.

Volcanologist debates exist on whether Mount Etna is linked to hotspots or a destructive plate margin.

Mount Etna's geological history is complex, featuring nested stratovolcanoes, calderas, and an old shield volcano.

Eruptions at Mount Etna are mostly effusive, with occasional mild Strombolian activity.

The African plate's subduction under the Eurasian plate leads to magma generation and volcanic activity.

Monitoring of Mount Etna includes geochemical and seismic activity to predict eruptions.

Efforts to protect against lava flows include digging trenches, building barriers, and using explosives.

The history of Mount Etna's eruptions from 1669 to 2013 is well documented and can be analyzed for patterns.

Volcano Live website provides recent updates on volcanic activity, including from 2009 to 2013.

A table summarizes recent activity impacts and responses, categorizing them into social, economic, and environmental.

Only 77 confirmed deaths can be attributed to Mount Etna's eruptions, showing the effectiveness of management strategies.

Management of volcanic eruptions includes protection measures and continuous monitoring to predict hazards.

The Institute of National Geophysics and Volcanology has monitored Mount Etna for 20 years, aiding in hazard prediction.

Gas emissions and land swelling are measured to help predict when new eruptions may occur.

Seismic activity is monitored to track magma movement and anticipate volcanic unrest.

Transcripts

hello and welcome to mount etner an MEC

case study of volcanic eruption by the

end of this presentation and the task

you complete you will have a good

detailed understanding of Mount 's

location characteristics its tectonic

setting including the nature of its

volcanic activity the timeline of its

eruptive history knowledge on the

impacts that this volcanic activity has

caused and you will have detailed

knowledge on how it's being managed

Mount Etna Towers above Catania the

second largest city in um

and it's Europe's highest volcano at a

height of

3,310 M is also its most active it

covers an area of 1,250 km squared and

this is in the northeastern part of

Sicily in Italy as shown on the diagram

in the right hand corner um it's one of

the world's longest documented records

of eruptions which dates back to 1500 BC

and we're looking at it as it's a case

study where 25% of cis's population live

on its slapes due to the benefits that

volcanism actually provide such as the

rich fertile soil and also tourism and

lots of people go to visit due to its

climate but also due to the volcanic

activity that they can observe there

okay so this page and what I've just

talked about gives you the location

characteristics make sure that you've

made a note of these into your own

notes the next thing to consider is the

nature of mount's volcanic activity the

type of plate margin is considered to be

destructive plate marging but it does

have a very um detailed history and

there has been Continental riting some

volcanologist have linked it to hotpots

um some have linked it to destructive

plate margin according to your Chief

examiner David Redford and the textbooks

we are going to learn that it is a

destructive plate margin and this is

caused by the Collision of the African

and uran continental plates so I know

previously I've taught you that where

two Collis uh continental plates collide

we get F mountains in this case where

the African plate meets the Eurasian

plate the African plate is more denser

and acts like the oceanic plate does and

it subducts as it subducts the normal

processes of magma generation partial

melting slab dehydration that happens

causing magma to then rise to the

surface and form the volcano of Mount

Etna because of its geological history

and how complex it is the type of

volcano well there are a few different

varieties on kind of on top of each

other so a series of nested Strat

volcanoes or composite volcanoes um are

the main type of volcano but on the

sides of these volcanoes we have got

somit calderas so in past there have

been um secondary volcanoes where the

gas has got um contained within been

very explosive has erupted and then

cause um the sides of the volcano to

collapse so there is a um Central crat

a Northeast crater and a Southeast

crater and these are collapsed craters

so the Sumit

ceras if we look even further at the

base of the volcano we have an old

shield volcano and that links to um

rifting in the past okay so if when

we're talking about the type of volcano

that etner is you you start with the

idea that it's straty volcanoes you've

got the Sumit ceras where we get some

explosive activity and then we've got

this old shield volcano on the base to

add to that on the lower sides of the

volcano there are some fishes where

magma is able to ooze out effusively so

nice and gent lava flows down the slopes

and that is bastic

magma the type of magma and volcanic

activity okay because of the range of

volcanic shapes we have we've got a

range of volcanic eruptions so

volcanologists have classified the

eruptions as mostly effusive so lava

flowing onto the ground surface rather

than exploding to the air this is B IC

it flows for quite far distances hence

where it can be quite dangerous to the

towns people of Catania that live on the

slopes but also the eruptions are

occasionally Mild strombolian they have

short lava flows and they occur on the

Summits from these uh ceras so the

central the Northeast and the southeast

okay so and then on our lower flanks

where we get these fishes and the lava

flows sometimes Cinder volcanoes can be

constructed over the top of the vents

please make sure that you read and

listened through this information and

that you have notes in your own notes on

the nature of M's

volcanism what you have here is a

diagram showing this generalized

tectonic activity involved in the

formation of Mount Etna so you can see

that we've got the island of Sicily in

the center with Mount Etna being shown

using the symbol of a triangle like any

map will show you normally and you can

see that the Eurasian plate is acting

like the continental plate and the

African plate is acting like the oceanic

plate and is

subducting the text there the slab

window that is demonstrating where you

have got dehydration mounting so as the

African plate subducts underneath the

Eurasian plate the water contained

within the that plate is released and

that lowers the melting temperature

of the mantle and of that plate and as a

result you get partial melting so that's

where some minerals in that plate are

released and they are less dense than

the surrounding magma of the mantle so

they rise Under Pressure up underneath

Sicily they force their way up and

that's the magma that is producing the

volcanoes and the volcano types

discussed previously so the principles

that you would use to describe the

action at this tectonic plate are

basically the same as what we have done

before when we've looked at destructive

plate margin it is acting like an

oceanic to Continental destructive plate

your task is please draw a copy of this

diagram into your notes and then

describe and explain the process of

subduction at this plate margin as I've

just talked you through and then lead

this on to how it is actually forming

the tectonic volcanic activity at the

Mount Etna so how are we getting

composite volcanoes from

this okay so Mount etner has the longest

documented history of any volcano in the

world what we're going to do is we're

starting at

1669 and we're going to go right up to

2013 now the page that you can see in

front of you is a timeline of Mount

nea's volcanic activity and its impacts

from 16 69 to 2008 this has come from a

whole source of different textbooks

mostly those written by your Chief

examiner what I'd like you to do is read

through this timeline and make a copy of

it into your own notes and what it gives

you is details about the year and

actually what happened and some impacts

that the activity caused okay leave room

for year 2009 to

2013 which will be a website task I'm

going to direct to into the next slide

okay okay so make sure you do get all

this detail down um into your notes

because Mount enner is not just one

eruption it is a series eruption and

that's why it's very important that it

is monitored so it links to this case

study of continuous monitoring okay once

you've completed the this timeline part

here the next slide will give you

instructions for how to add it up to

2013 okay so having got up to 2008 in

your timeline already this website

called Volcano live gives you lots of

information about lots of different

volcanoes what I've put in there for you

is man etner and you can track back for

as well very very far in regards to the

activity but what I want you to focus on

is from 2019 to 2013 so read through the

information about the tectonic activity

and add it to your copy of the

timeline Okay so so far we've done

location characteristics we've done the

nature of the eruption and we've done

the timeline the next page kind of links

the timeline to the impact so I provided

you with a table summarizing recent

activity impacts and responses to man

Etna what you want you to do is make a

copy of the table into notes and then

use a key to color code the impacts into

social economic and environmental there

are other ways to be synoptic with um

impacts but for this case study can you

just color code them into these three CR

criteria so make a copy of the table use

free colors and color code the impacts

into social economic and

environmental this is the table I was

talking about okay so you got four

columns make a nice neat copy you'll see

that there is some information around

the table that is not included please

add that in so the

22203 lava flows destroy the tourist

stations comment if you can add that

into the October 2002 box

the comment at the bottom is estimate

that only 77 confirmed deaths can be

attributed to eruptions um you can leave

that separate or you could add an extra

row on the top and put it as

1979 okay but please make sure you have

a copy of this and you have colorcoded

into social economic and

environmental okay so we're moving on to

management a volcanic eruption Cann not

be prevented but we can protect against

the hazards to some degree and we can

predict if an eruption is going to

happen it's not an exact science though

so although we might be able to predict

an eruption is H going to happen we

cannot give an exact time for it and

sometimes eruption activity will die

down okay but we cannot prevent it

because we can protect and predict it

there places such as man Etna which

experience frequent eruptions we can put

in actions into place to reduce the

damage that it will cause and to save

people's lives so on the next two pages

is a summary of the ways in which people

and organizations are protected and

protected the volcanic of Mount Etna

basically I want you to read through it

and I want you to copy this information

to your notes so you have a good

detailed summary on what the

organizations and people are doing along

the slopes of man Etna in the

settlements surrounding man Etna to

protect themselves and to predict if an

eruption is going to

happen so first of all we have

protection so from from your lesson a

general lesson on how we manage the

nature of eruptions the impacts

protection means preparing for the event

by modifying the human and built

environments to decrease vulnerability

okay so how at risk people are um if

they're older if they're close to an

eruption that refers to vulnerability

but protection also includes attempts to

modify the loss by insurance and Aid

also it involves everyone from individ

of Civil Authorities so I've taken three

key areas for protection for Mount Etna

and what they've done so number one is

dig trenches to divert lava in 1669 the

town's people of Catania dug a tunnel to

divert the lava away from their homes

this was successful however it did

divert the lava to another town further

down the slopes so in the short term of

successful for Catania but for the town

that then got subsequently inundated

with lava it was was a disaster number

two build barriers to divert lava flow

an earth barrier of 750,000 cubic M was

built across the southern end of the Val

debove area above the Eastern crater in

1991 this was done to protect the town

of zafarana this was a temporary measure

whilst they put in other protective

measures El um elsewhere but in Spring

of

1992 this and the smaller barriers that

led down into Valley of zafrana were

over popped so it it helped for a short

period of time but they then had to put

other methods um into action which I'll

talk about in a moment they also use

this technique um in 2002 where they

built dams of soil and volcanic rock um

at the base of the at the tourist base

at ruio sapan and helped to divert the

flow okay so this method of building

barriers to divert and protect against

lava flow has been used on two occasions

with some temporary

success explosive activity to try and

divert lava flow is number three on the

23rd of May

1992 following the um over topping of

the barriers that have been built

explosives were used near the source of

the lava flow to disrupt it and to

redirect it so a lava tube system is

where the top covers over it hardens and

that keeps the heat inside the tube so

that the magma inside it moves at faster

rate so the explosions were used to

break up that lava tube system expose it

to the atmosphere and cool the lava down

to slow it um this forced lava into a

new artificial Channel as they were able

to then divert it and that took the lava

away from zafarana okay so that was a

successful um method they

used prediction or monitoring prediction

are methods used to identify whether a

hazard will occur so number one study

the history of the volcano so the

Catania section of the Institute of

national g and Fisco e volcania ining GV

a mouthful I know um has monitored the

volcano for 20 years so they have a long

detailed history of the eruption

activity of the volcano from this they

can identify um Hazard areas they can

look at previous flows and they can work

out what areas are at risk

number two is to measure gas emissions

land swelling and groundwater levels so

geochemical monitoring programs at Mount

Etna test the gas the fluid emissions to

help predict when new eruptions are

going to happen and if dangerous

emissions are being um emitted so the

levels have increased the sulfur dioxide

plume flux that occurs from the stomach

craters is routinely measured by a

technique called correlation

spectrometry and this happens from a

ground vehicle and from a helicopter

these are are methods that you will have

learned about in the general lesson on

excuse me how we protect and predict and

prevent number three measure the shock

waves generated by magma traveling

upwards so earthquakes can occur from

tectonic activity where plates move

apart move towards each other and

friction builds up but they can also

occur due to magmatic activity where

magma is moving up through the magma

chamber up the vent and as a result if

we can um they will compress the rock

around them causing Tremors

soeters the um technique used to measure

earthquakes are used around Mount slopes

to measure earthquake activity from

magma moving into the vent and forc its

way

upwards make sure that you have all

these detailed points about Mount Etna

in your

notes so having completed this

presentation and the tasks outlined and

talked to you about you should arrive at

next lesson with the following knowledge

and understanding about Mount

you should be able to tell me about it

location characteristics including where

it's located the percentage of people

that live on its

slopes you then should be able to tell

me about the nature of Mount E's

volcanic activity this includes the type

of plate margin it is on the type of

volcanoes and the complex geological

history that caused the activity

associated with it you should have

detailed knowledge on the timeline of

its volcanic activity especially in

recent years highlights to consider are

19 1992 eruption and the 2002

eruption number four you should have a

general understanding and a

categorization of the impacts of Mount

ent's volcanic activity and number five

you should have knowledge and

understanding on the management of Mount

ent's volcanic activity in terms of

prediction and

protection okay I look forward to seeing

you in the next lesson