Abstract
The geomorphological evolution of the volcanic Island of Stromboli (Italy) between July 2010 and June 2019 has been reconstructed by using multi-temporal, multi-platform remote sensing data. Digital elevation models (DEMs) from PLÉIADES-1 tri-stereo images and from Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) acquisitions allowed for topographic changes estimation. Data were comprised of high-spatial-resolution (QUICKBIRD) and moderate spatial resolution (SENTINEL-2) satellite images that allowed for the mapping of areas that were affected by major lithological and morphological changes. PLÉIADES tri-stereo and LiDAR DEMs have been quantitatively and qualitatively compared and, although there are artefacts in the smaller structures (e.g., ridges and valleys), there is still a clear consistency between the two DEMs for the larger structures (as the main valleys and ridges). The period between July 2010 and May 2012 showed only minor changes consisting of volcanoclastic sedimentation and some overflows outside the crater. Otherwise, between May 2012 and May 2017, large topographic changes occurred that were related to the emplacement of the 2014 lava flow in the NE part of the Sciara del Fuoco and to the accumulation of a volcaniclastic wedge in the central part of the Sciara del Fuoco. Between 2017 and 2019, minor changes were again detected due to small accumulation next to the crater terrace and the erosion in lower Sciara del Fuoco.
Highlights
Steep volcano flanks are geomorphological systems that are highly responsive to both exogenous dynamics and endogenous forcing [1]
The 2012 and 2010 Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Digital elevation models (DEMs) were used as reference data for coregistering the 2017 and 2019 PLÉIADES DEMs, respectively
This difference was due to the different areas that were selected for calculating root mean square (RMS) displacement that included almost the entire island with the exclusion of the Sciara del Fuoco (SdF)
Summary
Steep volcano flanks are geomorphological systems that are highly responsive to both exogenous dynamics and endogenous forcing [1]. While the external (gravitational) processes lead to a shift of material from steeper slopes to areas with lower gradients (erosion of loose deposits and rockfall of lavas/welded material), magmatic and tectonic activity can have either constructional (accumulation) or a destructive effects (triggering moderate to large-scale mass-wasting) [2]. The Sciara del Fuoco (SdF) depression on the island of Stromboli (Italy) was studied, as it is the optimal test-site for monitoring the effect of volcanic eruption on steep-slope volcano flank because (i) it is affected by persistent volcanic activity, (ii) it is prone to mass-wasting phenomena, and (iii) it is one of the best studied and, among all, most monitored volcano sites on Earth, providing exceptional validation data and ground-truth constraints. The results led to the identification of topographical variations and geomorphological processes that occurred in response to the variation in eruptive intensity
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