Episodic slow slip events and seaward flank motion at Mt. Etna volcano (Italy)

Abstract

Episodic aseismic slip events have recently been detected at a variety of tectonic and volcanic environments, sparking the curiosity of seismic and geodetic communities. Here, a sequence of 7 slow slip events occurring at Mt. Etna since mid-2009 has been analyzed. Observed displacement fields evidence that the sequence involves two contiguous sectors of the unstable eastern flank, delimited by the Timpe faults. The tectonic control played by these faults can also be recognized on the long-term (2003–2015) velocity field. Elastic modelling of the long-term velocity field infers a sub-horizontal plane slightly dipping eastward and located within the sedimentary basement at shallow depth. Slip distribution models for each slow-slip event highlight how the largest slip values were centred on the SE edge of the sub-horizontal plane during 4 events and on the NE edge during the remaining 3 ones. The recognized events do not appear correlated with volcanic activity, although there is a possible correlation between slow-slip events and inflating episodes of the volcano.