Etna Area Research Articles

Technological study of “ghiara” mortars from the historical city centre of Catania (Eastern Sicily, Italy) and petro-chemical characterisation of raw materials

This paper presents new petro-chemical data on some typical mortars found in many buildings in the historic city centre of Catania (Eastern Sicily). Extensively used in the architecture of the city from the second half of the nineteenth century until the mid-twentieth century, these mortars are characterised by a particular aggregate locally known as “agghiara” or “ghiara”. This is the product of thermal transformation induced by the heating undergone by palaeo-soils, originally rich in organic matter, covered by lava flows, which change their colour to reddish nuances. The volcanic origin of ghiara is a peculiar feature of the Etnean area. Mixed with lime, it gives to mortars an intense reddish colour, as well as hydraulic properties, which are comparable with those of the historically used pozzolana. This work aimed at complete characterisation of these ghiara mortars, for providing information on several important technological aspects. In order to get information on used raw materials, sampling of some ancient underground quarries, located both in the historic city centre and at the periphery, was also performed. Results led to the complete characterisation of the selected ghiara mortars and yielded information on some technological features and the composition of both newly formed and secondary phases, these latter due to alteration processes. The hydraulic properties of mortars have been related to the occurrence of amorphous phases within the ghiara aggregate, which were identified by means of SEM morphological observations. These phases, formed during the “firing” process of palaeo-soils, react with lime producing hydraulic compounds (C–S–H and C–A–H), which are responsible for the mortars durability.

The attenuation of seismic intensity in the Etna region and comparison with other Italian volcanic districts

A detailed analysis of the intensity attenuation in the Etna and other Italian volcanic districts, was performed using the most recent and complete intensity datasets. Attenuation laws were derived through empirical models fitting ∆I (the difference between epicentral I0 and site Ix intensities) average values versus hypocentral site distances by the least-square method. The huge amount of data available for the Etna area allowed us to elaborate bi-linear and log- arithmic attenuation models, also taking source effects into account. Furthermore, the coefficients of the Grandori formulation have been re-calculated to verify the ones previously defined for seismic hazard purposes. Among the tested relationships, the logarithmic one is simple and fairly stable, so it was also adopted for the other volcanic Italian areas. The analysis showed different attenuation trends: on the one hand, Etna and Ischia show the highest decay of intensity (∆I= 4) in the first 20 km; on the contrary, the Aeolian Islands and Albani Hills present a slight intensity attenuation (∆I= 2) at 20 km from the hypocentre; finally, Vesuvius seems to have an intermediate be- haviour between the two groups. The proposed regionalization gives a significantly better image of near-field damage in volcanic regions and is easily applicable to probabilistic seismic hazard analyses.

Imaging multipole gravity anomaly sources by 3D probability tomography

We present a generalized theory of the probability tomography applied to the gravity method, assuming that any Bouguer anomaly data set can be caused by a discrete number of monopoles, dipoles, quadrupoles and octopoles. These elementary sources are used to characterize, in an as detailed as possible way and without any a priori assumption, the shape and position of the most probable minimum structure of the gravity sources compatible with the observed data set, by picking out the location of their centres and peculiar points of their boundaries related to faces, edges and vertices. A few synthetic examples using simple geometries are discussed in order to demonstrate the notably enhanced resolution power of the new approach, compared with a previous formulation that used only monopoles and dipoles. A field example related to a gravity survey carried out in the volcanic area of Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy) is presented, aimed at imaging the geometry of the minimum gravity structure down to 8 km of depth bsl.

Continuous/discrete geochemical monitoring of CO2 natural analogues and of Diffuse Degassing Structures (DDS): Hints for CO2 storage sites geochemical monitoring protocol

Italy is one of the most promising prone areas to study the CO2 behavior underground, the caprock integrity to the CO2 leakage, mostly in presence of pervious/geochemically active faults, due to a wide availability of CO2 rich reservoirs at a depth between 1 and 10 km, as highlighted by recent literature. These deep CO2 reservoirs generate at least 200 leakage areas at surface throughout Italy which have been defined “Diffuse Degassing Structures” (DDS) by INGV. These are widely studied by INGV institutionally by a long term convention with the Civil Protection Department (DPC) with the aim to catalog, monitor and assess the Natural Gas Hazard (NGH, namely the probability of an area to become a site of poisonous peri-volcanic gas exhalation from soils). More than 150 researcher of INGV are involved in monitoring areas affected by the CO2 presence underground and at surface, by continuous monitoring on-line networks (around 40 stations throughout Italy, including the Etna area, Aeolian Islands, Umbria region, Piemonte region, etc.) and discretely (9 groups of research were involved in the last years to localize, define and monitor almost all the DDSs in Italy), by sampling and analyzing chemical and isotopic compounds, useful to discriminate the origin, evolution and natural gas hazards of the examined DDS. In this paper, we will discuss some DDS catalogued and studied by a Rome INGV Research Unit (UR 11) which focused its work in Central Italy, throughout different DDS, also in relation to the diverse seismotectonic settings, to discover buried faults as possible gas leakage pathways, mostly if they are “geochemically” activated. In particular we discuss, among the discrete monitoring techniques exploited by INGV, soil gas surveying, which consists in a collection of gas samples from the soil zone not saturated (dry zone) to measure the geogas gaseous species both in fluxes (CO2, CH4, 222Rn) and in concentration (He, H2, H2S, helium, hydrogen, CO2, CH4, 222Rn), that permeate the soil pores. The total CO2 flux budget was calculated as “baseline” degassing rate of these “ CO2 analogues”. A good discrete areal monitoring is prerequisite to design sound continuous monitoring network to monitor CO2 related parameters in liquid/gas phases, to review the protocol of the Annex II of the European Directivity on CCS.

Correlation between the dynamics of the Hyblean Foreland and Etnean volcanism

Abstract The Hyblean Foreland (South Eastern Sicily) represents the northern extremity of the African Plate in collision with the Euro-Asiatic one. It is mainly made up of quite thick carbonate formations and volcanic units, which are in subduction under the Tertiary allochthonic terrains and Quaternary clays, on which the volcano Etna is formed. In the recent past, researchers have analysed both the historical and instrumental seismicity of the Hyblean Foreland as a phenomenon independent of the dynamics to which Etna is prone; in fact, it was presumed that the particular seismic style of the Hyblean area, characterised by large releases of seismic energy in a brief time span after centuries of relative quiescence, was only related to the dynamics of plate-tectonics in the Mediterranean area. The detailed analyses and the results obtained in this study, based on the instrumental seismicity of the Hyblean area between 1983 and 2002, partially modify this point of view. Although the current convergence between the African and Euro-Asiatic plates does play a significant role in the tectonic activity of south-eastern Sicily, the authors believe that the behaviour of the mantle under Mt Etna does seem to have a controlling influence on the seismicity of the area under study. In particular, on comparing the development between the eruptive activity of Etna and the seismic energy of the Hyblean Foreland in the period between 1983 and 2002, the b -value trend and the characteristics of the stress field in the period 1994–2002, the authors deduce that the rising of the mantle in the Etnean area may have disturbed the stress distribution in the Hyblean area. The modifications produced in the stress field trigger earthquakes of a higher magnitude in the areas near the volcanic one. Finally, it is hypothesised that the disastrous seismic phenomena of the last 1000 years have been set off by the interaction between the local dynamics of the mantle and the regional dynamics associated to the plate-tectonics.

Geochemical variations of air‐free crater fumaroles at Mt Etna: New inferences for forecasting shallow volcanic activity

We investigated the gas geochemistry of fumaroles close to the Voragine crater of Mt Etna that have a temperature of 90–95°C, are CO2‐dominated, and have an air content as low as <1%. This is the first report of the monitoring of such air‐free fumaroles at the Etnean crater area—previous studies indicated an air contribution of 70% or more. The helium and carbon isotopes (Rc/Ra = 6.5 ± 0.4, δ13CCO2 = −1.7 ± 0.5‰) suggest that the released gas is directly related to the magmatic degassing. The fumaroles were sampled 12 times between June 2007 and June 2008, which revealed an increase in Rc/Ra from 6.1 to 6.9 that can be related to the increasing volcanic activity at the summit area of Mt Etna. These fumaroles offer a new tool for detecting magmatic processes (magma ascent, refilling, degassing, etc.), and will be useful for volcano surveillance.

Hazards from pyroclastic density currents at Mt. Etna (Italy)

Despite the recent recognition of Mount Etna as a periodically violently explosive volcano, the hazards from various types of pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) have until now received virtually no attention at this volcano. Large-scale pyroclastic flows last occurred during the caldera-forming Ellittico eruptions, 15–16 ka ago, and the risk of them occurring in the near future is negligible. However, minor PDCs can affect much of the summit area and portions of the upper flanks of the volcano. During the past ~ 20 years, small pyroclastic flows or base-surge-like vapor and ash clouds have occurred in at least 8 cases during summit eruptions of Etna. Four different mechanisms of PDC generation have been identified during these events: (1) collapse of pyroclastic fountains (as in 2000 and possibly in 1986); (2) phreatomagmatic explosions resulting from mixing of lava with wet rock (2006); (3) phreatomagmatic explosions resulting from mixing of lava with thick snow (2007); (4) disintegration of the unstable flanks of a lava dome-like structure growing over the rim of one of the summit craters (1999). All of these recent PDCs were of a rather minor extent (maximum runout lengths were about 1.5 km in November 2006 and March 2007) and thus they represented no threat for populated areas and human property around the volcano. Yet, events of this type pose a significant threat to the lives of people visiting the summit area of Etna, and areas in a radius of 2 km from the summit craters should be off-limits anytime an event capable of producing similar PDCs occurs. The most likely source of further PDCs in the near future is the Southeast Crater, the youngest, most active and most unstable of the four summit craters of Etna, where 6 of the 8 documented recent PDCs originated. It is likely that similar hazards exist in a number of volcanic settings elsewhere, especially at snow- or glacier-covered volcanoes and on volcano slopes strongly affected by hydrothermal alteration.

Evidence for ground motion polarization on fault zones of Mount Etna volcano

During local and regional earthquakes, an evident amplification of horizontal ground motion is observed at two seismological stations near the Tremestieri fault, on the southeastern flank of Mount Etna volcano. Rotated component spectral ratios show a narrow spectral peak around 4 Hz along a N40°E direction. A conventional polarization analysis using the eigenvectors of the covariance matrix confirms the very stable directional effect enhancing the approximately NE–SW elongation of the horizontal ground motion in the fault zone. The effect is evident during the entire seismogram and independent of source back azimuth as well as distance and depth of earthquakes. The same polarization is observed in ambient noise as well. This consistency allowed us to use microtremors for checking ground motion polarization along and across the Tremestieri fault zone with a high spatial resolution. The result is a stable polarization of horizontal motion in the entire area that can be observed in a broad frequency band. To check whether this ground motion property is recurrent and to understand a possible relationship with fault strike, faulting style, or orientation of fractures, ambient noise was recorded on other mapped faults of the Mount Etna area, the Moscarello, Acicatena, and Pernicana faults. The latter, in particular, is characterized by different strike and faulting style. A systematic tendency of ambient noise to be polarized is found in all of the faults. A picture emerges where normal faults of the eastern flank show an E–W to NE–SW polarization that changes on the Pernicana fault, which develops approximately E–W and is characterized by a prevailing NW–SE to N–S polarization. Directions of polarization were never parallel to the fault strike. Moreover, polarization persists too far away from the fault trace, excluding an effect limited to a narrow low‐velocity zone hosted between harder wall rocks. Both these observations rule out an interpretation in terms of fault‐trapped waves. The cause of observed polarizations will be the subject of future studies. However, the consistency with recent results of velocity anisotropy in a part of the investigated area suggests a possible role of attenuation anisotropy on horizontal amplitude variations versus azimuth.

First historical evidence of a significant Mt. Etna eruption in 1224

The 1224 Mt. Etna eruption is a significant event both in terms of the mass of erupted materials and because it involved the lower eastern slope of the volcano, reaching down to the sea. Nevertheless, it is unknown to current historical catalogues. According to the historical sources, only two other lava flows actually reached as far as the sea: in 396 BC, just north of the present-day inhabited area of Acireale, according to the geological data alone, and in 1669, when the lava covered the south-eastern flank of Mt. Etna and damaged Catania. We present and discuss the two medieval sources that attest to the eruption of 1224 and make available the original texts. Furthermore, through the close analysis of the historical and topographic context of the Etna area, taking account of the roads and ports in the early 13th century, we have tried to single out the possible area of the lava's outlet into the sea in 1224 on historical grounds. A repeat of an eruption similar to that of 1224 would have a serious impact today as the coast is densely populated.

Fisher information measure of temporal fluctuations in satellite advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) thermal signals recorded in the volcanic area of Etna (Italy)

The time dynamics of long-term time series of satellite thermal signal, measured at Mount Etna, has been investigated. The signal has been analyzed by means of a recently proposed multi-temporal and robust technique (RST), which has already shown to be better capable to detect and monitor volcanic hotspots, compared to traditional satellite approaches. The temporal fluctuations of the thermal signal detected by RST over a long series (1995–2006) of advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) satellite data, have been investigated by means of the Fisher information measure, which is a powerful tool to investigate complex and nonstationary signals. The preliminary obtained results indicate that the proposed nonlinear approach can be used to dynamically characterize the volcanic phenomena and to recognize possible pre-eruptive temporal patterns.

DEFINIZIONE DI UN METODO DI VERIFICA PER FORZE SISMICHE COMPLANARI ALLE PARETI DI EDIFICI AGRICOLI TRADIZIONALI

In this paper a method for the seismic safety verification for in-plane actions, was applied for the analysis of building walls of traditional rural buildings of the Etna area, made of lava stones. The behaviour of some wall typologies of these buildings were analyzed in dependence of several geometric and resistance characteristics. The results are presented as diagrams that, by relating seismic force with wall width and thickness, could be a useful tool to perform a preliminary verification of this walls and to support wall design for the same typology of buildings.

Environmental impact of magmatic fluorine emission in the Mt. Etna area

The sustained and uninterrupted plume degassing at Mount Etna volcano, Southern Italy, represents the troposphere's most prominent natural source of fluorine. Of the ∼ 200 Mg of fluorine (as HF g) emitted daily by the volcano, 1.6 ± 2.7 Mg are deposited by wet and dry deposition. Fluorine-deposition via volcanic ash, here characterised for the first time, can be quite significant during volcanic eruptions (i.e. 60 Mg of fluorine were deposited during the 2001 eruption through volcanic ash, corresponding to ∼ 85% of the total fluorine deposition). Despite the fact that these depositions are huge, the fate of the deposited fluorine and its impact on the environment are poorly understood. We herein present original data on fluorine abundance in vegetation ( Castanea Sativa and P inus Nigra) and andosoils from the volcano's flank, in the attempt to reveal the potential impact of volcanogenic fluorine emissions. Fluorine contents in chestnut leaves and pine needles are in the range 1.8–35 μg/g and 2.1–74 μg/g respectively; they exceed the typical background concentrations in plants growing in rural areas, but fall within the lower range of typical concentrations in plants growing near high fluorine anthropogenic emission sources. The rare plume fumigations on the lower flanks of Mt Etna (distance > 4 km from summit craters) are probably the cause of the “undisturbed” nature of Etnean vegetation: climatic conditions, which limit the growth of vegetation on the upper regione deserta, are a natural limit to the development of more severe impacts. High fluorine contents, associated with visible symptoms, were only measured in pine needles at three sites, located near recently-active (2001 to 2003) lateral eruptive fractures. Total fluorine contents ( F TOT) in the Etnean soils have a range of 112–341 μg/g, and fall within the typical range of undisturbed soils; fluorine extracted with distilled water ( F H2O) have a range of 5.1 to 61 μg/g and accounts for 2–40% of F TOT. F H2O is higher in topsoils from the eastern flank (downwind), while it decreases with depth in soil profiles and on increasing soil grain size (thereby testifying to its association with clay–mineral-rich, fine soil fractions). The fluorine adsorption capacity of the andosoils acts as a natural barrier that protects the groundwater system.

Removal of manganese from water supplies intended for human consumption: a case study

In the Volcano Etna area (Sicily) a substantial part of groundwater, used for potable purpose, has concentrations of metals (vanadium, iron and manganese) higher than the maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) set by European and National regulations (European Directive 98/83 and D.Lgs. 31/2001). Specifically, high levels of manganese, up to 1810 μg/l, significantly exceeding the maximum contaminant level (MCL = 50 μg/l), were detected in groundwaters currently used as drinking water supply upwelled from the Etna Volcano aquifer. The paper presents the results of the manganese removal process by potassium permanganate oxidation followed by flocculation, settling and filtration. Batch tests were carried out varying pH, oxidant doses and polyelectrolytes. Two different filters (35 μm and 0.45 μm mesh) were tested as a final step of the treatment. Significant removal (up to 95%) was achieved by addition of polyelectrolytes at pH 8.5, with a 0.5 stoichiometric dose of oxidant and final filtration through 35 μm mesh filter.

Intrusive mechanism of the 2002 NE-rift eruption at Mt Etna (Italy) modelled using GPS and gravity data

SUMMARY Microgravity and GPS data collected at Mt Etna during a 1-yr time interval encompassing the 2002 NE-rift eruption are analysed. The common GPS-gravity profile traverses the summit area of Mt Etna, between the summit craters (about 3000 m) and the northernmost tip of the eruptive fractures (2500 m). Displacements (up to 2 m in both the horizontal and vertical directions) and gravity variations (up to 350 μGal, after having removed the effect of elevation changes) observed during this period are among the largest ever recorded at Etna. Displacements and gravity changes have been modelled separately, assuming a magma influx from the summit feeder pipe to the NE-rift. Models obtained through surface deformation data partially overlap with those explaining the gravity data but in general are narrower and extend to a greater depth. The discrepancies found between gravity and deformation models are significant and can be regarded as due to the different structural features encountered by the intruding magma during its downslope propagation along the NE-rift. In particular, on the grounds of our result, we infer that both the eastward sliding of the east flank of the volcano and the curved shape of the NE-rift influenced the 2002 intrusive process.

Continuous soil radon monitoring during the July 2006 Etna eruption

Continuous soil radon monitoring was carried out near the Southeast Crater (SEC) of Mt. Etna during the 10‐day July 2006 Strombolian‐effusive eruption. This signal was compared with simultaneously acquired volcanic tremor and thermal radiance data. The onset of explosive activity and a lava fountaining episode were preceded by some hours with increases in radon soil emission by 4–5 orders of magnitude, which we interpret as precursors. Minor changes in eruptive behavior did not produce significant variations in the monitored parameters. The remarkably high radon concentrations we observed are unprecedented in the literature. We interpret peaks in radon activity as due primarily to microfracturing of uranium‐bearing rock. These observations suggest that radon measurements in the summit area of Etna are strongly controlled by the state of stress within the volcano and demonstrate the usefulness of radon data acquisition before and during eruptions.

Lost tsunami

Numerical simulations support the occurrence of a catastrophic tsunami impacting all of the eastern Mediterranean in early Holocene. The tsunami was triggered by a debris avalanche from Mt. Etna (Sicily, Italy) which entered the Ionian Sea in the order of minutes. Simulations show that the resulting tsunami waves were able to destabilize soft marine sediments across the Ionian Sea floor. This generated the well‐known, sporadically located, “homogenite” deposits of the Ionian Sea, and the widespread megaturbidite deposits of the Ionian and Sirte Abyssal Plains. It is possible that, ∼8 ka B.P., the Neolithic village of Atlit‐Yam (Israel) was abandoned because of impact by the same Etna tsunami. Two other Pleistocenic megaturbidite deposits of the Ionian Sea can be explained by previous sector collapses from the Etna area.

Dynamics of the eastern flank of Mt. Etna volcano (Italy) investigated by a dense GPS network

Mount Etna has developed at the intersection of two regional tectonic lineaments, the NNW–SSE trending Hybleo–Maltese escarpment, which separates the thick inland continental crust of the African platform from the Ionian Mesozoic oceanic crust, and the NE–SW Messina–Fiumefreddo fault that marks a rift zone between south Calabria and north-eastern Sicily, extending as far as the Mt. Etna area. All tectonic features affect, with outstanding surface features, the eastern side of the volcano. The eastern flank of the volcano is affected by a long-term motion toward ESE. In 1997, in order to increase the detail of the ground deformation pattern on the lower eastern flank of Mt. Etna, a new GPS network, the “Ionica” network, was installed on this sector of the volcano. This GPS network consists of 24 stations and covers the lower eastern flank of the volcano from the town of Catania to Taormina and from the coastline up to an altitude of about 1300 m. All the new stations consist in self-centring benchmarks; this kind of benchmark allows all station set-up errors to be avoided. Before the merging of the Ionica network to the frame of the global GPS network of Mt. Etna (in June 2001), three surveys were carried out on this network: in September 1997, August 1998 and January 2001. From the ground deformation pattern, it is possible to distinguish two different sectors, showing different characteristics of deformation. The southern part of the network shows a more uniform distribution of the vertical motion with a mean SE-ward horizontal component while the northern one shows an heterogeneous vertical motion with a ESE-ward horizontal component. Furthermore, a higher velocity is detected between 1997 and 1998, due to the additional stress induced by a shallow intrusion on the NW flank of the volcano. The model resulting from data inversions defines a wide sliding plane beneath the entire eastern flank of the volcano with a low dip angle. The expected velocity vectors fit well the observed ones, even if the measured velocities are still quite higher than expected, at lowermost stations. The vertical inclination of the velocity vectors measured during the 1998–2001 period, gradually decreases from West to East suggesting a sort of rotational movement of the south-eastern flank, interrupted by some anomalous vectors on the lower part, that show higher vertical velocities. These anomalies, being located on a wedge defined by the intersection of the main NNW–SSE and NE–SW fault systems and near the Timpe faults, are probably due to the activity of the vertical faults cutting the lower eastern flank of Mt. Etna. Stations lying on the hanging wall and on the footwall of the Timpe fault system are affected by similar horizontal displacements, meaning that these structures are moving eastwards together with the sliding flank; this evidence suggests that the Timpe faults are probably second order structures, with respect to the detachment surface. These results depict a structural framework of the eastern flank of Mt. Etna in which the low angle dislocation can be considered as a first order approximation of an actual listric plane and the current active part of the Timpe fault system is confined above the detachment surface.

Volcanism and mantle–crust evolution: The Etna case

Abstract Mount Etna is located in a particular region of convergence of African and Eurasian plates where intense post-collisional tectonics caused considerable uplift. However we present arguments supporting the hypothesis that volcanism and associated seismic activity would result from a local mantle uprise leading to a “horst”, probably linked to a deep-rooted hot spot. It ensued deformation and fracturing of the overlying crust with emission of aphyric tholeiitic basalts directly from their mantle source, and subsequent development of a “deep reservoir” (or complex of intrusions) at the top of a mantle diapir near 30 km depth. This is advocated by the appearance of porphyritic alkaline lavas whose mineral equilibria and differentiation processes are consistent with an 8–10 kbar pressure, and by the development of central volcanoes. The horst itself appears to have begun in the SW sector of the present volcanic area. Its uplift was greater westward, as seen from the trend of the terraces along the Simeto river, and became later obvious toward the SE. These differential movements produced fractures and faults which are to day evident in the southern area of Mt Etna. The growth of the horst then proceeded in a NE direction, following the regional tectonic lines and with a greater intensity along the side facing SE, crossed by the regional NNW–SSE line (Aeolian–Maltese escarpment). The seismicity and ground deformation registered over the last twenty years support the proposed model. Earthquakes are unfrequent in the lower southern and western areas of the volcano, whereas they are numerous and stronger to the north-east, in the summit area above 1600 m a.s.l., and in the eastern sector along the NW–SE faults and fractures. Finally, a digital elevation model recently published reveals the existence of two tectonic domains. The first one is associated with the horst and contains prevalently NE–SW oriented faults, whereas the second is mainly linked to regional tectonics with NNW–SSE and NW–SE faults and fractures.

Major-ion bulk deposition around an active volcano (Mt. Etna, Italy)

Bulk atmospheric deposition of major cations (Na, K, Ca, Mg) and anions (Cl, F, SO4) were measured at 15 sites around an active volcano, Mount Etna, from 2001 to 2003. Their composition indicates several natural sources, among which deposition of plume-derived volcanogenic gas compounds is prevalent for F, Cl and S. Plume-derived acidic compounds are also responsible for the prevailing acidic composition of the samples collected on the summit of the volcano (pH in the 2.45–5.57 range). Cation species have complex origin, including deposition of plume volcanogenic ash and aerosols and soil-dust wind re-suspension of either volcanic or carbonate sedimentary rocks. Variation of the deposition rates during the March 2001–March 2003 period, coupled with previous measurements from 1997 to 2000 (Appl Geochem 16:985–1000, 2001), were compared with the variation of SO2 flux, volcanic activity and rainfall. The deposition rate was mainly controlled by rainfall. Commonly, about 0.1–0.9% of HF, HCl and SO2 emitted by the summit crater's plume were deposited around the volcano. We estimate that ∼2 Gg of volcanogenic sulphur were deposited over the Etnean area during the 2002–2003 flank eruption, at an average rate of ∼24 Mg day−1 which is two orders of magnitude higher than that typical of quiescent degassing phases.

Spatial variations of seismogenic stress orientations in Sicily, south Italy

Seismogenic stress orientations are estimated in the lithosphere of Sicily by inversion of 131 local earthquake focal mechanisms (FMs) selected from the literature. An average misfit F = 14.5° between stress tensor and FMs indicates that the entire set of earthquakes is generated by a highly heterogeneous stress field. Detailed analysis of stress tensors and related earthquake misfits obtained for tens of subsets based on spatial separation of data allowed us to identify two main stress domains in the study region: (i) a compressional domain, including Etna, western Sicily and the southern Tyrrhenian sea offshore Sicily, where the σ 1 orientation roughly changes from NW–SE in the Etna area and western Sicily to NNE–SSW at the northeastern edge of the domain (Eolian Islands) and (ii) an extensional domain in northeastern Sicily between the Eolian Islands and Etna, where σ 3 is oriented analogously to previously estimated in the easterly confining extensional area of the Messina Straits. General agreement is found between this stress pattern and the GPS crustal displacement vectors reported in the most recent literature for the study region. Moreover, stress inversion enables us to locate the extensional domain more accurately than the presently available GPS data. Finally, the stress orientations estimated in the southern and western sectors of the study area (Etna and western Sicily on and offshore) match well with the displacement fields predicted for Sicily by large-scale models of plate motion, conversely a mismatch is observed in the northeastern sector (Eolian Islands and northeastern Sicily). We suggest that the joint action of Africa–Eurasia convergence and Ionian subduction trench retreat (rollback of the subducting slab) may explain the stress pattern detected in Sicily in the present study. Work for computation of a finite-element regional geodynamic model based on geophysical and geological data collected over the last few years has recently started with the purpose of quantitatively checking this hypothesis.