Extremely strong activity at Stromboli volcano in Italy

Posted by Chillymanjaro on September 13, 2011 at 09:14 UTC (9 years ago)
Category: Volcanoes

During most of August and up to today, Stromboli's activity has been at some of its highest levels observed in recent decades. Protagonist has been the NE crater, which has been continuing to produce powerful lava bubbles. Ejections of incandescent lava bombs often reached more than 500 m height, and hit both the Pizzo and Bastimento areas, the most popular viewing points (which for this reason remained closed for excursions most of the time). In the crater itself, up to 10 active vents were reported to be visibe by people who had a chance to visit Pizzo briefly during periods when excursions were possible.

During 9 September the steep cone active in the NW part of the crater terrace was observed to erupt constantly with pulsating strombolian bursts reaching 50-150 m. The central crater vent erupted at "normal" intensity roughly every hour.

Residents of Stromboli village reported that during the first week in September, bombs could often been seen even from Scari, something which people living there for 30 years don't remember except for some few isolated paroxysmal eruptions, but not repeatedly and regularly. During one explosion around the end of August, people fled an eruption in panic from the 400 m viewpoint above the Sciara del Fuoco, which normally is completely safe. (VolcanoDiscovery)

Stromboli, a small island north of Sicily, is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and famous for its normally small, but regular explosions throwing out glowing lava from several vents inside its summit crater. This activity has been going on for at least 2000 years, as long as there is written memory of the activity, which Stromboli lended its name to, the so-called strombolian activity.

The N-most island of the Eolian Islands is famous for its spectacular incandescent nighttime explosions, that have long attracted visitors from all over the world and brought the volcano the nickname the "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean." Stromboli has even given its name to this kind of typical small explosions. As long as there are historical records, Stromboli has been constantly active, which makes it almost unique among the volcanoes in the world. Most of its activity consists of brief and small bursts of glowing lava fragments to heights of 100-200 m above the craters. Occasionally, much stronger explosions or periods of more continuous activity can occur. The most violent eruptions during the past 100 years, in 1919, 1930 and on 5 April 2003, were large enough to take lives and or destroy property even at considerable range from the craters, for example inside the inhabited areas.

Apart from explosive activity, effusive eruptions with outflow of lava occur at irregular intervals ranging from a few years to decades. The most recent one began on 28 December 2002 and ended in July 2003.

Stromboli offers visitors a unique possibility to watch its eruptions. From the rim of an older crater one can stand only 150-250 m almost directly above the active craters,- a perfect viewing terrace. It should be mentioned that this is regarded as surprisingly safe as well: even though there is a small risk of being involved in a sudden, larger explosion (which happen infrequently a few times per year), and then being hit, injured or killed by an ejected bomb from the crater, the risk in terms of numbers is probably much smaller than many other risks in everyday situations. The number of accidents on Stromboli, when compared to the number of visitors at the crater over the years, is extremely small.
For hose who know and learn to love it, Stromboli is a magical place,- even not only for its volcano, but also for its unique charm, its beautiful beaches, the lush vegetation and its characteristic and unspoiled architecture.