Explosive activity at Etna forces partial airport closure, Aviation Color Code Red, Italy

Explosive activity is taking place at Etna's NE crater, producing significant volcanic ash in the vicinity of the volcano, the Toulouse VAAC reported 07:43 UTC on February 18, 2019.

The Aviation Color Code has been raised to Red and ash has caused partial closure of the Catania International Airport.

Airport officials said they are allowing only 6 landings per hour, adding that some of the flights had to be diverted.

Mount Etna at 11:17 UTC on February 18, 2019. Credit: SkyLine Webcams

Geological summary

Mount Etna, towering above Catania, Sicily's second largest city, has one of the world's longest documented records of historical volcanism, dating back to 1500 BCE. Historical lava flows of basaltic composition cover much of the surface of this massive volcano, whose edifice is the highest and most voluminous in Italy.

The Mongibello stratovolcano, truncated by several small calderas, was constructed during the late Pleistocene and Holocene over an older shield volcano. The most prominent morphological feature of Etna is the Valle del Bove, a 5 x 10 km (16 404 x 32 808 feet) horseshoe-shaped caldera open to the east.

Two styles of eruptive activity typically occur at Etna. Persistent explosive eruptions, sometimes with minor lava emissions, take place from one or more of the three prominent summit craters, the Central Crater, NE Crater, and SE Crater (the latter formed in 1978). Flank vents, typically with higher effusion rates, are less frequently active and originate from fissures that open progressively downward from near the summit (usually accompanied by strombolian eruptions at the upper end).

Cinder cones are commonly constructed over the vents of lower-flank lava flows. Lava flows extend to the foot of the volcano on all sides and have reached the sea over a broad area on the SE flank. (GVP)

Featured image credit: Mount Etna erupting on February 18, 2019. Credit: Turi Caggegi