Letizia Spampinato

TL;DR: The 2002-03 Mt Etna flank eruption began on 26 October 2002 and finished on 28 January 2003, after three months of continuous explosive activity and discontinuous lava flow output.

Abstract: [1] Effusive activity at Stromboli is uncommon, and the 2002–2003 flank eruption gave us the opportunity to observe and analyze a number of complex volcanic processes. In particular, the use of a handheld thermal camera during the eruption allowed us to monitor the volcano even in difficult weather and operating conditions. Regular helicopter-borne surveys with the thermal camera throughout the eruption have significantly improved (1) mapping of active lava flows; (2) detection of new cracks, landslide scars, and obstructions forming within and on the flanks of active craters; (3) observation of active lava flow field features, such as location of new vents, tube systems, tumuli, and hornitos; (4) identification of active vent migration along the Sciara del Fuoco; (5) monitoring of crater’s inner morphology and maximum temperature, revealing magma level changes within the feeding conduit; and (6) detection of lava flow field endogenous growth. Additionally, a new system developed by A. J. L. Harris and others has been applied to our thermal data, allowing daily calculation of effusion rate. These observations give us new insights on the mechanisms controlling the volcanic system.

TL;DR: A critical review of the application of infrared thermal cameras to volcano monitoring can be found in this article, where the authors discuss the types of information that can be retrieved from thermal imagery and what they have contributed to hazard assessment and risk management, and to physical volcanology.

TL;DR: The 2004-05 eruption of Etna was characterised by outpouring of degassed lava from two vents within Valle del Bove as discussed by the authors, where the lava volumes were estimated to be between 18.5 and 32 × 106 m3 with eruption rate between 2.3 and 4.1 m3/s.

TL;DR: The 5 April 2003 paroxysmal explosion at Stromboli volcano was one of the strongest explosive events of the last century as discussed by the authors, with bombs up to 4 m wide falling on the village of Ginostra, on the west flank of the island and destroying two houses.