The volcano produced yet another lava-fountaining episode or paroxysm from the New SE crater this morning. 3 days since the previous one, it followed the by now „usual pattern“:
Volcanic tremor began to increase from around 8 am, followed by the onset of weak strombolian explosions at the New SE crater’s saddle vent from around 9:45. This activity increased slowly first, then very quickly reached the phase of lava fountains at 10:30 local time, generating an eruptive column that rose several kilometers and drifted east-southeast.
Ash and small lapilli (up to 1.0-1.5 cm) was falling in the northern part of Zafferana Etnea and in Santa Venerina town.
The activity also produced a modest overflow of lava, which traveled southwest. During the phase of maximum intensity, the lava fountains reached heights of 300-400 m. Two vents were periodically active in the „saddle“ area, as already observed during the eruptive episodes on 28 and 30 May 2021.
The lava fountain activity lasted until about 12:40 local time, after when the explosive activity quickly decreased and mostly finished at 12:50.
The magnitude of the volcanic tremor showed the usual, rather sudden increase at the beginning of the episode, and a rapid collapse at the end; during the paroxysm, its source was located under the Southeast Crater. The infrasonic signals also came from the same crater; small variations in tilt were recorded, as usual during the eruptive episodes at the Southeast Crater.
Source: adapted from INGVvulcani / facebook