Eruption Of Mount Etna, Italy, Sicily

Question 1

Tectonic, geological location (4)

Answer 1

. Island of Sicily ( Italy)
. Convergent destructive plate boundary
. Between the Eurasian plate and African plate
. Composite volcanoes ( narrow base )

Question 2

VEI ( volcanic explosivity index ) and lava type (5)

Answer 2

. VEI- 4 ( Strombolian)
. Basaltic (thick)
. Less frequent more violent eruptions of gases, ash and tephra ( including lapelli)
. High viscosity due to its high silica content
. Low magnitude

Question 3

Economic development (4)

Answer 3

. The volcanic eruption made the surrounding soil very fertile, so many small villages where developed on the slopes of the mountain
. Fertile soil helped grow vegetables, citrus fruit and grapes( for wine)
. Rich land- Sicilian blood oranges are a great produce of agriculture
. Mount Etna is now a tourist attraction ( increase the economy )

Question 4

Duration

Answer 4

. March 8, 1669 ( the volcano sits )a
. it’s a decade volcano- A volcano that erupts often ( changes in surface deformation ( sinking, bulging and rising are indicators of an eruption therefore it is often monitored ))

Question 5

Management response

Answer 5

. 2001- 2003- Catania airport is internationally forced to close as a result of the ash fall ( Italy Sicily is dependent on tourism- decrease in the economy)
. 2002- dames of soil and volcanic rock were put up to protect the tourist base at Refugio Sapienza and helped diverted the flow

Question 6

Primary hazards

Answer 6

. Ash falls and plumes
. Lava flows
. Earthquakes
. Tephra falls- solid material
. Pyroclastic flow- fast loving material or volcanic material, volcanic bombs, pumice and hot gas
. Volcanic gases- SO2 sulphur dioxide