Mt Etna Flashcards
When
1991-93
Has one of the longest documented records of..
Eruptions, dating back to 1500 bc
Most prominent feature
Valle de Bove- 5-10km horseshoe shaped Caldera
How many prominent summit craters
3
Lava flows have reached…
The sea over a broad area on the south east flank of Mt Etna
Dangerous?
Although it can be destructive, the volcano is not regarded as particularly dangerous
Humans?
Thousands of people love on its slopes and in the surrounding areas, working the fertile volcanic soils
Protective measures installed
- large Earth barrier- 400 m (slow lava)
- smaller barriers
- dropping concrete blocks into the upper lava tube
- engineers blasted openings in the lava tube
When did they add protective measures
When lava was about rob pour into the settlement of Zafferana
The success of the production schemes was based upon the following favourable factors:
- low effusion rates
- high elevation if the eruptive vents
- possibility of diverting the lava flow into uninhabited areas (at least 7km from the nearest village)
2002
More serious eruption and lava flows completely destroyed the ski station, two restaurants, ski hire firms, souvenir shops and ski school. Clouds of ash harming Catania.