AGU Press Releases and Images

December 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Stromboli and Etna Eruptions of 2002-2003

San Francisco - Using a Forward Looking Infrared Radiometer (FLIR), researchers from the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology have developed new methods to estimate the heat and mass budgets surrounding the 2002-2003 effusive period at Stromboli volcano. These budgets include both the mass and heat flux of explosive events and lava flows, as well as radiative and convective heat losses from the summit vents.

"The camera allows us to characterize heat and mass loss in real time during eruptive crises," said Matt Patrick, a graduate student involved with the study. "This rapid analysis helps volcanologists compile daily hazard assessments, which in turn are used by communities for hazard mitigation."

Images from the hand-held FLIR camera and image processing techniques show an escalation of heat and energy released during the effusive period and a return to normal levels once the lava flows ceased. During effusive periods, heat increases up to 20 times, and mass increases up to 40 times over Stromboli's normal levels. This rapid return to pre-eruptive levels is a further testament to Stromboli's steady-state behavior.

These and other observations support the idea that these effusive events are simply due to modifications to the shallow conduit and may not reflect significant changes to the magma system at depth.

"The usefullness of the FLIR is just being realized by volcanologists," says Patrick. "The fact that it provides fast, reliable temperature data for the whole volcano should be invaluable for future eruptive scenarios all over the world."

For more information, contact Matt Patrick, patrick@higp.hawaii.edu (808) 956-9503

Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822 United States

PDF of this press release is available here.

Click on the image to open a larger, complete image in a separate window.

	Typical Strombolian eruption recorded September 16, 2003 by FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared Radiometer) handheld camera. Eruption column reaches approximately 100 meters high. Image credit: Sonia Calvari, National Inst. Of Geophysics and Vulcanology, Catabua Sectuibm Catania, Italy
	Typical Strombolian eruption recorded May 21, 2002 by FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared Radiometer) handheld camera. This image shows how Strombolian explosions involve both gas and molten ejecta. Image credit: Jon Dehn, Alaska Volcano Observatory
	FLIR image of active lava flow field at Stromboli. June, 2003. Active lobes are easily distinguished from previously emplaced lobes owing to their hotter temperatures. Image credit: Jon Dehn, Alaska Volcano Observatory
	The FLIR camera is lightweight, and compact and easily deployed in the field. Image credit: Matt Patrick
	Stromboli Volcano, with degassing visible from the summit craters. Image credit: Jon Dehn, Alaska Volcano Observatory

For more information, contact Tara Hicks.

Last Updated Wed December 3, 2003. Maintained by Tara Hicks.