Combined Seismic and Geodetic Analysis Before, During, and After the 2018 Mount Etna Eruption

A groundbreaking analysis of Mount Etna's 2018 eruption reveals the complex interplay between seismic activity and volcanic deformation, marking one of the most significant episodes of unrest since monitoring began in 1970. The study identifies two distinct magma dikes—one shallow, near the eruptive fissure, and a deeper, larger dike between 1 and 5 km below sea level—suggesting that the eruption was driven by dual magma pathways. Crucially, the pressurization of a deep reservoir (~6 km) continued unabated during the intrusion, causing unprecedented deformation of the eastern flank. This process, active since September 2018, culminated in a destructive ML4.8 earthquake near Pisano on December 26, 2018, which devastated local infrastructure. The research combines high-rate geodetic data and seismic modeling to propose a time-dependent intrusion model that sheds light on the mechanisms underlying volcanic unrest and flank instability.

Mattia, M., Bruno, V., Montgomery‐Brown, E., Patanè, D., Barberi, G., & Coltelli, M. (2020). Combined Seismic and Geodetic Analysis Before, During, and After the 2018 Mount Etna Eruption. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 21(9). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020gc009218