The Christmas 2018 Eruption at Mount Etna: Enlightening How the Volcano Factory Works Through a Multiparametric Inspection

A multiparametric study of Mount Etna's December 2018 flank eruption revealed that magma replenishment from deep to shallow levels over several months, combined with pressure imbalances in the volcano's plumbing system, triggered the eruption. The research integrated olivine chemical zoning and diffusion chronometry data with GNSS measurements, identifying distinct magmatic environments and re-equilibration processes at shallow depths. Geodetic models showed two phases of magma pressurization—first at ~7.2 km below sea level (bsl) between June 2017 and June 2018, followed by a shallower source (~5.1 km bsl) leading to the eruption. The findings highlight how prolonged recharge and dynamic pressure changes control eruptive activity, with potential for both summit and flank eruptions depending on shallow-level magma discharge rates.

Borzi, A. M., Giuffrida, M., Zuccarello, F., Palano, M., & Viccaro, M. (2020). The Christmas 2018 Eruption at Mount Etna: Enlightening How the Volcano Factory Works Through a Multiparametric Inspection. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 21(10). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020gc009226