An Integrated Geophysical Approach to Track Magma Intrusion: The 2018 Christmas Eve Eruption at Mount Etna

A groundbreaking study reveals that the explosive summit activity of Mount Etna during its 2018 Christmas Eve eruption was driven by lateral dike intrusions, challenging conventional understanding. By integrating high-rate GPS data with volcano-tectonic earthquakes, volcanic tremor, infrasound tremor, and events, researchers tracked magma intrusion with unprecedented precision, showing how the central magma column lowered in response to flank eruption. This interaction zone, identified at 2–4 km below sea level, sheds light on the complex dynamics between summit and flank eruptions, offering critical insights for volcanic hazard assessment.

Cannavo’, F., Sciotto, M., Cannata, A., & Di Grazia, G. (2019). An Integrated Geophysical Approach to Track Magma Intrusion: The 2018 Christmas Eve Eruption at Mount Etna. Geophysical Research Letters, 46(14), 8009–8017. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019gl083120