F. Di Traglia

Space–time evolution of monogenetic volcanism in the mafic Garrotxa Volcanic Field (NE Iberian Peninsula)

We reconstructed the evolution of the volcanic activity within the central Garrotxa monogenetic Volcanic Field, the youngest volcanic area of the Iberian Peninsula, by investigating the stratigraphy of the volcanic successions and the morphology of the monogenetic eruptive centres. Analysis of this volcanic succession has been conducted following the Unconformity Bounded Stratigraphic Units criteria. The detailed stratigraphy of the volcanic successions shows that the central Garrotxa Volcanic Field (GVF) evolved through four main periods of volcanic activity (Synthems) represented by the eruptive products of the mafic monogenetic volcanoes and associated syn-eruptive reworked deposits (Eruptive Units) and by the inter-eruptive deposits (Epiclastic Units). The distribution and the morphologies of the monogenetic volcanoes suggest that feeder dykes were emplaced under influence of the present stress filed and along pre-existing fractures of the basement. Our facies analysis of the deposits and their distribution shows that migration of volcanism toward the centre of the basin was accompanied by a trend of increasing explosivity. Episodic hydromagmatism in central Garrotxa occurred without a specific geographic locus or obvious temporal correlation. Finally, by integrating field data with the stratigraphy extracted from water wells, we determined the volume of the volcanic deposits. The small average volume of products emitted during each eruptive period, and the long quiescence separating them, allow us to classify the GVF as a low-output rate volcanic field.

Monitoring crater-wall collapse at active volcanoes: a study of the 12 January 2013 event at Stromboli

Crater-wall collapses are fairly frequent at active volcanoes and they are normally studied through the analysis of their deposits. In this paper, we present an analysis of the 12 January 2013 crater-wall collapse occurring at Stromboli volcano, investigated by means of a monitoring network comprising visible and infrared webcams and a Ground-Based Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar. The network revealed the triggering mechanisms of the collapse, which are comparable to the events that heralded the previous effusive eruptions in 1985, 2002, 2007 and 2014. The collapse occurred during a period of inflation of the summit cone and was preceded by increasing explosive activity and the enlargement of the crater. Weakness of the crater wall, increasing magmastatic pressure within the upper conduit induced by ascending magma and mechanical erosion caused by vent opening at the base of the crater wall and by lava fingering, are considered responsible for triggering the collapse on 12 January 2013 at Stromboli. We suggest that the combination of these factors might be a general mechanism to generate crater-wall collapse at active volcanoes.

Decrypting geophysical signals at Stromboli Volcano (Italy): Integration of seismic and Ground‐Based InSAR displacement data

We present the integration of seismic and Ground-Based Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar system (GBInSAR) displacement data at Stromboli Volcano. Ground deformation in the area of summit vents is positively correlated with both seismic tremor amplitude and cumulative amplitudes of very long period (VLP) signals associated with Strombolian explosions. Changes in VLP amplitudes precede by a few days the variations in ground deformation and seismic tremor. We propose a model where the arrival of fresh, gas-rich magma from depth enhances gas slug formation, promoting convection and gas transfer throughout the conduit system. At the shallowest portion of the conduit, an increase in volatile content causes a density decrease, expansion of the magmatic column and augmented degassing activity, which respectively induce inflation of the conduit, and increased tremor amplitudes. The temporal delay between increase of VLP and tremor amplitudes/conduit inflation can be interpreted in terms of the different timescales characterizing bulk gas transfer versus slug formation and ascent.

Runout modelling of gravity-induced pyroclastic density currents at Stromboli volcano (Italy)

Gravity-induced pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) at Stromboli volcano were investigated by means numerical and empirical modelling. With the aim of testing the suitability of landslide numerical model DAN-3D and empirical models are used related to gravity-induced PDCs, in particular this work presents the results of the back analysis of three events occurred on 1906, 1930 and 1944 at Stromboli volcano. These two methods were able to reproduce the extension and the order of magnitude of the thickness of the PDCs reported in the literature. The best results of DAN-3D models were obtained using a Voellmy model with frictional coefficient of f = 0.19 and a turbulence parameter ξ = 1000 m/s. The mobility terms, find with the numerical model, are compared with empirical data of literature of the similar events.