Schematic representation of the surface feeding system of the Etna volcano during the 2004-2005 eruption (from Corsaro et al., 2009): a) phase 1, the magma remained trapped and evolved by fractional crystallization in small isolated reservoirs since the eruption eccentric of 2002-203, is erupted; b) phase 2, the residual magma from phase 1 mixes progressively with the magma coming from the central magma conduit 1; C) phase 3, the eruption is fed laterally by the magma which rises along the central conduit up to its end.
This thematic area includes the study of the structure of the volcanic system and its geological-structural evolution; relationships between volcanic system, geodynamic context and volcano-tectonic structure; investigations on the magma system and its evolution including the characterization of its geometry and of the source and storage areas of the magma; studies on the dynamics and geometry of magmatic intrusions and on the fracture fields associated with intrusive events, also associated with sector collapses; study of the chemical-physical conditions of magmas and rocks through geophysical, geochemical, petrological, mineralogical and physical-mathematical methods.