A new "major explosion" was recorded today, August 18, on the Stromboli volcano by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). In particular, at 17:08 (local time) there was a strong explosion which involved the vents of the central-southern area located on the crater terrace (Fig. 1). The explosion produced a small ash cloud (Fig.2), which was rapidly dispersed in the atmosphere, and the launch of coarse pyroclastic material (incandescent magma shreds), which mainly fell on the crater terrace and on the upper part of the Sciara del Fuoco (Fig. 3), rolling abundantly along its slopes. The seismic signal associated with the event lasted just over 4 minutes. Subsequently, the volcano returned to producing its normal Strombolian activity.
As is well known, these explosive events are characterized by greater energy than the "ordinary" Strombolian activity which, on the other hand, characterizes this volcano in everyday life.
The major explosions are unpredictable events that can cause the fall of volcanic bombs, lapilli and rock fragments, even quite large ones, in the summit portion of the volcano, and which are therefore potentially dangerous for any observer passing through the areas of the Pizzo sopra la Fossa viewpoint. or along the paths that lead there. The explosion that took place this afternoon produced an abundant fallout of incandescent material mainly inside the crater terrace and along the Sciara del Fuoco.
Stromboli's eruptive activity is constantly monitored by INGV through the observational, geophysical and geochemical systems managed by the Sections of Catania, Naples and Palermo.
Figure 1 - Explosion of 18 August 2018. Significant images taken by the infrared spectrum camera of Pizzo sopra la Fossa. The time displayed in the images corresponds to UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).
Figure 2 - Explosion of 18 August 2018. Significant images taken by the visible spectrum camera of Quota 400. The time displayed in the images corresponds to UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).
Figure 3 - Explosion of August 18, 2018. Significant images taken by the infrared spectrum camera of Quota 400. The time displayed in the images corresponds to UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).