An open-access dataset for monitoring volcanic activity has been published.
It was published in the magazine Scientific data a new archive of satellite data on the eruption of Etna in February 2025. The dataset, created by a team of researchers from theIstituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Etna Observatory Coordinated by Gaetana Ganci, it collects for the first time a series of products derived from images acquired by different satellites, integrated to provide a complete and high-frequency view of the evolution of the eruptive event.
The data used includes the new European satellite Meteosat Third Generation (MTG), which thanks to the sensor Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) allowed infrared imagery to be acquired every 10 minutes with a resolution of 2 km. Sensors such as MODIS, VIIRS, SEVIRI, PlanetScope, SkySat, Pléiades, and TROPOMI were also used in support, allowing for multispectral coverage at various scales of detail.
The dataset includes estimates of effusion rates and lava volumes, processed using the CL-HOTSAT satellite thermal monitoring system; high-resolution maps of the extent and morphology of lava fields, obtained from PlanetScope and SkySat imagery; lava thickness calculations based on digital surface models derived from Pléiades imagery; and daily measurements of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from TROPOMI data, processed using artificial intelligence techniques.
The data were verified with field observations, showing a high degree of agreement between the different methods of calculating lava volume and an accuracy of the flow maps within a few tens of meters. Measurements of gas emissions also confirmed their synchronization with the most intense phases of the eruption.
This work highlights the central role of the INGV in integrating satellite data from various sources for near-real-time monitoring of volcanic activity. The information thus obtained can support timely hazard assessments, improve mapping of areas affected by lava flows, and provide a deeper understanding of eruptive processes, contributing to risk and emergency management.
All data are available in open access under the CC BY 4.0 license at the link: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.28759586The scientific article accompanying the dataset is available at Scientific data at the link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05545-0.
figure - Time series of satellite-derived products during the 2025 Etna eruption. (a) Estimated effusion rate (TADR) from SEVIRI (yellow diamonds), FCI (green diamonds), MODIS (red diamonds), and VIIRS (blue diamonds) data and total SO2 mass from TROPOMI (grey bars); (b) lava field evolution from Skysat and Planetscope images; (c) volcanic deposits calculated from the difference of DSMs obtained from Pléiades images.