Etna Has First Intense Eruption in Over a Year

The glowing vent and ash cloud during the December 28, 2014 eruption of Etna. Photo by Alfio Landro, used by permission. It has been a quiet year for Italy's Etna, but as if to remind everyone that the volcano is almost always ready to erupt, Etna produced its most intense eruption ("paroxysm" in the lingo of the Osservatorio Etneo) since December 2013. This eruption from the New Southeast Crater had all the classic pieces of an Etna eruption - lava fountains, lava flows and ash fall that covered the region with dark grey volcanic debris. However, as intense as it was, it was also brief, ending within a few hours of starting and by this morning, Etna was merely steaming in the morning sun (see below). You can check out some video of the eruption taken last night by Alessandro Lo Piccolo, where the ash-and-steam column is clearly seen glowing ...