Etna Ends the Week with Lava Flows

Lava flows flowing down the slopes of Etna, seen on February 21, 2013. Image: Dr. Boris Behncke / Osservatorio Etneo. It was a busy, busy week for the folks at the Osservatorio Etneo. Etna ended up producing four separate fountaining events that culminated in a number of new lava flows (see above) issuing down the flanks of the volcano from new vents below the New Southeast Crater. As of Friday evening, the flows were still moving into the Valle del Bove from this new period of vigorous activity at Etna. These eruptions were also producing a healthy ash plume that was detected up to 30,000 feet / 9 km over the volcano, drifting out over the sea, along with small lahars as well, likely produced by the lava interacting with the snow on the volcano. You can see how robust the activity was in this video of the eruption -- ...