Webcam capture of the activity at Etna on February 20, 2013. Two areas of active lava are marked with arrows. Image: Webcam. Very quick post -- I'm unfortunately buried this week -- but if you haven't been keeping track of what Etna has been doing for the past three days, you're missing quite a show. Only minutes ago the Italian started its third fountain event in the last 36 hours. Dr. Boris Behncke from the Osservatorio Etneo had said yesterday after the second fountain (see above) that this was the first time since June 2000 that Etna had experienced explosive paroxysms that close together, so I can only imagine that it has been a long time since Etna has had 3 in 3 days. The coolest thing about Etna is that you can watch these eruptions live. The Radio7 webcams are pointed towards the active new Southeast cater, so you can see the impressive grey plume from the fountain (during the day) -- and at night (see below), the view from some of these vantage points is spectacular as this KdEtna video shows. This activity has really hammered the Osservatorio Etneo website, so any information from the INGV is hiding right now -- but hopefully it will be back soon. As these eruptions continue, feel free to post images, videos or comments here from the dazzling show that Etna is producing!
Video still of the February 19-20, 2013 paroxysm at Etna, taken 30 km from the summit. Image: Dr. Boris Behncke/INGV.
