Sezione di Catania - Osservatorio Etneo (INGV) reported that during 4-10 November activity at Etna was characterized by gas emissions at the summit craters and lava fountaining; weather conditions often obscured views of the summit area. Continuous emissions of gas at variable intensities rose from SE Crater and Voragine Crater in particular. During 1140-2000 on 10 November geophysical data indicated that lava fountaining was occurring at one of the summit craters; though weather conditions obscured views, fountaining was observed in a webcam image at 1244 and a significant ash emission was visible during a break in the clouds at 1550. A pilot photographed an ash plume emerging from a weather cloud deck during the morning hours. The ash plume rose as high as 9.5 km a.s.l. and drifted E, causing ashfall in Milo (11 km ESE), Fornazzo (10.5 km E), Mascali (18 km E), and Torre Archirafi (20 km ESE) beginning at 1245.

Geological Summary. Mount Etna, towering above Catania on the island of Sicily, has one of the world's longest documented records of volcanism, dating back to 1500 BCE. Historical lava flows of basaltic composition cover much of the surface of this massive volcano, whose edifice is the highest and most voluminous in Italy. The Mongibello stratovolcano, truncated by several small calderas, was constructed during the late Pleistocene and Holocene over an older shield volcano. The most prominent morphological feature of Etna is the Valle del Bove, a 5 x 10 km caldera open to the east. Two styles of eruptive activity typically occur, sometimes simultaneously. Persistent explosive eruptions, sometimes with minor lava emissions, take place from one or more summit craters. Flank vents, typically with higher effusion rates, are less frequently active and originate from fissures that open progressively downward from near the summit (usually accompanied by Strombolian eruptions at the upper end). Cinder cones are commonly constructed over the vents of lower-flank lava flows. Lava flows extend to the foot of the volcano on all sides and have reached the sea over a broad area on the SE flank.

Source: Sezione di Catania - Osservatorio Etneo (INGV)