The Sezione di Catania - Osservatorio Etneo (INGV) reported continuing activity at Etna during 31 March-6 April. Weather clouds occasionally obscured views of the summit area, though direct field observations occurred during 2-4 April. Minor, discontinuous Strombolian activity began at SE Crater at 2100 on 2 April and progressively intensified. From about 2250 on 2 April to 0050 on 3 April Strombolian activity was intense and ejected material onto the flanks of the cone. The activity slowly decreased and by 0600 explosions were no longer visible in webcam images. During the morning of 2 April ash emissions rose from Voragine Crater as high as 3.5 km a.s.l. and drifted mainly SE. A field team observed ashfall on the snow in the summit area. Ash emissions were again observed on 4 April. Minor and sporadic red ash emissions at Bocca Nuova Crater were observed during the week by INGV-OE personnel in the field.

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)