Earth’s surface deformation on mount Etna: GPS measurements, interpretation, relationship to the mode of volcanism

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Abstract

We present results from a study of lateral Earth’s surface deformation and vertical movements in the area of the Mount Etna active volcano (Sicily, Italy) based on observations by global satellite navigation systems in 2011–2017 at time intervals of 24 hours at sparse stations of the regional geodetic network. The study of Mount Etna is especially important because (1) the volcano stands in a densely populated area, (2) the eruptions are nearly continuous, and (3) the location of the volcano is inconsistent with plate tectonic concepts. Subregional trends have been identified in the deformation of the area of study. Extension was recorded, not only around the summit crater, but also far from it, in the Ionian Sea. This circumstance suggests the existence of an extensive plumbing system at depth whose sources are far from the active summit crater. We discuss geological and geophysical survey results of the coastal area and the sea area in the region. It is shown that Earth’s surface deformation should be studied from observations of the existing networks that are sparse, but cover a large area.

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About the authors

V. I. Kafta

Geophysical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences; Institute of Agrarian Technology, Russia’s University of Peoples’ Friendship; Federal Science Center of Geodesy, Cartography, and 3D Data Infrastructure

Author for correspondence.
Email: v.kaftan@gcras.ru
Russian Federation, 3, Molodezhnaya str., Moscow, 119269; 6, Miklukho-Maklaya str., Moscow, 117198; 26, Onezhskaya str., Moscow, 125413 

M. V. Rodkin

Federal Science Center of Geodesy, Cartography, and 3D Data Infrastructure; Institute of Earthquake Prediction Theory and Mathematical Geophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: rodkin@mitp.ru
Russian Federation, 84/32, Profsoyuznaya str., Moscow, 117997; 1B, Nauki str., Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 693022 

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. The main tectonic lineaments of Sicily and the volcano Etna. Straight lines are major fault systems; dashed lines with triangles are the main regional thrusts [D’Ajello Caracciolo et al., 2014].

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3. Fig. 2. Delaunay Triangulation Network. The coastline is indicated by a dotted line; fat lines - main faults (see fig. 1); circle with internal strokes - the summit crater of Etna volcano.

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4. Fig. 3. The course of spatio-temporal dilatation changes throughout the study interval. The cross section of the dilatation isolines is 0.05 * 10-5. Other designations see fig. 1 and 2.

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5. Fig. 4. The course of space-time changes in vertical displacements over the study interval. The cross-section of isolines of vertical displacements is equal to 0.025 m. For the remaining notation, see fig. 3

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6. Fig. 5. Dilatation of the earth's surface (below) in the vicinity of the summit of Mount Etna. Vertical dashed lines mark the beginning, and vertical solid lines mark the end of extrusive eruptions. Smooth segments of the curve correspond to the omission of observations filled with interpolation.

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7. Fig. 6. Changes in the vertical displacements of the coastal area (above) and the summit of the volcano.

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