Mount Etna, Europe’s Largest Volcano, Has Had A 100FT Growth Spurt In 6 Months
Photo ID 27389862 © Zuzana Randlova | Dreamstime.com
According to a report by the National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), Europe’s tallest and most active volcano, Mount Etna, has grown. Towering over Catania, Sicily, it’s gone through a growth spurt from its own activity.
Over the last six months, it has added around another 100 feet to its height, as revealed by satellite images taken by the Pléiades on July 13 and July 25. There’s a discrepancy of around 10 feet in the measurements, the INGV notes.
Approximately 50 eruptions have occurred at Etna since February this year, which is the suspected cause.
The Northeast Crater has held the “undisputed” title of tallest for the last four decades. However, now, the youngest of Etna's four summit craters, the Southeast—which is also its most active—is now the highest part of the volcano. Currently measuring 11,013 feet above sea level, it’s the tallest it has ever been.
Although this is recorded as a new high for the Southeast Crater, Etna used to be around this height. Following eruptions in 1980 and 1981, the Northeast Crater reached its maximum height: 10,990 feet.
But due to collapsing edges of that crater, that was hard to maintain. This led to its height decreasing over the years, allowing the Southeast Crater to catch up and overtake its “big brother.”
A 3D view of, and from, Etna’s craters can be viewed here.
[via Live Science, Photo ID 27389862 © Zuzana Randlova | Dreamstime.com]
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