Birth of the SE Crater
Two views of SE Crater during the late stage of the 1971 eruption, possibly
at the end of May 1971. View is from a point a few hundred meters to the south
of the crater, probably now covered by the base of the growing cone. The lava
visible in the foreground is of the 1964 eruption in the summit crater. These
photos were taken by Carmelo Sturiale (1932-1988), volcanologist at the University
of Catania, and have been kindly provided by his son Giovanni, PhD doctorate
at the Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche of Catania University (DSGUC). They
are but a sample of the photos left by Carmelo Sturiale and will be succeeded
by others.
Growth of SE Crater: 1989-1999
Three views of the SE Crater from approximately the same viewpoint, near the
Torre del Filosofo mountain hut, in September 1989 (left), August 1991 (center)
and May 1999 (right). The huge main summit cone is visible at left while the
SE Crater cone is emitting dark fumes in the left image and can be seen much
larger in the center image, after the paroxysmal eruptions of January-February
1990. Note large number of tourists in center and right photos. The right
photo shows the overwhelming growth of the cone between mid-1997 and early
1999. In fact, it appears higher than the main summit cone, but this is an
effect of the perspective view, the SE Crater cone being much closer to the
viewing point than the main summit cone.
SE Crater, 1 November 1998.
The huge cone of the SE Crater seen from the southeastern rim of the former
summit crater, only a few hours after an eruptive episode which caused significant
growth of the cone. The height of the cone's summit is about 3230 m, more
than 40 m above the pre-1997 crater rim. Further growth (by about 30 m) occurred
until February 1999. Photo courtesy of Carmelo Monaco, DSGUC.