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Historical eruptions of Stromboli |
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It is assumed that Stromboli is in virtually continuous eruption since at least 2500 years, and maybe up to 5000 years - that is, since the latest sector collapse which created the Sciara depression. In this section the dynamics of the eruptive activity are described, and an overview of the eruptive events during the historical period is given. Indivdual eruptive events different from the "normal" activity of Stromboli, such as lava effusions and paroxysmal eruptions, are displayed in the Historic Record of Eruptions; some of these are discussed on separate pages. "Normal" activity is defined here as Strombolian explosions occurring at irregular intervals lasting from 5 minutes to >1 hour, with explosions consisting of short (i.e., less than 1 minute) bursts of incandescent lava fragments, ash, or both together. Part of the "normal" activity is characterized as well by the presence of active lava (small lava ponds) in one or more vents. Activity departing from "normal" is defined as prolonged Strombolian bursts or fountaining (>1 minute), strong explosions with block and bomb ejection onto the Pizzo sopra la Fossa or beyond, pyroclastic flows (glowing avalanches), and emission of lava flows. More important eruptions are briefly described to give an impression of what may occur, although rarely, at Stromboli (see sample: 1930 eruption, below). For a comprehensive picture of Stromboli's long-term activity (i.e., in the course of several years), the period 1985-1995 is summarized and analyzed (including personal accounts of seven visits in six years). This may be taken as largely representative, although events on a scale comparable to that of the 1919 or 1930 eruptions did not occur during this period. Continue with:Stromboli's
major historic eruptive events . |
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Copyright © Boris Behncke, "Italy's Volcanoes: The Cradle of Volcanology" |
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set up in late 1995, last modified on 22 January 2000
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