2007/01/01 by Gianluca Sottili, Salvatore Martino, Danilo M. Palladino +2 · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Geological and Geochemical Analysis #High-pressure geophysics and materials #earthquake and tectonic studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1029/2006gl028190
openalex publication_date 2007/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/17
Here we model quantitatively the stress and strain induced by tidal forces as possible triggers of Mount Etna eruptions during 1989, 2000 and 2001, by means of 2D numerical analysis by finite difference method applied to the volcano edifice. Spectral and vectorial analysis of tidal acceleration indicates that the quasi‐diurnal, semi‐diurnal and ter‐diurnal constituents may have induced decompressions up to some kPa in the shallow (i.e., 1,500 m) gas‐saturated magma reservoir, which controlled magma vesiculation and the timing of lava fountain activity from the South East Crater (SEC). We consider the geological heterogeneities in the volcanic edifice (i.e., rock geometries and properties, feeder conduit and vent systems, volcanic landforms), the magma properties (i.e., Bulk modulus, volatile content) and the ongoing volcano‐tectonic stresses (i.e., volcano flank deformations), which strongly influence the response of eruptive activity to tidal forces. Indeed, the tidal factor may act on flank deformation concomitant to shallow magma inflation. The implications of our model may help understand the eruptive behaviour and the disequilibrium state of the volcano and may be useful for hazard assessment at Mount Etna.