Stromboli is known for its constant activity, with explosions usually every three to ten minutes. But, last Friday, a larger explosion occurred, thus justifying the prohibition of access to the summit of the volcano, which greatly impacts the economic activity of the island. So, will this ban last?
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Last Friday, 4:43 p.m. local timea sequence of explosions more intense than the normal occurred at the level of certain mouths of the crater platform of Stromboli. The amplitude of the seismic signal produced and the associated deformation of the ground make it possible to classify this event as a major explosion, just like the plume of ash which rose a few hundred meters high above the crater. Projections fell on the summit, but also in the vegetation, which generated modest fires.
The explosion of May 13, 2022 seen in thermal imaging. © INGV
Some major explosions occur every year and, since the explosion of the July 3, 2019 which caused a victim, the summit of Stromboli is forbidden to access. This one was hitherto frequented by many tourists each year who came to enjoy this spectacular volcanic activity. However, the economy of the island is today largely dependent on this tourist activity: the closure of the summit is therefore problematic, although necessary.
The challenge is thus to find precursor signals to these major explosions, if there are any. And if the seismicity and the deformation of the volcano do not show particular changes before these events, these explosions occur in periods when the CO ratio2/SO2 is high. However, the carbon dioxide is a gas which is released at greater depths than carbon dioxide sulfur : a high ratio can thus indicate an arrival of a deep magma and richer in gas in the magmatic system of the volcano. The probability of a major explosion would therefore be greater when this CO ratio2/SO2 is high…
The follow-up to this report may therefore be cause for hope for those who hope for a reopening of the summit, even if this requires verification. And if it turns out that we can really trust it, it is not certain that the authorities dare to reopen access to this point of view which, consequently, should remain deserted for some time yet. .
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