13 June 2008: Strong Activity at the Fissure in Valle del BoveAfter 8 June 2008, the activity at the E-W oriented eruptive fissure in upper Valle del Bove increased. Marco Fulle led a VolcanoDiscovery group on the evening of 13 June 2008 when the most active vent displayed very strong strombolian activity reaching altitudes of several hundred meters above the vents. All times are local (GMT + 2hr). The focal length of the lenses used on a digicam is given (to be multiplied by 1.5 to obtain the equivalent focal length on 24x36 film). | |||
 12h, f=10mm. Etna Guide Rosario Basile near the eruptive fissure.
|  12h, f=200mm. Ash eruptions during a phase of increasing activity.
|  12h, f=200mm. Fountains of meter-sized lava clots and ash column.
|  18h, f=200mm. During sunset exploding lava bubbles clear the vent.
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 19h, f=28mm. Moderate spattering at the fissure, with Pizzi Deneri in the left background.
|  20h, f=50mm. A longer exposure photo from a distance of 250m reveals strombolian activity at two vents.
|  20h, f=28mm.
Suddenly the activity strongly increases. A lava flow appears
at lower right. |  20h, f=28mm. For safety reasons Rosario orders the group to withdraw 500 metres from the vent.
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 20h, f=28mm. Despite the greater distance from the crater some bombs fly over our heads (note falling bomb at upper right!).
|  20h, f=28mm.
A wonderful strombolian eruption takes place with the Strait of
Messina in the right background. |  21h, f=28mm. A new lava flow advances quickly into Valle del Bove. Taormina and Calabria in the left background.
|  21h, f=50mm. After one hour the activity subsides, but the eruptions still reach altitudes of 200m above the vents.
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| Copyright: M. Fulle. | |||