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Paroxysm on 15.2.2000: Video Page The pictures below all link to QuickTime video clips from the awesome footage taken by British cameraman David Bryant during the violent paroxysmal eruptive episode at the Southeast Crater on 15.2.2000. The sequence documents all stages of this great event: initial mild Strombolian activity opening of a new eruptive vent on the S flank of South East Crater (SEC) culmination of the activity with high lava fountains the abrupt termination of the fountaining cone covered by glowing pyroclastics and lava after the end of the activity It is also interesting to compare the impressions conveyed by the video clips with the great still photos captured, during the same paroxysm and another one which took in daylight, by Marco Fulle. David, Marco and other companions were standing next to Torre del Filosofo mountain hut, filming, photographing, and simply observing the activity. The first seven clips were taken from a few meters to the east of the building, while the following were taken from behind the sheltering roof of the building, with Bryant standing on top of an accumulation of snow, allowing him to peer over the roof. File sizes: between 1.5 and 2.9 MB (somewhat smaller than on Boris Behncke's website).
Initial stage of the paroxysm, shortly before 1800 h (local time=GMT+1) on 15 February 2000. Intermittent weak Strombolian bursts, and ejecta rarely rise above the crater rim	As the Strombolian activity gradually increases, a new vent suddenly opens just below the notch in the southern crater rim, and a small pulsating lava fountain becomes active.	Strombolian activity increases further, involving several vents in the summit crater and the newly opened vent on the upper south flank of the cone.	A small lava flow begins to flow from the vent on the upper southern flank, while the Strombolian bursts at this vent and in the main vents above continue to increase.
The lava flow from the south flank vent rapidly advances, and forms repeated surges; blocks detaching from the flow front roll further downslope.	The Strombolian bursts, which have become more and more frequent and vigorous, are now blending into continuous, pulsating fountains, and bombs begin to fall in an ever larger radius around the erupting vents.	Suddenly the activity increases dramatically: Huge jets of incandescent lava rise ever higher and are more and more inclined to the south, right towards Torre del Filosofo and the people watching the spectacle who are forced to seek shelter under a small roof.	After the rain of bombs around Torre del Filosofo has ceased, David Bryant peers over the roof of the building and films the continuing activity. A lava flow exits through a fissure on the southern flank of the cone, and rapidly arrives at its base.
The culminating phase of the paroxysm, with lava fountains reaching heights of more than 500m.	This clip shows a beginning decline in the vigor of the lava fountains.	The paroxysm has nearly ended. Isolated bursts of incandescent pyroclastics.	SEC after the paroxysm covered by glowing bombs and spatter. Lava still flowing out of the fissure.
Video David Bryant

Paroxysm on 15.2.2000: Video Page