Etna 24.6.2000 Photo PageAfter three nights in a tent on Etna (Etna offers no easy access in these times ...), SOL-team member Marco Fulle was able to capture one of the most spectacular paroxysms of the South East Crater (SEC), which seems set to continue its unique activity for long. These photos were taken under considerable risk to his personal safety and must not be regarded as an invitation to approach Etna's summit craters, which, at the present time, must be considered highly active and dangerous. All times are local (GMT + 2 hr). To give a sense of the perspective, camera lens focal lengths are given (i.e. f=28 mm). As usual the pictures on this page link to larger photos (20 to 100 KB). Abbreviations: BN = Bocca Nuova; SEC = South East Crater; TDF = Torre del Filosofo | |||
 23 June 2000, 20:00, f=135mm from Primo Montarello (old cablecar station at 2611 m.a.s.l. where Marco placed his tent). Waiting for a SEC paroxysm we have little else to do than to enjoy BNs multiple steam rings. |  24 June 2000, 21:00, f=50mm from TDF. Since 9:00 lava is flowing from the SEC N vent, and now the SEC top vent is full of steam: both are sure precursors of an imminent paroxysm. |  24 June 2000, 21:30, f=50mm from TDF. BN continues to release steam rings, which are coloured orange by the huge and increasing lava flow from the SEC N vent (right). |  24 June 2000, 23:25, f=135mm from TDF. Since 22:50, the whole SEC N fissure is strongly degassing, and since 23:17 a continuous fountain (100 m high) of red lapilli is jetting from the top of the fissure. |
 24 June 2000, 23:29, f=135mm from TDF. After a few seconds, the paroxysm starts. 100 m high strombolian fountains jet from the SEC top vent (left); just after, with an unforgettable sound similar to a swallow, the hissing degassing noise becomes a terrifying sequence of loud thunders, announcing the birth of the first lava fountain (right). |  24 June 2000, 23:30, f=135mm from TDF. The lava fountains illuminate the scene and require daylight exposure times with the camera. At the beginning the fountains reach heights of 100 m. Note the forceful spattering at the lower left vent, which will be the source of two lava flows on the S SEC slope. |  24 June 2000, 23:35, f=135mm from TDF. With a powerful crescendo the fountains reach heights of 700 m in a few seconds. These telephoto pictures focus on the details of the first 200 m of the liquid magma column jetted by the SEC top vent, partly masked by the huge ash column on the right. The spattering at the SEC S vent has become a 100 m high fountain. |  24 June 2000, 23:40, f=50mm from TDF. 700 m high lava fountains jet from the SEC top vent. The vent on the S SEC slope releases two lava flows towards Sudestino (its black profile is in the foreground) and the 1971 cone (left). The one second exposures enhances the turbulent motion of the bombs in the fountain and the red rain on the right below the wind driven ash cloud. |
 24 June 2000, 23:45, f=28mm from TDF. The paroxysm reaches its climax shortly before its end. These one second exposures show the whole fountain to be 1100 m high. The wideangle lens gives an idea of our location below the fountain (TDF is only 1 km from SEC!). The SEC cone is completely incandescent. The two lava flows have reached the SEC base. |  24 June 2000, 23:50, f=28mm from TDF. Just after the end of the paroxysm the last strombolian explosion jets from the SEC top vent. The left SEC slope is covered by rootless lava flows born by the fall of the last highest fountains. On the right of SEC black ash is raining against the background of the steam reddened by the huge lava flow from the SEC N vent. |  25 June 2000, 00:10, f=28mm from Belvedere. The lava flow released by the SEC N vent during 15 hours of activity is the longest ejected by SEC in the year 2000. It has reached 3km in the center of Valle del Bove. In the background, Giarre (right), Taormina (center) and Calabria (on the horizon). |  25 June 2000, 00:20, f=28mm from Belvedere. Looking back towards SEC we can see the still glowing SEC slopes, with the cooling lava flows on the S slope (left) and the SEC N cooling vent (right). A Swiss photographer has not yet decided what to shoot (Valle del Bove flow or glowing SEC?). The Big Dipper is in the sky just above SEC. |