7 - 8 November 2006: Paroxysms at SEC West fissureAfter a short eruption in July 2006, a new W-E oriented dike split the South East Cone (SEC). Here we show spectacular activity which occurred on its West flank, with lava "bubbles" and fast flows from new vents at 3180m.a.s.l., in the saddle between SEC and BN, and at 3050m.a.s.l. on the S flank of Bocca Nuova (BN). All times are local (GMT + 1hr). 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). | |||
 7 Nov, 17h, f=16mm. The 3050m vent is erupting a lava flow approximately 1m thick on Cratere del Piano.
|  7 Nov, 17h, f=135mm. The 3050m vent starts to erupt hot lava "bubbles".
|  7 Nov, 17h, f=16mm. The front of the lava flow in the evening twilight, advancing about one meter per minute.
|  7 Nov, 17h, f=50mm. The explosions from the new vent increase in strength, throwing bombs on to the vent below.
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 7 Nov, 18h, f=135mm. Tele photo view of the vent erupting strombolian fountains about every second.
|  7 Nov, 18h, f=135mm. Sometimes lava clots about five meters in diameter are splattered around the vent.
|  8 Nov, 14h, f=135mm. A thick ash column from the South East Cone marks the onset of a new paroxysm.
|  8 Nov, 17h, f=135mm. Suddenly the ash column is replaced by continuous strombolian fountains.
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 8 Nov, 18h, f=16mm. The climax: Lava "bubbles" and flows from the 3050m and 3180m vents, fountains on SEC top.
|  8 Nov, 18h, f=50mm. Etna Guides approach the quickly advancing lava fronts. "Bubbles" from the 3050m vent.
|  8 Nov, 19h, f=16mm. An excited Tom Pfeiffer is fascinated by the number of flows and active vents.
|  8 Nov, 19h, f=16mm. Volcano filmmaker Giovanni Tomarchio at work below the erupting SEC and the rising moon.
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 8 Nov, 19h, f=50mm. Park rangers assist cameraman Giovanni Tomarchio who is filming the spattering vent at 3180m.
|  8 Nov, 19h, f=50mm. At the lava front: "Bubbles" from the 3050m vent and spattering at the flow vent below.
|  8 Nov, 19h, f=50mm. The air temperature changes from -5 deg C to more than 40 deg C close to the front.
|  8 Nov, 18h, f=50mm. Erupting SEC seen from the E: fountains erupt every second reaching up to 200m in height.
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| Copyright: M. Fulle. | |||