30 July 2011: Eigth Paroxysm of 2011 at South East CraterIn July 2011, Etna started to erupt a paroxysm at the New South East Cone about every week. Marco was lucky to be at less than one km from the spectacular event on the evening of 30 July 2011. Spectacular continuous lava fountans rose in the sky at height of more than half a km for between 9.30pm and 11pm. The focal length of the used lenses is given (DSLR, 16x24mm sensor). All times are local (GMT +2hr). | |||
 f=135mm, 8h00pm. The New South East Cone is learning to eject steam rings. |  f=135mm, 8h15pm. Strombolian activity at the beginning of the paroxysm. |  f=135mm, 8h45pm. As the activity increases, bombs start to roll on the cone flanks. |  f=300mm, 9h25pm. A wall of incandescent lava rises from the fissure in the cone. |
 f=135mm, 9h30pm. The darker bombs in foreground are those falling and then cooler. |  f=50mm, 9h30pm. Pulses of lava and ash in the lava fountain about half a km tall. |  f=50mm, 9h30pm. The flanks of the cone are covered by layers of incandescnt fallout. |  f=50mm, 9h50pm. Multiple jets of lava from the vents in the cone fissure. |
 f=50mm, 10h00pm. The lava jet towards the right is so strong to send bombs almost to Belvedere. |  f=50mm, 10h10pm. Intense shower of lava bombs in the background of Sudestino. |  f=135mm, 10h20pm. Zoom on the lava jets rising from the vents of New Soth East Cone. |  f=135mm, 10h30pm. The strong maestrale winds pushes all the ash towards East (right). |
 f=300mm, 10h50pm. Impressive zoom on a column of liquid lava: the cooler and darker bombs are those falling. |  f=10.5mm, 12h00pm. View from Belvedere of the impressive lava flow: Giarre village in the background. |  f=50mm, 12h00pm. The lava front of the 3-km-long flow has reached the floor of Valle del Bove. |  f=50mm, 12h00pm. It is rare to see such a wide lava flow on Etna... |
| Copyright: M. Fulle. | |||