Dynamics of the December 2002 flank failure and tsunami at Stromboli volcano inferred by volcanological and geophysical observations

Abstract

The 2002 effusive flank eruption at Stromboli volcano started on December 28, after several months of strong explosive activity at the summit craters. On December 30, the seismic network recorded two large flank failures and associated tsunami waves. This is the first time that a flank collapse and tsunami, and their associated phenomena, have been recorded by a multi‐disciplinary monitoring system. Volcanological and geophysical monitoring, as well as thermal surveys performed immediately before and after the failure, allowed us to define and interpret the sequence of events. The still on‐going eruption has provided, for the first time, the opportunity to look into the dynamics of Stromboli's effusive eruptions, flank failure and landslide formation, and their potential hazard.

Crystal recycling in the steady-state system of the active Stromboli volcano: a 2.5-ka story inferred from in situ Sr-isotope and trace element data

“…The last tsunami occurred on 30 December 2002, triggered by landslides related to the lava effusion (Bonaccorso et al, 2003).…”

Radon mapping, automatic measurements and extremely high 222Rn emissions during the 2002–2007 eruptive scenarios at Stromboli volcano

“…A paroxysmal explosion occurred on April 5, 2003 with the ejection of a 1 km high column of ash, pumices, bombs and blocks (Bonaccorso et al, 2003;Calvari et al, 2005;Ripepe et al, 2005). The geochemical data that preceded the onset of both lava effusion and the paroxysmal explosion were discussed by Carapezza et al (2004) and Cigolini et al (2005).…”

Multidisciplinary study of flank instability phenomena at Stromboli volcano, Italy

“…The last effusive eruption began on 28 December, 2002, with the opening of a NE-SW $300 m long eruptive fissure, located between the NE crater and the northern wall of SDF. By 30 December 2002, a gravitational collapse affected a wide area of the SDF, asl as well as bsl, causing the mobilization of over 30 Â 10 6 m 3 of displaced material [Bonaccorso et al, 2003;Pino et al, 2004]. The two main landslides generated tsunami waves which destroyed wide coastal areas of the island, reaching the Tyrrhenian coasts of Sicily and Calabria [La Rocca et al, 2004].…”

“…Structural surveys report eight major collapses occurring during the last 13000 years, and a potential high risk of even larger failure events [e.g., Tibaldi, 2001]. Recently, two huge landslides and associated tsunami waves occurred on 30 December, 2002, two days after the resumption of effusive activity [Bonaccorso et al, 2003;Pino et al, 2004;La Rocca et al, 2004]. After such climactic events, episodes of slope instability continued, mobilizing a small-scale mass of rock only.…”