Zuccarello F., D. Andronico, P. Del Carlo, M. de’ Michieli Vitturi, A. Di Roberto, G. Ganci, B. Behncke, T. Esposti Ongaro, F. Ciancitto, A. Cappello (2025).
Communications Earth Environment, 6, 495. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02397-9

Abstract

Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) are among the deadliest manifestations of volcanic eruptions, commonly associated with volcanoes characterized by intermediate to felsic magma compositions and related to eruption column collapse, lateral blasts, or gravitational failures of lava-domes. However, even basaltic, small-moderate eruptions have recently generated potentially lethal PDCs. We analyzed the PDC from the lava fountain of 10 February 2022 at Mt. Etna’s South East Crater. We integrated field, remote sensing and petrological data on the PDC products, together with video-recordings of the eruptive activity and numerical modeling to evaluate its propagation dynamics. Our analysis suggests that hot, altered portions of steep volcanic edifices may collapse and remobilize large amounts of deposits, constituting precursors of highly mobile granular flows. Monitoring their pre-eruptive trigger conditions continuously is therefore crucial for a robust assessment of the potential hazard, especially in the proximal areas of very active basaltic volcanoes frequented by numerous tourists.