I have noticed that Mt. Etna is so much larger than any other
volcano in the region. Is there any reason why?
Also, is it connected with the Vesuvius and Stromboli volcanoes?
If I remember correctly, Etna has a tendency to erupt very fluid
lava, more like the Hawaiian volcanoes, whereas Stromboli and
Vesuvius have obviously more viscous lava and explosive eruptions.
Could it be a hot spot? If so, then is there a chain of extinct and
eroded volcanoes, like the Hawaiian chain or Tristan da Cunha?
Is it in any way related to the mountain on the tip of Italy across the
Straits of Messina?
Thanks. I'm just curious, that's all.
Jeremy Goh
Hi Jeremy,
Those are good observations you've made. Mt. Etna is definitely the
largest of the active Italian volcanoes (by volume), and it also does
erupt relatively fluid lavas. These two facts are related. Mt Etna has a
high supply rate from the magma source region. This will obviously
produce more material to make a big volcano. Additionally, if there is a
high supply rate the magma doesn't have a chance to sit around and evolve
to more silicic compositions and the plumbing system stays good and hot.
Both of these will lead to fluid lavas being erupted.
As far as I know, the experts in Italian geology do not consider Mt. Etna
to be the product of a hotspot. Instead it is located in a region of very
complicated tectonics. "Mt. Etna: the 1989 eruption" by Giardini mentions
a convergent arc (the Aeolian islands) as well as an Ionian sea suture
zone. "Volcanoes of the World" by Tom Simkin and Lee Seibert has the
following line: "The geology is diverse and complex, with microplates
defying easy tectonic generalizations. However, subduction under the
Greek islands (hellenic arc) and southern Italy (Calabrian arc) explains
the region's principal volcanic centers."
If you can translate that I guess most of the Mediterranean volcanism is
due to northward subduction. In that way Stromboli, Vulcano, and Etna are
related, but as far as some sort of shallow connection, that is unlikely.
For some geologic reason the conditions are right for Etna to receive more
magma than Stromboli.
Volcanoes of the World does not show any active volcanism on the southern
tip of Italy and I don't know if the mountains across Messina are related.
I hope this helps answer your curiosity a little. There are a number of
www home pages that come up if you search for "Mt. Etna", perhaps some of
these would have the information you need.
Sincerely,
Scott Rowland
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