Sicily Mt Etna

Type of boundary

Convergent/destructive- oceanic continental

Plates

African plate subducts under Eurasian plate

Type of volcano

-stratovolcano, Strombolian eruptions of basaltic lava, typically VEI 1-2 occasionally 3

Population within 5km

78

Reasons to live near

-fertile soils- vineyards and orchards (citrus fruits) on mountain’s lower slopes and surrounding plains

-tourism- Italian culture/beaches, volcano, local scenery and terrain, winter sports (Piano Provenzano Ski Resort)

-perceive volcano as more beneficial than destructive

Impacts of eruptions

-lava flows- basaltic lava far flowing destroying infrastructure (eg Rifugio Sapienza tourism centre 2002)

-clouds of ash rain onto farms, towns and airport runways (eg Catania 2002)

-seismic activity can cause minor damage directly to structures

-land slips and landslides eg 2002 2 metre slip on eastern flank causing structural damage to homes on both sides

-lahars (1775)

-phreatic explosion- superheating of underground water by magma (killed 9 tourists in 1979)

Impacts on Sicily

-vineyards destroyed

-farm land can be unusable until rock breaks down/ash dug away

-tourists scared away

-damage repairs expensive

-forest fires

-ash reduces air quality

-5.8 million tonnes of carbon vented

-closure of catania airport and local airport

-Italian govt providing financial assistance ($8 million) and tax breaks (2002)

-re-homing of towns and cities- lahars and pyroclastic flows

GNI per capita

$44,630-AC

Mitigate against event

-earth barriers (18m high, 10m wide, 1983)

-large concrete blocks

-artificial trenches created by explosives, diverting flow away from Zafferana 1993

-needs heavy machinery and efficient organisation

Mitigation against vulnerability

-monitoring using sophisticated techniques eg tilt meters, analysis of gas emissions, aerial/satellite surveys). Evacuation alerts by CFCRV + community preparedness

-research of design of effective building design to counter ash fall, inc affordable solutions

Mitigation against losses

-Compensation

-rapid responses from well-resourced public services (fire service, police and military)