03 June 2025
Aviation routes could be disrupted following ’s eruption in Sicily.
Dr Stuart Black, Head of the School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science, 桃色视频, said:
"Mount Etna is Europe's largest and most active volcano and is currently experiencing strombolian-scale eruptions—a relatively moderate type of volcanic activity characterized by explosive bursts that typically eject material 2-3 km into the atmosphere. While this sounds dramatic, the current activity is unlikely to cause the large-scale climate perturbations we've seen from other major volcanic events.
"The immediate concern is air traffic disruption. Commercial aircraft typically fly at similar altitudes as where the volcanic material is reaching, so persistent activity could force flight rerouting in the region. However, most volcanic episodes like this are fairly short-lived.
"The prevailing southwestern wind patterns may actually benefit regional agriculture by dispersing mineral-rich, fine-grained volcanic ash across farmland, acting as nature's own fertiliser. Locally around the volcano, there may be some risks to farming, but the broader dispersal could prove beneficial.
"The associated gas plume will require careful monitoring. Etna's magma contains significant sulphur compounds alongside other gases. Unlike the 2010 Icelandic eruptions, which delivered gases at low atmospheric levels, Etna's emissions are dispersing high in the atmosphere, which reduces immediate ground-level impacts but will require sophisticated atmospheric modelling to track.
"The volcanic tremor data suggests the eruption is tapping into a relatively shallow magma source which is degassing rapidly. This is probably encouraging, as it indicates the system is releasing pressure efficiently rather than building toward a more explosive event. It would be unusual for Etna to sustain prolonged strombolian activity, so this is very much a 'wait and see' situation as we monitor how the eruption progresses over the coming days.
"Strombolian eruptions are named after Italy's Stromboli volcano, and represent moderate volcanic activity on the volcanic explosivity scale. Mount Etna sits on the dynamic boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, which explains its persistent activity. The volcano has been continuously active for over 2,000 years with regular eruptions, making it one of the world's most studied and predictable volcanic systems. Weather patterns over the next two to three days will be crucial in determining ash dispersal patterns and any potential impacts on aviation routes."
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