Seismic patterns and fluid-dynamic features preceding and accompanying the January 15, 1990 eruptive paroxysm on Mt. Etna (Italy)

On the basis of data collected during a seismological investigation carried out on Mt. Etna (Italy) during a phase of the volcanic activity marked by progressive transition from Strombolian bursts to effusive paroxysms at the SE crater (January 1990), three types of seismic regime have been recognized. They are interpreted to be linked to modifications in the regimes of volcanic gases and vapours within the upper levels of the magma column, as suggested by recent studies on the dynamics of magmatic fluids. Our analysis also reveals that the use of usual seismic parameters, such as the temporal patterns associated with the occurrence of discrete low-frequency events (“spindles”) and the coefficient m of the Ishimoto-Iida law, can furnish information about variations in the behaviour of the system before the irreversible evolution of the volcanic activity toward eruptive paroxysms.