Geological Hazards in Aci Castello, Sicily, Italy - Essay Example

Geological Hazards in the Area of Aci Castello in Sicily, Italy Different places of the world are popular and famous for different reasons. Aci Castello in Sicily, Italy, is very popular for its natural geographic outline. A general view of the place shows nothing more than the beauty of nature where high rising rocks are seen to be mounted in water bodies. The report is very specific about volcanoes as examples of geological hazards at Aci Castello. Very specifically, Mount Etna has been noted to be a significant destination as far as volcano eruptions are concerned. There were two major data collection approaches used in the report. The first of this was a field research, which required the researcher to report at the location, interact with residents and experts, gather field evidence and analyse findings from the site. There was another form of data collection, which was secondary data collection. The secondary data collection actually took the larger part of the data collection process. This is because the researcher was interested in comparing the findings made by different researchers and geologists about volcanoes at Mount Etna. At the end of the data collection process, it was found that Mount Etna is an active volcano located at Aci Castello, which is the focus and centre of the current research. Mount Etna was selected as part of efforts to focus specifically on volcanoes as part of the geological hazards of Aci Castello. Geological Hazards in the Area of Aci Castello in Sicily, Italy Introduction Aci Castello is also famous for its agricultural successes, which serve as the major economic output of the area (Azzaro, 2011). Out of the rocks stands the famous ancient Norman Castle, which was constructed in 1081. Upon the outward beauty of the place, there lie some critical geological concerns, which form the problem for the current research. The problem has to do with the geographic hazards in the area of Aci Castello, particularly the volcanology of the place. This research problem is interesting for a number of reasons. In the first place, it serves an academic significance for students of geography who would need to come up with real life activities of active and dormant volcanoes. There study is also significant in having practical interventions and approaches to dealing with what has become infamous recent volcano eruption activity at Mount Etna. The report therefore aims to critically analyse volcanoes at Aci Castello, particularly the infamous Mount Etna with the purpose of identifying the trend of activities of these volcanoes so that necessary geological precautions could be taken at these. This will be achieved by undertaking both field and literature research of the place. Data Collection Procedure The primary data collection targeted Mount Etna as the research site. The specific destination of data collection was the Adaptable Geographic Travels where the researcher set up a small sample size made up of 2 respondents. The Adaptable Geographic Travels is a national approved educational travel and tour organisation that specialises in geographic sites. Because of this, they have experts who have vivid knowledge about the geological hazards and other geological activities that go on at the places that they cover as part of their work. As part of the field research, the 2 respondents were engaged in a semi-structured interview where they answered a number of questions pertaining to the volcano activities of the place. The trip also afforded the researcher the chance to take real pictures of the site and of remains of recent volcano activities. Much of the data collected from the respondents focused on how volcanoes have been manage at the Mount Etna. Various ways in which the place has become an important tourist attraction, regardless of the geological hazard that exists at the site were also investigated. Secondary data collection also took place through document analysis. By critically analysing different sources of information, it was going to be easier to come up with a formidable theory about the geological hazard of Aci Castello, particularly concerning volcano activities. The secondary data collection required the use of articles from geological journals. Because of this, an inclusion and exclusion criteria was set, which focused on the use of articles from databases such as Science Direct, Jstore, Springer Link, Ebscohost, Oxford Journals Online, Google Scholar, and GeoRef. A search strategy focusing on articles about volcanoes at Aci Castello was designed. Some of the inclusion criteria were for the articles selected to have been very current and published in the last 5 years. The researcher also ensured that it was only articles published in English language were selected. The credibility of authors was also taken into consideration. With this, the researcher ensured that selected authors had more than 3 published academic articles. The findings that were made in primary data collection and those made in the secondary data collection have all been presented in the next section of the report. Key Findings Composition of Mount Etna of Aci Castello Mount Etna is described as the largest active volcano, not only in the Sicily area but in the whole of Europe (Branca, 2013). The elliptical base of the volcano is estimated to be 38x47 km that goes into elevation to as far high as 3350m (Branca, Coltelli, De Beni, & Wijbrans, 2012). Part of the features that makes this volcano very special to Aci Castello is that greater part of the landscape at the site is found to be dominated by the volcano. This makes it almost impossible to exclude Mount Etna and for that matter volcano from the discussion of what makes up the geological hazard of Aci Castello. Volcano eruptions at Etna have a very long history with most sources indicating that the first eruption took place as far back as 500,000 years ago (Azzaro, 2011). This makes Mount Etna one of the oldest documented evidence of eruptions in the whole world. Part of the composition of Mount Etna is the fact that eruptions that take place at the site come in more than one style. By indication, there are several varieties of eruption styles happening at the site. Some analysts have indicated that the differences in eruption styles make volcano activities at Aci Castello a very unique subject of discussion when it comes to geological hazards as each style of eruption comes with its own consequences. Below is a primary source picture of Mount Etna. Figure 1: Distribution of eruptive fissures and pyroclastic cones at Mount Etna Source: Cappello (2011, p. 14) Characteristics of Current Major Volcanic Eruptions Over the past 5 years, 3 major volcano eruptions have been experienced at Mount Etna in Aci Castello. From 2010 to 2014, it has only been 2012 and 2014 that no volcanoes have been recorded. Below is a detailed review of the characteristics of these 4 major volcanoes. 2013 Eruptions. In 2013, geologists recorded a number of eruptions at Mount Etna with the first one taking place in February 2013. The February eruption took place at 3 craters at Mount Etna and influenced by 3 paroxysms which were generated at the southeast of the site over only a week (Branca, Coltelli, & Groppelli, 2014). The result of this was a Strombolian eruption that led to small lava fountains which were viewed at Bocca Nuova crater. As showed in figure 2, the lava fountain was as up high as 800m from the summit of Mount Etna. Figure 2: 2013 flank eruptions lateral and eccentric magma pathways Source: Cappello (2011, p. 14) The February incident was not the only one recorded in 2013 as on October 26, another eruption was recorded. According to experts, what was uniquely special about the October eruption was that this took place as the consequential action of magmatic activity that had occurred as far back as 1999 at Vorgine (Tanner, Calvari, Groppelli, & Norini, 2014). This time round, the eruption was at both southeast crater and northeast crater. 2011 Eruption. The 2011 eruption took place in January with a unique characteristic of what some experts have described as a systematic locomotive eruption (Branca, 2013). This is because this particular eruption took place or occurred over a number of days in the month of January with each day having its own unique feature. For example, on January 11, geologists found increases in volcanic tremor on the Mount Etna. This was not going to be the only volcanic activity to be experienced as the 12th of January brought about Seismic activity, which got to its peak as early as 7am (Branca, Coltelli, De Beni, & Wijbrans, 2012). Due to the closeness in time in the occurrence of the volcanic tremor to the time the seismic activity reached its peak, some authors have attributed the January 12 activity to the aftermath of what was experienced the day before (Branca, Coltelli, & Groppelli, 2014). Eruptions on January 12 were highly powered with accompanied strombolian activity which took place at the southeast crater. On that same day, the locomotive nature of the volcano continued as lava overflow at the eastern rim of the same crater was recorded at 9pm. Lava fountains were again recorded on the 13th of January but this became pulsating thereafter. Figure 3: Geometric orientation of fissures for 2011 Cappello (2011, p. 16) 2010 Eruption. What was unique about the 2010 eruption was the location of volcano activity on Mount Etna. This is because the eruption is recorded to have taken place right at the summit (Vezzoli, Coltelli and Del Carlo, 2013). Like in the years that were to follow in 2011 and 2013, all this eruption also took place that southeast crater but this time round at the lower east flank. Another exciting feature about the 2010 eruption is that it was preceded by other geological hazards, particularly earthquakes, which were recorded at the Pernicane fault (Tanner, Calvari, Groppelli, & Norini, 2014). The impact of the earthquake on the eruption is depicted in figure 3 as there was an increase in the crater to as much high as 50m (Del Carlo, Coltelli and Vezzoli, 2012). Apart from the fact that the volcano coincided with the eruption in a unique manner, the earthquake was also the first to be recorded in 6 years in Aci Castello (Vezzoli, Coltelli, & Del Carlo, 2013). Such factors from the earthquake, including the magnitude of 4.2, ground cracking activities, fractures, and a focus depth of 1km have all been attributed to the unique outcome of the eruption such as a vertical displacement of the ground by 20cm (Seach, 2014). Discussion From the findings made about the nature and characteristics of the volcanology of Aci Castello, using Mount Etna as a case study, there are number crucial discussions that can be made. First of all, from the findings, it can be noted that the volcano as a geological hazard of the site has more than one active centre. The reason for this assertion is from the fact that the findings showed that the various volcano eruptions that have been experienced over the years have all possessed different characteristics, synonymous with the unique manifestation of active centre activities. It is not surprising therefore that in some cases more than one eruption is experienced at different locations in a year. The findings have also showed that the entire outlook and structure of Aci Castello and for that matter the mountain that form the Etna is greatly influenced by volcano activities that have been taking place at the site. Given the frequent reference made to the southeast and northeast craters, it will not be far from right to allude that the current structure of Mount Etna and the entire Aci Castello area is the result of volcano activities that have been taking place in the southeast and northeast eruptive centres. The structure has also been influenced and shaped not just by one form of volcano activity but by all the different forms that have been analysed in the findings. Focusing very specifically on the effects of the geological hazard of Aci Castello, it can be inferred from the findings that the lava flow that has taken place at the site have been dangerous to a number of villages and will continue to pose residential threat to a dozen villages. With this said, particular emphasis can be laid on villages found at the lower slope as the lava flow has been noted in the findings to always have the lower slopes as its point of direction. Precaution needs to be taken but not only by those at the southeast and northeast where eruptive activities are abundant. Rather, it will be very important to also focus on villages at the western part of Catania as the forceful nature of the lava flow make their actions unpredictable (Del Carlo, Coltelli, & Vezzoli, 2012). Conclusion From the findings and discussion so far, it can be concluded that volcanoes at Aci Castello and particularly at Mount Etna make the area significant for both the good side and the bad side. This is because the volcanology of the place has given it unique educational tourism significance, which make people travel from both far and near to have a sight of the beauty of nature. The fact that these volcanoes are geological hazards must however not be neglected. Consequently, the necessary precautions need to be taken when locating people at Aci Castello for various purposes including residence and commercial purposes. Apart from formidable villages within the entire Catania area of Aci Castello, it is important to also focus on both manmade and natural sites such as orchards and vineyards. This is because the types of lava flow that have been referred to in the report are actually those that can have dominion of these orchards and vineyards and destroy these. As these features form an important component of Aci Castello as a tourist destination, the need to preserving these against all forms of destructions is something that must be done with no much question. Very preferably, the situation of such orchards and vineyards must be checked and approved by geologists and other geographers who can confirm their safety. References Cappello A. (2011). Probabilistic Modelling of Lava Flow Hazard At Mount Etna. Geophysical monograph, 143(5), 1–53 Azzaro, R. (2011). Earthquake surface faulting at Mount Etna volcano (Sicily) and implications for active tectonics. J. Geodyn., 28(2), 193–213. Branca, S. (2013). Geological and geomorphologic evolution of the Etna volcano NE flank and relationships between lava flow invasions and erosional processes in the Alcantara Valley (Italy). Geomorphology, 53(3), 247–261. Branca, S., Coltelli, M., & Groppelli, G. (2014). Geological evolution of Etna volcano. Geophysical monograph, 143(5), 49–63. Branca, S., Coltelli, M., De Beni, E., & Wijbrans, J. (2012). Geological evolution of Mount Etna volcano (Italy) from earliest products until the first central volcanism (between 500 and 100 ka ago) inferred from geochronological and stratigraphic data. Intern. J. Earth Sci., 97, 135–152, Del Carlo, P., Coltelli, M., & Vezzoli, L. (2012). Stratigraphic constrains for explosive activity in the last 100 ka at Etna volcano, Italy. Inter. J. Earth Sciences, 89(4), 665–677. Seach J. (2014). Mt Etna Volcano - John Seach. Retrieved June 2, 2014 from http://www.volcanolive.com/etna.html. Tanner, L.H., Calvari, S., Groppelli, G., & Norini, G. (2014). A comprehensive model for the opening of the Valle del Bove depression and hazard evaluation for the eastern flank of Etna volcano. Geophysical monograph, 143(8), 65–75. Vezzoli, L., Coltelli, M., & Del Carlo, P., (2013). The discovery of a Plinian basaltic eruption of Roman age at Etna volcano, Italy. Geology, 26, 1095–1098. Read More