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Stromboli Volcano Photos

- Lavaflow and tsunami eruption 2002/2003 -


31 December 2002: lava flow on the Sciara del Fuoco

Stromboli: lava flow into the sea Stromboli: lava flow into the sea Stromboli: lava flow into the sea

As we approach the N shore of Stromboli by boat, the active lava flow becomes visitble, but it is partly ceiled by the vigorous steam plume at the ocean entrance and by ash from minor landslides and rockfalls. Note the helicopter - a small white point on the small picture only - for scale on the right photo.

Arriving on Stromboli an unfamiliar picture awaits us. Everything is brown gray and the air is filled with fine ash. The mud-rain from the landslide the day before has dried, and now the strong wind is whirling up the ash.

Left: similar pictures as above, exposure was set to the dark slope. The lava flow is mostly visible because of the bluish fumes. Note the helicopter for scale on the right photo.


6 January: boat trip to the Sciara del Fuoco

Stromboli: lava flow into the sea

The active lava flow from a vent at 500m a.s.l. and the steam cloud produced where the hot blocks of lava at the flow front reach the sea.

Upper part of the flow inside the large valley formed by the landslide on Dec. 30.

The scar of the smaller of the two large  landslides on 30 Dec. The steeply dipping fault plane is well exposed. At its base the slides have cut ca. 50 m deep into the former surface of the Sciara, leaving a large, probably instable patch of layered rocks pasted on the slide plane inbetween.

Stromboli: lava flow into the sea Stromboli: lava flow into the sea Stromboli: lava flow into the sea Stromboli: lava flow into the sea

Above: Almost continuous smaller and larger rock falls from the instable side walls of the landside scar leave dusty trails as blocks tumble down at high speed.

Glowing blocks tumbling down from the flow surface.

The cooled lava flow of 28 December. Note that the ca. 50 m wide, 5-10m high delta already has been eroded.

Stromboli: lava flow into the sea

Stromboli: lava flow into the sea

Where the lava flow enters the sea, a water is boiled and a huge steam cloud rises above the entry point.

Wide-angle view of the Sciara del Fuoco from the boat. The landslide scars are well visible left of the recent lava, all together ca. 200 m wide lava delta. The steam plume markes the active flow front at the waterline.

Left of the active flow front, an earlier, now inactive tongue is visible. Hot rocks falling off the active flow further above and cool at the waterline.

Stromboli: lava flow into the sea

Stromboli: lava flow into the sea

Falling debris impacts on the water few meters from the shoreline making spectacular splashes.


Stromboli: lava flow into the sea