Latest news with #MountEtna
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The intriguing phenomena we can see in the skies this week
The summer evenings offer us the opportunity to sight some rather intriguing and beguiling phenomena. Noctilucent clouds, (NLCs), make for an interesting spectacle after sunset, observable with the naked eye and quite eerie in appearance. Around two hours after the Sun has set and looking above the northwest horizon, watch for wispy threads of cloud with a distinct blue and silver tinge to them. Taken from the Latin for 'night-shining', NLCs are formed by sunlight reflecting off high-altitude ice crystals that are positioned right on the edge of space. The time period after sunset is crucial if we are to catch NLCs, as around 90 minutes to two hours after the Sun has dipped below the horizon is when the necessary angle occurs for sunlight to catch the crystals and illuminate that part of the sky with this enchanting effect. The beautiful and captivating sight sees the highest clouds in our atmosphere, about 50 miles above the Earth's surface, seem to glow and shimmer with this mesmerizing blue or silvery guise. In the summertime the mesosphere, (the third layer of the Earth's atmosphere where meteorites burn up), becomes cold enough to allow ice to form on suspended dust particles that are floating around in the clouds. These particles may originate from meteorites falling from space, but equally so from other sources, possible volcanic, with the recent Mount Etna eruption billowing tons of debris into the atmosphere. In fact, the first NLCs observations were recorded in 1885, two years after the eruption of Krakatoa, which may or may not have something to do with their appearance. Eruptions aside, rockets that have blasted off from Earth leave particle emissions from their exhaust systems, all contributing to the array of debris circulating in our atmosphere. NLC's have been given a different name when seen from space looking back on Earth; polar mesospheric clouds, or (PMCs). However, the Earth is not the only place NLC's have been witnessed. Launched in June 2003, Mars Express was not only the first European mission to Mars, but the first planetary mission operated entirely by Europe. There were reports of NLC's made three years into the Mars Express mission in 2006, with NASA's Curiosity Mars rover confirming the presence of NLC's in 2019. Readers may well recall all the media hype over Asteroid 2024 YR4, which earlier this year was once considered the highest impact risk to Earth ever recorded. Earlier this week, NASA announced that previously collected data on the asteroid that has been reanalysed now reveals that the 174 to 220 feet-long chunk of rock is more likely to hit the Moon in 2032. During the week ahead, watch for Mars in the evening sky as it moves its way slowly night by night, left to right, above the bright star Regulus in the constellation of Leo, the Lion, situated above the western horizon. The International Space Station continues its early summer break and cannot be seen across our region at present. Send your astrophotography pictures to: thenightsky@
BBC News
13-06-2025
- BBC News
Suffolk couple witness Mount Etna eruption from 12 miles away
A couple said they experienced a "once in a lifetime" event when they witnessed a volcano erupt on their and Anita Roberts, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, flew out to Giardini Naxos on the island of Sicily at the end of May to enjoy a week's into their trip, they were shocked when nearby Mount Etna - one of the world's most active volcanoes - erupted just 12 miles (19km) from their hotel on 2 the couple admitted it had been scary to witness, it had also been "exciting". On the morning of the eruption, the couple had been enjoying some time around the swimming pool when Mrs Roberts, 74, was alerted to smoke coming out of the volcano by Roberts, 75, is an amateur astronomer and brought along his smart telescope, so decided at that point to go up to the hotel's roof terrace and set it up."It only took us about 30 minutes and Anita was taking pictures with her smart phone while I was doing it," he explained."After 30 minutes there was nothing more really other than a lot of smoke, then all of a sudden this column of smoke erupted vertically with real force." Mrs Roberts said she had been keeping an eye on local information on the volcano, but had not seen any warning."It was very exciting," she said."When it started, because we'd seen more minor explosions in other places, we just thought it was something quite small."When it developed the second head on the mushroom [cloud], we thought that it possibly was alarming." Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) Etna Observatory said there had been a number of explosions of "increasing intensity" recorded in the early hours of that there was a partial collapse of the volcano's crater which produced a pyroclastic flow and an ash cloud "visible in much of easter Sicily", INGV Roberts said the cloud "kept doubling in size" which was "incredible to see"."It was a once in a lifetime experience," he about 18:30 local time INGV said there had been an end to the activity and the ash cloud had been swept away by wind from where Mr and Mrs Roberts were looked positively on the experience and are already planning on visiting again next year. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Condé Nast Traveler
10-06-2025
- Condé Nast Traveler
Visiting an Active Volcano? What to Know Before You Go
In a spectacular show of nature's strength, Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, erupted on June 2, cloaking Sicily in a plume of ash and gas. And while the latest eruption didn't prompt evacuations or airport closures, it did send a group of hikers running down the mountain's flank: videos show tourists fleeing as ashy clouds spiraled several miles into the sky. Despite Etna's near-constant activity, hundreds of thousands of people trek to the top of the mountain annually. It's one of several active volcanoes worldwide, including Iceland's Fagradalsfjall, New Zealand's Tongariro, and Nicaragua's Concepción, that sit at the glowing but turbulent heart of volcano tourism. At many of these destinations, potentially life-threatening eruptions don't scare off the tourists—often, they attract them. Jessica Ferracane, a public affairs specialist at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, says the park—which is home to two volcanoes that have erupted in the last three years (one of which, Kīlauea, is on the brink of another eruption)—sees an influx of travelers during and after volcanic events. 'When the volcano erupts, so does visitation,' Ferracane tells Condé Nast Traveler. The appeal of volcano tourism doesn't surprise Arianna Soldati, an assistant professor of volcanology at North Carolina State University. 'They are an amazing display of the planet's activity,' she says. 'Whereas most geological phenomena are extremely slow (think of mountain building or glacier erosion), an eruption can redefine the landscape in a matter of hours.' While the exact timing of an eruption can be difficult to predict, it's rare for travelers to be caught completely off guard by volcanic activity, thanks to increasingly advanced scientific forecasts. In Sicily, the Civil Protection Department and the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology provide the public with updates on Mount Etna's eruption status using a color-coded system. Despite early warnings about increased volcanic activity, many hikers ventured toward the summit of Etna on the day of its eruption. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and all hikers made it safely down the mountain. By June 3, authorities had downgraded the alert level to yellow, indicating slightly elevated volcanic activity. Tourist activities, including hiking, resumed with safety measures in place. The potential dangers of volcanic sites aren't limited to the eruptions themselves, Soldati says. 'Some of the risks may be invisible, like toxic gases,' she tells Traveler, adding that almost all risks are present further away than people might expect, often several miles from the source. As such, there are a slew of safety precautions to consider before visiting an active volcano. Below, experts offer their top volcano safety tips. Some volcanic hikes can be done independently, while others require a certified guide. At Mount Etna, pictured above, a guide is required above 8202 feet. PlanetDo: Understand the risks One of the most important things to remember about volcano tourism is that eruptions are dangerous—no matter how enticing they look from a distance. And even if volcanoes aren't actively erupting, they can still pose risks.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Weather Whiz: June 8, 2025
How well have you been paying attention to the weather this week? Here are five questions that will test your knowledge of what's been going on. A: This week's upcoming June full moon is traditionally known as the _____ moon. B: The weather forecast played a pivotal role in planning what crucial World War Two event whose anniversary was commemorated on Friday? C: On Wednesday, severe storms unleashed a flood emergency in what U.S. state? D: The photo above shows tourists running after which volcano began erupting on Monday morning? E: During this past week, stormy weather played a role in the tragic collapse of a construction crane in what state? . . . . . Answers A: Strawberry. B: D Day. C: Kansas. D: Mount Etna. E: Florida.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Mount Etna eruption in images: See Europe's largest active volcano blow from different angles
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Mount Etna erupted on Monday (June 2), sending a flow of hot material racing down the volcano as a massive dark cloud of ash rose high into the sky above Sicily. Live Science has rounded up some of the best photographs and videos of this eruption. News reports initially indicated this was the biggest eruption at Etna since 2014, but INVG representatives have since said this is not the case and that it was "a medium-sized eruption." The Italian volcano, which is the largest active volcano in Europe, has been erupting on and off for centuries, according to the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program. The current interval of eruptive activity began on Nov. 27, 2022. An avalanche of ejected hot lava blocks, ash, gas and other volcanic material, known as a pyroclastic flow, began to race down the side of the volcano at around 11:20 a.m. local time. Related: WATCH Mount Etna erupt: Europe's largest volcano blows as tourists scramble to safety Mount Etna's latest eruption likely started after a collapse of material in the southeast crater. The resulting explosive activity then spawned three main lava flows that are now cooling, according to an update from the Etnean Observatory, run by Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. Footage of the pyroclastic flow makes it look as if the volcano is splitting open from the top down as the ejected material races along the side of the volcano. People visiting Etna at the time captured the eruption on video as they fled. Volcano visitors filmed a massive cloud of ash and other volcanic material rising up above them as they fled. Some people stopped to take photos and videos while others scrambled away as fast as they could. There are no reports of injuries. An ash cloud generated by the eruption rose up to around 21,300 feet (6,500 meters into the sky, according to an update from the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in France at 12:00 p.m. local time. Mount Etna is around 11,000 feet (3,350 m) tall, so the ash cloud was almost twice as high as the volcano itself. The eruption pumped large amounts of sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere, according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre. When released from a volcano, sulfur dioxide can mix with other gases and particles to form a haze called volcanic smog (vog). Inhaling enough vog can cause respiratory problems and other health issues such as eye and skin irritation, according to the United States Geological Survey. Mount Etna towers above the nearby metropolitan city of Catania, which is home to a population of more than 1 million people. Catania residents and visitors saw the eruption from the city's streets as the ash cloud obscured what was a clear blue sky. The eruption had stopped by 4:56 p.m. local time, when the Etnean Observatory published an update on Mount Etna's activity. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre noted that there was no ash cloud being produced at 4.22 p.m., and by 5:22 p.m., the ash cloud was dissipating. Editor's note: This story was updated on Wednesday, June 4 at 5:34 a.m. ET as it previously incorrectly stated the eruption was the biggest since 2014. After publication, INVG representatives told Live Science that it was "a medium-sized eruption."
