Abstract The use of thematic volcanic hazard maps is essential for policy managers and administrators in land use planning and to determine the best form of action during emergencies. In particular, hazard maps are a key tool in emergency management and are used to describe the threat expected at a certain location in the event of future eruptions. We applied the latest version of the SCIARA lava flow cellular automata model using parallel computing through general purpose graphics processing units technology to derive lava flow hazard maps for Mt Etna, Sicily. The methodology relies on an accurate analysis of the past behaviour of the volcano and is appropriate for land use planning and civil defence applications.

Abstract In December 2002, two landslides along the Sciara del Fuoco at Stromboli triggered large tsunami waves that caused significant damage on the coast of the island up to an elevation of about 10 m above sea-level. In this work, we report in detail the items and the methods used to reconstruct the 2002 tsunami at Stromboli highlighting their strengths and limits. In particular, we describe: (1) the non-hydrostatic WAVE model used to simulate the triggering landslide, the wave propagation and the inundation/runup on the land; (2) the data and methods used to generate the topo-bathymetric computational grid; and (3) the field data acquired on Stromboli after the 2002 tsunami used as ground truth for checking the simulation outputs. Our results show that the most severe damage on the coast of Stromboli could have been caused by the interaction of successive waves triggered by the same landslide. In addition, we also describe the influence that the bathymetry had on the waves propagation and interaction.

Abstract Stromboli, the northernmost island of the Aeolian archipelago, is known for its persistent volcanic activity over the last several centuries and for its cone which, on clear days, is surmounted by a gas plume rising from its summit. The island hosts two settled areas: the village of Stromboli ( c. 500 inhabitants) to the NE and that of Ginostra ( c. 40 inhabitants) to the SW, both situated along the coast. In summer the number of residents grows considerably, reaching c. 5000 people. This paper provides a description of the present activity and reassesses volcanic hazards on the basis of data from a new monitoring system and from studies on the 2002–2003 and 2007 crises. The normal activity, that of mild Strombolian explosions, is occasionally interrupted by violent eruptions of variable scale (paroxysmal events) and lava flows. Volcanic hazards directly generated by eruptive activity consist of ballistic and tephra fallout, pyroclastic flows, lava flows, wildfires and minor lahars, presenting serious problems to the settled areas only occasionally. In addition to hazards directly related to eruptive phenomena, the Sciara del Fuoco depression has been the site of landslides at various scales, sometimes accompanied by the formation of tsunamis.