Vulcano

Vulcano was built by more than one volcano.

The youngest one, La Fossa, grew inside a giant bowl left when older land fell in.

The island is made of three volcanic structures. In the south is the 'Primordial volcano'. Farther north, about 14,000 years ago, the ground collapsed and made a huge hollow called a caldera. The La Fossa cone grew inside it during the last 5,500 years.

In the north, Vulcanello began as an eruption under the sea in the 2nd century BC. It grew into a little island, and in the Middle Ages it joined Vulcano.

Three volcanic edifices make up Vulcano, partly destroyed by caldera collapses: the southern 'Primordial volcano', cut by the Piano caldera; the Lentia-Mastro Minico edifice, largely destroyed by the collapse of the Fossa caldera about 14 ka ago; and La Fossa cone, built inside that caldera within the last 5,500 years (GeoVires).

Vulcanello, the northern peninsula, began with a submarine eruption in the 2nd century BC, grew into an island and joined Vulcano in the Middle Ages; its last eruption was in the 16th century. The 1739 'Pietre Cotte' rhyolite flow is the island's most recent lava flow.

La Fossa last erupted more than 130 years ago, with very strong blasts.

Scientists still use this eruption to describe a kind of explosive eruption.

La Fossa's last eruption lasted from 2 August 1888 to 22 March 1890. It had very strong explosions that threw out lumps of lava that were almost solid. Scientists now call this kind of eruption 'Vulcanian'.

UNESCO says the Aeolian Islands gave the science of volcanoes two types of eruption, Vulcanian and Strombolian. Geologists have learned about them for more than 200 years.

The latest eruption ran from 2 August 1888 to 22 March 1890; it introduced the term 'Vulcanian' activity: very strong explosions ejecting fragments of lava in an almost solid state, including large bread-crust bombs (GeoVires). Coppola et al. (2022) call it the archetypal 'Vulcanian eruption'.

UNESCO: studied since at least the 18th century, the islands provided vulcanology with two eruption types (Vulcanian and Strombolian) and have featured in the education of geoscientists for over 200 years.

Hot, smelly gas still comes out of holes in the crater.

A rare lizard lives on one small part of the island.

Since 1890, Vulcano has been quiet, but gas still escapes from vents called fumaroles in the crater. Some are hotter than 500 °C. In 2021 the gases increased, and Italy's Civil Protection Department raised the alert level from green to yellow.

The Aeolian wall lizard is critically endangered. A 2017 study says that on Vulcano it was reported to survive on one tiny peninsula, perhaps 200 lizards. The Italian wall lizard, likely brought by people, is common there.

Since 1890 Vulcano has been quiescent, with fumaroles in the summit crater (Gran Cratere) from below 100 °C to above 500 °C, from a mix of magmatic and hydrothermal fluids (Coppola et al., 2022). Unrest began in September 2021, with more degassing; on 1 October 2021 the alert level was raised from green to yellow.

The Aeolian wall lizard (Podarcis raffonei), assessed Critically Endangered, lives on Vulcano and three islets; on Vulcano it was reported in one tiny peninsula, perhaps 200 individuals. The Italian wall lizard (P. siculus), likely introduced by humans, is widespread there, and competition and hybridization with it are likely the main threat (Gippoliti et al., 2017).

Volcanoes can be dangerous.

Always listen to the grown-ups in charge and follow their safety advice.

Vulcano is an active volcano that scientists watch closely. Gases from fumaroles can be very hot.

The CDC says to follow the advice of local officials about volcanoes, and to be ready to leave the area or take shelter if they say so. PlayOwl's advice: stay on marked paths and keep away from steaming vents.

La Fossa is monitored for changes in heat, gas output and chemistry; its fumaroles reach above 500 °C (Coppola et al., 2022).

CDC volcano guidance: follow local officials' advice on preparing for an eruption and, if needed, on evacuating or sheltering in place; have a plan for both. PlayOwl's advice, built on these facts: keep to marked paths and away from active vents.