21 Oct 2020

Seamounts

Seamounts, or underwater mountains, are defined in Oceanography as independent structures that rise at least 1,000 metres above the seabed. Their summit can often stand out from the seabed for several thousand metres, without ever reaching sea level. It is estimated that there are around 30,000 un...
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21 Oct 2020

Volcanic structure

A volcanic structure is nothing more than the volcano itself, formed by the overlapping of lava flows and pyroclasts. It is generally conical in shape, but it can change a lot depending on the chemical composition of the magma of the specific volcano....
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21 Oct 2020

Types of volcanic eruptions

Volcanic eruptions are divided into two main types: effusive, where lava flows and escapes, and explosive, where the lava is fragmented by the explosion of the bubbles contained inside it. Explosive eruptions are in turn divided into 5-6 main types according to their energy, the volume of pyroclast...
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21 Oct 2020

Volcanoes

A volcano is the surface manifestation of magma, i.e. molten rock mixed with gas and vapour, at high temperatures. After its eruption on the surface, the molten material is called lava. When lava solidifies, it usually accumulates to form a volcanic structure. The most important parts of a volca...
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21 Oct 2020

UNESCO: a small name for a big aim

Before starting our journey between the volcanoes, we should know the meaning of the UNESCO acronym. What is it? What does it involve? UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Founded on 4 November 1945 in Paris, just after the end of the Second World War, it ...
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20 Oct 2020

“Strombolian” activity in the place where its definition was born

The term “Strombolian” eruption means an activity formed by explosions of low and medium energy, with the launch of bombs and incandescent lapilli around the crater area. Periodically, this activity is also interspersed with the emission of lava flows along the slopes of the volcano. This is the...
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20 Oct 2020

The underwater fumarolic activity of Lisca Bianca

In the autumn of 2002, after an intense earthquake off the coast of Filicudi and shortly before the beginning of a new effusive activity in Stromboli, a large system of fumaroles activated between the isles of Bottaro and Lisca Bianca, at a depth of around 7-10 metres. This system of fumarole...
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20 Oct 2020

Underwater Panarea

Though Panarea is the smallest island of the archipelago, in reality, if the entire volcanic structure were considered, its size would be quite respectable, and comparable with the larger Lipari. The underwater part of Panarea has a maximum depth of 100 metres, and corresponds to the levelling by...
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20 Oct 2020

Heather, the plant of Alicudi

Heather is a plant known above all for its flower, which, though small, has an indescribable effect and charm. In Italy it is found in gardens as an ornamental plant, or in the undergrowth or near wetlands. This perennial plant belongs to the Ericaceae family, of which there are around 700 diff...
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20 Oct 2020

Amphorae: containers from the ancient past until today

Amphorae were containers used to transport and trade liquid (wine, oil) and solid food (wheat, capers, olives, meat, salted fish and fish sauce or garum, etc.). They were placed in the hold of the ship according to a precise order that, during the excavation of a wreck, can be recognised by the arr...
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