Understanding shallow magma emplacement at volcanoes: orthogonal feeder dikes during the 2002-2003 Stromboli (Italy) eruption

Understanding how shallow magma is emplaced within volcanoes is crucial for hazard assessment. The 2002-2003 Stromboli eruption provides the opportunity to investigate shallow magma emplacement resulting from orthogonal feeder dikes and its possible effects. Stromboli erupted in 2002-2003, when effusive activity replaced Strombolian activity. On December 28, a NE-SW fissure propagated from the lava-filled northernmost summit crater. On December 29, a NW-SE fissure propagated north of the craters, feeding NW-SE aligned vents. On December 30, this area collapsed, reaching the sea and generating a tsunami. In mid February 2003, the NW-SE fissure became inactive, while the NE-SW effusive fissure continued until July. A model for shallow magma emplacement is proposed. The lateral propagation of a NE-SW dike from the northernmost crater was triggered. Below, a NW-SE dike, propagating from the magma-filled NE tip of the NE-SW elongated conduit, fed the NW-SE aligned vents. In February, the conduit periphery became solidified, freezing the NW-SE dike, and the transport of magma was limited to the central part, focusing its rise below the craters. This fed the NE-SW fissure until the supply decreased further (July), returning to the ordinary level sustaining Strombolian activity. Orthogonal dike emplacement followed the trajectories of the maximum (gravitational) stress 1, partly controlled by the irregular topography of the uppermost edifice. The emplacement of orthogonal dikes in a limited area is feasible at non-perfectly conical active volcanoes, where the maximum gravitational stress may show variations from a purely radial path.