Mapping and evaluating kinematics and the stress and strain field at active faults and fissures: a comparison between field and drone data at the NE rift, Mt Etna (Italy)

We collected drone data to quantify the kinematics at extensional fractures and normal faults, integrated this information with seismological data to reconstruct the stress field, and critically compared the results with previous fieldwork to assess the best practice. As a key site, we analyzed a sector of the northeast rift of Mt Etna, an area affected by continuous ground deformation linked to gravity sliding of the volcano's eastern flank and dike injections. The studied sector is characterized also by the existence of eruptive craters and fissures and lava flows. This work shows that this rift segment is affected by a series of NNE- to NE-striking, parallel extensional fractures characterized by an opening mode along an average N105.7 degrees vector. The stress field is characterized by a sigma(Hmin) trending northwest-southeast. Normal faults strike parallel to the extensional fractures. The extensional strain obtained by cumulating the net offset at extensional fractures with the fault heave gives a stretching ratio of 1.003 in the northeastern part of the study area and 1.005 in the southwestern part. Given a maximum age of 1614 CE for the offset lavas, we obtained an extension rate of 1.9 cm yr(-1) for the last 406 years. This value is consistent with the slip along the Pernicana Fault system, confirming that the NE rift structures accommodate the sliding of the eastern flank of the volcano.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the northeast rift of Mt Etna using drone data, seismological data, and geological fieldwork to quantify kinematics and stress fields. The research revealed the presence of parallel extensional fractures and normal faults in the area, along with eruptive craters, fissures, and lava flows. By calculating the stretching ratio and extension rate, the study confirmed that the NE rift structures contribute to accommodating the sliding of the volcano's eastern flank.