Multi‐Temporal InSAR, GNSS and Seismic Measurements Reveal the Origin of the 2021 Vulcano Island (Italy) Unrest

Abstract

Abstract La Fossa Caldera at Vulcano (Italy) has been showing signs of unrest since September 2021. To investigate this phenomenon, we conducted an analysis of geodetic and seismological data from July to December 2021. In particular, we analyzed Multi Temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar and Global Navigation Satellite System data, showing a pronounced elliptical uplift signal, which we elaborated using analytical source modeling. Additionally, seismic data were used to identify seismicity associated with hydrothermal system activity and assess its temporal evolution. The results indicate that the observed deformation is consistent with the expansion of the hydrothermal system within the La Fossa Caldera. These findings align with the analysis of seismic data, revealing signals indicative of hydrothermal activity, such as Very Long Period events. The results suggest that the ongoing phenomenon since 2021 represents a hydrothermal unrest, similar to the one observed during the late 1970s to early 1990s.

Keywords

• Vulcano caldera unrest
• multi‐temporal InSAR analysis
• GNSS data analysis
• volcanic ground deformations
• modeling of volcanic pressure sources
• hydrothermal unrest