Identifying and discriminating seismic patterns leading flank eruptions at Mt. Etna Volcano during 1981–1996

Seismicity affecting Mt. Etna Volcano (Italy) has been investigated in order to identify and discriminate seismic patterns precursory to flank eruptions. An intense period (1981–1996) of seismicity and volcanism, during which eight flank eruptions occurred has been considered. Two statistical methods are used: mean hypothesis testing and entropic decision trees. The results of the two methods are consistent and reveal a pattern of ‘deep’ and ‘western’ events, prior to the flank eruptions that can be used as a predictive tool as well as a physical modeling constraint.