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Abstract

The 1971 eruption represents a benchmark in the recent history of Etna volcano. From avolcanological point of view, this eruption was characterised by complex intrusive dynamicsassociated with significant ground deformation that induced the activation of the Moscarelloseismogenic fault and the formation of a new summit crater: the Southeast Crater. At the sametime, the 1971 event marks an important change in the eruptive style and composition of the magmatowards products richer in K. It is no coincidence that, over the next fifty years, there would be anincrease in the frequency of summit and flank eruptions and associated output rate. From anhistorical viewpoint, the eruptive event of 1971 was the first important flank eruption studied bythe International Institute of Volcanology: the analysis of the scientific articles on this activityreveals a greater multidisciplinary content in the descriptions and explanations of volcanic activity.Particularly important were the collaborations of British and French research groups that, togetherwith their Italian colleagues, succeeded in giving a complete picture of the eruption and describingthe state of knowledge on the Sicilian volcano. The multidisciplinary methodology used to study thiseruption is still valid today.