1.0 Definition of the topicVolcanic eruption, or the sudden occurrence of a violent release of steam and volcanic material, is one of the catastrophes of human history. It can devastate huge areas, as well as people. The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD buried the cities of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabia with ash and mud. (Oracle think quest) Most ancient volcanoes, such as Mount Vesuvius in Italy and Mount Tambora in Indonesia, are all dormant volcanoes now. However, Etna, which has been erupting for millions of years, still remains active now. (Sicily Life) From 4 May 2011 to 6 May it erupted, emitting enormous lava - molten rock - and ash - the chemical and abrasive composition of particles from a volcanic eruption - into the air. For the sake of it being one of the most active volcanoes in the world, acquiring basic information about the volcano and Etna is essential.2.0 HistoryThe history of Etna's eruption began from 1500 BC. (Mount Etna - Italy) Its eruptive history has seen different eruptive styles, including violent explosions and voluminous lava flows. (Jessica Ball) Eruptions on Etna's flanks occur on average every six years and result from dykes that form the central conduit that intersects its surface. (Revise Mapping of Lava Flows on Mt. Etna, Sicily) One of the most purple eruptions occurred in 1852. Etna produces more than 2 billion cubic feet of lava and over three square miles were covered. The longest eruption began in 1979 and lasted 13 years. (Etna Volcano) Etna's eruptions undergo fluctuations over time. The fluctuations represent phases of the cycle on a scale of decades and centuries. (Behncke, B., Neri, M., 2003) From the 1865 eruption, with fo...... half paper...... August 25, 2011]Etna volcano tour and Sicily tour [Online] Available at: http://www.mountetna.net/ [Accessed 25 August 2011]Mt Etna Volcano – John Seach (2011) [Online] Available at: http://www.volcanolive.com/etna.html [Accessed 25 August 2011]Etna erupting on 11 January (2011) [Online] Available at: http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/EarthObservation/GMES_newsletter_n1_etna.pdf [Accessed 1 September 2011]Zehner., C . (2011) Monitoring Volcanic Ash from Space [Online] Available at: http://earth.eo.esa.int/workshops/Volcano/files/STM_280_ash101124.pdf [Accessed 1 September 2011]Volcanic eruption ( 2011) [Online] Available at: http: //library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/erupt.php [Accessed 9 September 2011]Prediction of Danger (2011) Available at: http://library. thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/erupt.php [Accessed 9 September 2011]