ETNACreep is part of a collaborative research project with GEOMAR that tracks ground movement on and around Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Specifically, it focuses on the volcano’s southeastern flank, which is slowly sliding toward the sea and could pose a risk if it shifts suddenly.

Using high-precision instruments called creepmeters, we are monitoring how and when faults in this area move. These ground shifts—also called displacement transients—can be caused by volcanic activity, earthquakes, or even gradual, continuous motion. Understanding what triggers these shifts helps to assess the stability of the volcano’s flank.

At present, two creepmeters are already installed in the central part of the sliding area. A third is planned for 2025 at the Pernicana Fault, a key boundary separating the unstable block from the rest of the volcano. By combining this land-based data with underwater measurements, in collaboration with GEOMAR and INGV colleagues, the team is building a complimentary timeseries of fault movement both onshore and offshore—shedding new light on the hidden dynamics of the volcano.