Introduction

Your mission, should you choose to accept it : is to conduct a full field investigation into the topic of scientific journalism and to look at burning issues such as : geology, volcanism, the chemistry of lava and gas, mineralogy, changes in climate that are linked to the emission of volcanic gases or Or Métal précieux. Dans le cadre du séjour Le TrésOR des MINES nous chercherons de l’or dans le Val d’Anniviers, à la batée. perhaps the prevention and management of risks.

Every day eruptions occur. You can follow it :

Etna
www.skylinewebcams.com/fr/webcam/it...

Stromboli
www.skylinewebcams.com/fr/w...

Soon, you’ll be to other side of the webcam.

Le Journal de Bord

Thursday 17th of august

First day of the mission ! After getting everybody at the airport we took a bus and a ferry to travel to Vulcano, where our first camp is. The boat ride was long because of complications due to a bad announcement of the arrival in Vuclano harbour, but the landscape from the boat was impressive. After an unexpected stay on Lipari island, we finally reached Eden park camping at night.

Friday 18th of august

The first morning, we went to the beach, swam and snorkelled.
On the evening, we climbed to the top of the Vulcano. During the climb, we stopped a few times to observe the ashes left from the previous eruptions.

When we reached the top of the crater, we took the temperature of the hydrothermal vents. We were impressed by its size as well as the rotten eggs smell of the fumaroles. Their temperatures ranged from 70 C to 200 C.

We pick-nicked at the top of the volcano then went back down with our flash-lights.

Saturday 19th of august

We spent our afternoon at the beach and then we went to the INGV (National Institute of Geology and Volcanology).
Scientists explained us the caracteristics of Vulcano and the origin of the Eolian Island s volcanism.

Sunday 20th of august

We woke up very early to take the ferry for Stromboli island where Stromboli volcano has the particularity to erupt frequently.

We started the trek at 6.00 pm after the guide explained the security rules to us. He gave us masks and hamlets.
We had 4 pauses during the climb and some of us valued them a lot. It was very hard to walk on the ashes and we had to be careful to avoid the rocks that tumbled down from the previous group passage.
When we reached the top, the sun had set and we had to put our masks and head-lights to continue climbing. We also had to put on warm clothes because the wind caused the temperature to drop.
At the top we did not see much since the smoke was very thick.
We waited about 30 minutes at the top but we only saw reddish light and heard some sounds from the crater.
To walk down, we had to follow in the guide path straight line. It seemed unending. We sunk into the floor every step. We stopped three times to empty our shoes of the ashes. Even the time seemed too long for some of us, others had an incredible energy. When we came down, we interviewed the guide about his work, the volcano and the security.
After the interview, we bought ice-cream to get back some energy. Finally, we went to the beach to camp for a short night.

Monday 21st of august

We woke up on the beach of Stromboli and took the ferry to Vulcano.

Some of us tried the mud baths known for their therapeutic effects. They smelt of rotten eggs because of the underwater sulfuric fumaroles, and were very hot. Meanwhile, the others were snorkeling to observe the underwater phenomenon causing the mud baths.
Afterwards, we went to the INGV to interview the interns about the INGV, volcanism and everything related. Then we returned to the camp to prepare our trip to Nicolosi (a city at the bottom of the Etna).

Tuesday 22nd of august

We left at 8:15 am with the ferry to get to Sicily in order to reach our second camping. We stopped few times to buy greceries and eat. We arrived at 17:00 pm, some of us went to the pool while others visited the city where animals were omnipresent.

Wednesday 23rd of august

We went to the museum of the Etna where the guide explained us the different phases of the creation of the vulcano and the types of its major eruptions. We saw how the volcano is monitored, for instance using seismic data and thermic camera. The guide showed us that is exists real time simulations that represent what the consequences of an eruption could be at a given moment.

Then we went to the North side of Nicolosi to observe some of the fisural craters of Etna. We climbed the Mount Silvestri, formed by the ride of magma inside cracks. We also study specific rocks and minerals produced by Etna eruptions.

Afterward, we explored two lava caves. They were formed by the cooling down of lava flows.

Finally we went back to camp and had a barbecue and grilled marshmallows.

Thursday 24th of august

We woke up at 6:00 am to climb the Etna up to 2700 m. We were very wise to choose this hour because when we got back down it was infested by tourists. Moreover the temperature had risen and the clouds darken the sky. After a hike among crystallized lava flows and scoria deposits, we studied minerals on basaltic blocks and took a break in front of an outstanding point of view on « La Vale Del Bove », where most lava flows poor out during eruptions.

After a honey-buying break we drove to Catania. On our way, we stopped at Aci Castello to eat and observe both pillow-lavas and basaltic organs from the first forming phase of the Etna. They looked like pillows with hexagonal clean marks.

Afterward we arrived at the last camping, where we made good use of the beach and considered smashing their soundsytem to bits.

Friday 25th of august

We visited the city of Catania, where we ate a late and disappointing breakfast. Since the INGV and the Natural History Museum were both closed we ate in a park then made a brief tour of the city centre. We saw the typical fish market, the Roman amphitheatre and the famous buildings of the city while solving enigmas. Mara’s one was especially difficult. We came back to the camp in order to write articles.

Témoignages

FAQ

FAQ

This trip is part of a scheme launched by the Objectif Sciences International organization, the aim of which is to develop the skills of those who wish to work in the fields of science and communication in the future. If they so wish, campers are invited to submit their results to the UN in December under the framework of the Excellence Camps (www.vacances-scientifiques.com/Lead...).